Feminism in Our Time: The Essential Writings, World War II to the Present

By Miriam Schneir

Book Overview

A landmark collection of writings that define the intellectual and political underpinnings of contemporary feminism, from Simone de Beauvoir to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In this important volume, the respected feminist historian Miriam Schneir completes the work she began in her bestselling Feminism- The Essential Historical Writings , presenting contemporary writings that define the women's movement today-and revealing how radically transformative a force it is throughout the world. Here are the words of Doris Lessing, Betty Friedan, Germaine Greer, Anita Hill, and many other important feminist figures. Ranging from intensely personal statements to ringing manifestos, from diagnosis to outright rebellion, and incorporating both public records and works addressing such specific issues as religion, rape, women's health, pornography, and the concerns of lesbians and women of color, Feminism in Our Time is a thorough record of women's ongoing struggle to control their own destinies and provide alternative visions of a just society and true human equality.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679745084
• ISBN13: 9780679745082
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Women Have Come So Far

Feminism In Our Time should be on the shelf of all women. This book gives the reader a quick understanding of the many women who have fought for women's rights. The book includes writing by so many women who have been important to women's rights. Reading these stories will offer insight into where women have come from. Additionally, reading these stories will help us to realize how far we still have to go for equality for both women and men.

Should be required reading in school

Feminists of each generation, I think, have to do a lot of reinventing of the wheel. We don't know our own history, and although in 2001 we take for granted the ideas that women can be professional athletes or CEOs, that families are not all alike, that equal pay for equal work is fair and right...these ideas were once radical, and not that long ago. Likewise, in the 1970s universal suffrage was taken for granted...and the struggles of women activists in the 1920s were forgotten. This is a valuable collection of writings which gives us some of that history back. It covers important feminist thought from 1949 to 1993. This book holds important lessons for all of us, on religion, rape, health, pornography, family, race, sexual orientation...all manner of relevant and fascinating work.

For those who love women's history

Miriam Schneir's book, "Feminism in Our Time..." is an EXCELLENT text full of wonderful bits of powerful moments in American women's history. Her text features the work (in the form of essays, excerpts from books, speeches, or manifestos) of such authors as Simone de Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, Shulamith Firestone, Kate Millet, Anne Koedt, Adrienne Rich, and Anita Hill. In addition, at the beginning of each chapter and before each piece from these and other authors, Schneir provides crucial historical information. The experience of reading the works within this text will undoubtedly move any reader who has a passion for women's history (and for those who don't yet have the passion, this text will spark it) and inspire you to read more!!