To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done For America - A HistoryA unique and “often quite moving” look at gay women’s role in US history (The Washington Post). In this “essential and impassioned addition to American history,” the three-time Lambda Literary Award winner and author of Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers focuses on a select group of late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century lesbians who were in the forefront of the battle to procure the rights and privileges that large numbers of Americans enjoy today (Kirkus Reviews). Hoping to “set the record straight (or, in this case, unstraight)” for all Americans and provide a “usable past” for lesbians in particular, Lillian Faderman persuasively argues that the sexual orientation of her subjects may in fact have facilitated their accomplishments. With impeccably drawn portraits of such seminal figures as Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Eleanor Roosevelt, To Believe in Women “will raise eyebrows and consciousness” (Dianne Wood Middlebrook). As Faderman writes in her introduction, “This is a book about how millions of American women became what they are now: full citizens, educated, and capable of earning a decent living for themselves.” A landmark work of impeccable research and compelling readability, To Believe in Women is an enlightening and surprising read. “For those who need a dose of pride and a slice of history, Faderman’s portraits should strike a popular note. ‘To Believe in Women’ is a decent starting point for learning about these pioneers and their contributions to American life.” —The New York Times |
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Contents
| 13 | |
| 97 | |
III How Americon Women Got Educated | 173 |
IV How Americon Women Got into the Professions | 253 |
Other editions - View all
To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done for America : a History Lillian Faderman No preview available - 2000 |
To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done for America--a History Lillian Faderman No preview available - 1999 |
To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done for America--a History Lillian Faderman No preview available - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
able Alice American Anna Anthony became become believed Blackwell Bryn Mawr called career Carey Thomas Carrie Catt cause century College continued dear death domestic early Eliot Elizabeth Ellen Emily established Ethel example feel felt female Frances gender girls give graduates heterosexual higher History House husband Ibid important interest Jane Addams Journal Kellor labor later leaders lesbian letters lived Lucy male marriage married Martha Mary Mollie mother Mount Holyoke movement needed never nineteenth observed organization percent perhaps pioneers political position possible president profession professional Quoted reel reform relationship role Ruth seemed serve sexual shared Shaw Smith social success suffrage Susan tion University University Press vote wished woman women Woolley workers wrote York young
Popular passages
Page 18 - ... assemblage of rampant women which convened at the Tabernacle yesterday was an interesting phase in the comic history of the nineteenth century.
Page 8 - Two selfsupporting adults decide to make a home together: if both are women it is a pleasant partnership, more fun than work; if one is a man, it is almost never a partnership — the woman simply adds running the home to her regular outside job.
Page 247 - I suspect that the problem of the married woman who would prefer emotional-physical relationships with other women is proportionally much higher than a similar statistic for men. (A statistic surely no one will ever really have.) This because the estate of woman being what it is, how could we ever begin to guess the numbers of women who are not prepared to risk a life alien to what they have been taught all their lives to believe was their "natural" destiny — AND — their only expectation for...
Page 94 - Men and Women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.
Page 178 - During the past year, my heart has so yearned over the adult female youth, in the common walks of life, that it has sometimes seemed as though a fire were shut up in my bones.
Page 26 - The sunniest of sunny mornings to you, how are you today? Well and happy, I hope. To tell the truth I want to see you very much indeed, to hold your hand in mine, to hear your voice, in a word, I want you — I can't have you? Well, I will at least put down a little fragment of my foolish self and send it to look up at you...
Page 129 - I had forgotten Love, And only thought of Hull House then. That is the way with women folks When they attempt the things of men; They grow intense, and love the thing Which they so tenderly do rear, And think that nothing lies beyond Which claims from them a smile or tear. Like mothers, who work long and late To rear their children fittingly, Follow them only with their eyes, And love them almost pityingly. So I was blind and deaf those years To all save one absorbing care, And did not guess what...
Page 176 - smash" is mutual, they monopolize each other & "spoon" continually, & sleep together & lie awake all night talking instead of going to sleep; & if it isn't mutual the unrequited one cries herself sick & endures pangs unspeakable.
Bibliographic information
| Title | To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done For America - A History |
| Author | Lillian Faderman |
| Publisher | HMH, 2000 |
| ISBN | 0547348401, 9780547348407 |
| Length | 448 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Women Social Science / LGBT Studies / Gay Studies Social Science / LGBT Studies / Lesbian Studies |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |