KNOW YOUR LIBRARY
March 2016…written for the Taos
Public Library by Joanne Forman
Feminism
(International Womens’ Day is March 8)
My trusty Century dictionary defines the
word feminism as “the doctrine advocating extension of
the
activities of women in social and political life.”
That seems self-evident nowadays, to be
taken for granted. Reading A CENTURY OF STRUGGLE by Eleanor Flexner and Ellen
Fitzpatrick will remind us that it took nearly that— EIGHTY YEARS before
American women were “given” the right to vote.305.42Fbl9c.
The very interesting and informative DVD
MAKERS indicates that everything women have won (so far) has not been “given”
but fought for. (The film opens with the first woman to run the Boston
marathon—in 1959!)
The indispensable text on the resurgence
of the feminist movement in the 1960s and beyond is THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE by
Bette Friedan.305.42Fri.
While Friedan’s seminal book talks mostly
about and is directed mostly to white middle-class women, COLONIZE THIS! YOUNG
WOMEN OF COLOR ON TODAY’S FEMINISM will correct that. Edited by Daisy
Hernandez
and Bushra Rehman. 305.42Col.
Alas, just about every woman has been
told by a smug male, “just lie back and enjoy it”, Susan Brownmiller tackles
this worldwide problem in AGAINST OUR
WILL: MEN, WOMEN AND RAPE. 364.1532b885a.
The world of Islamic women is explored in:
WOMEN’S REBELLION AND ISLAMIC MEMORY by Fatima Mernissi. 305.48697M566u. As it
increasingly dawns on Americans that the Muslim world exists, it is useful to
learn about it!
Exploring the world of motherhood and
attitudes over the ages is OF WOMAN BORN by Adrienne Rich. 301.42R498w.
For a psychological/psychoanalytic
approach: SEXUAL CONTRADICTIONS by JANET SAYERS.
Interestingly, books about the 19th
century history of feminism are only in the Childrens’ room. While this is of
cardinal importance, perhaps we need adult expositions as well of: THE SENECA
FALLS WOMEN’S RIGHTS CONVENTION by Sabrina Crew and Dale Anderson. J305.42c.
Perhaps the most famous woman of all on
this topic is Susan B. Anthony, who was ridiculed, feared, discounted—and even
physically attacked. See MARCHING WITH SUSAN: SUSAN B. ANTHONY AND THE FIGHT
FOR WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE. By Claire R. Murphy. Jf Mur.
For a trenchant discussion of women in
Central America and the Mexican state of Chiapas see FEMINISM AND THE LEGACY OF
REVOLUTION by Karen Kampwurth. 305.42.
As always, this is just a brief sampling
of the 91 books available in our TAOS PUBLIC LIBRARY on this subject. Browse!!
Comments?
Requests? jofo@kitcarson.net
