Reviews

From Housewife to Heretic by Sonia Johnson, Lorretta Barrett

imclaugh's review

5.0

To inaproposly quote Peter Travers (on Les Mis [2012]): "Damn its flaws, From Housewife to Heretic is terrific!"

That's all.

readiac1999's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative slow-paced

3.75

An interesting memoir on the Women's Rights movement during the Equal Rights Amendment era as well as a look into the lives of women in the Mormon church. The beginning of the book was quite good but I found the middle to be plodding and a bit repetitive while the last few chapters read more of a manifesto than a memoir. Overall, glad I read it for a work project but not sure I would read again

hannahebartholomew's review

3.0

I have mixed opinions on this one. I want to feel like Sonia was doing important work, but at the same time I feel like her idea of feminism was so limited and really lacking cross-sectionalism or any sort of global focus. Her feminism felt rudimentary to me, and I suppose that makes sense considering she was born 60 or 70 years before me. She's so intelligent, I can't help feeling that she should have devoted her time and efforts to something greater than the Mormon church. I wouldn't consider this book a powerful piece of feminist literature, but it definitely covers the topic of sexism within Mormonism, which I personally found fascinating. I especially loved her exploration of sex shaming and objectification that's so ingrained in the culture. Overall, a worthwhile read for anyone who has an interest in the church and its treatment of women, but not a book that will go on my list of must reads.