Reviews

NPR American Chronicles: Women's Equality by Susan Stamberg, National Public Radio

kalifer's review

4.5

This was definitely an interesting experience. I like that it seemed more like a podcast than a book, especially since I do like podcasts! I really enjoyed hearing the voices of the many women throughout history, and hearing their impact on women's equality. I appreciated the fact that they brought in voices that were not entirely for feminism or against certain women's issues. While those voices were not ones I agreed with, it was still interesting to hear the stories and voices of women of all types, even ones that may oppose the things I hold to be important issues. Telling history in a biased way is not a bad thing, though the bias usually comes out when the history is told. Not because the author themself is being biased, but because it's pretty obvious which conclusion you're supposed to come to given the history at hand. I often forget that people see things differently than I do, so hearing the differing voices was both good and hard to hear. But, again, I still appreciated it.  

jsjammersmith's review

5.0

Because this is an audio book it's an entirely different experience than sitting down and reading the testimonies of the women in this series, but nevertheless this collection managed to rekindle my love of feminism because it provided insights from a wide variety of women. Whether it was Gloria Steinem, Naomi Wolf, Phyllis Schlafly, and Norma McCorvy a.k.a. Jane Roe of Row V. Wade, each woman explored what her identity as a woman meant and how it was shaped or challenged during the course of her life. These testimonies reveal the complexities inherent to being a woman during the 20th century, and what were the hopes and ideals of women moving forward.

Women's Equality is phrase that some might distrust because of it's connection to Feminism, which for reason has been labeled as a dirty word, but anyone who would avoid this book purely because of that title is missing something great, for Women's Equality explores the dynamic that exists between men and women, and offers up new ideas of what feminism can be and how it can benefit both men and women going forward into this next age.

lindsayb's review

5.0

Great collection of interviews with and about many influential American women from all ends of the spectrum. For as many amazing women covered here--Shirley Chisholm, Frances Perkins, Betty Friedan were especial highlights for me--I would never have thought I would actually sit through a (radio edit, I'm sure) Phyllis Schlafly tirade or a pro-lifer's argument for chastity (though I do feel as if I've now put in my time and need not sit for it for some time to come). STL friends, you can listen to this through SLPL's OverDrive. Highly recommended.