We have
assembled an eclectic list of feminist books. Some refer to the CWLU.
Some are about women in Chicago history. Some are written by former
CWLU members. Others are written by members and supporters of the Herstory
Project. If you know of worthwhile books we have overlooked, please
let us know at infogal@cwluherstory.org
The
Feminist Memoir Project contains autobiographical writings
edited by Rachel DuPlessis and Ann Snitow. Includes narratives from
former CWLUers Naomi Weisstein, Heather Booth, Amy Kesselman and Vivian
Rothstein. Excerpts from this book appear elsewhere on this site.
In
Our Time: Memoir of a Revolution contains a wealth of anecdotal
history about the women's liberation movement. Author Susan Brownmiller
is a good storyteller and a thoughtful analyst of the movement's many
trends and personalities. It has some CWLU related material.
The
Story of Jane : The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service
is a memoir written by former Jane member Laura Kaplan about
the CWLU affiliated abortion service. This exceptionally well written
book presents Jane in a very realistic light.
Remedios
by Aurora Levins Morales is a montage of photos and stories
about Puerto Rican women from the earliest days. Aurora
is a former CWLUer.
Tidal
Wave by
Sara Evans details the enormous changes in women's lives since the
1960's. The book has some CWLU
references.
Women
Confronting Retirement: A Nontraditional Guide by by
Nan Bauer-Magli and Alice Radosh, showcases the voices of 38
women as they confront the need to redefine who they are when
they leave the workplace behind them. Among the contributors
are former CWLUers Diane Horwitz and Terry Davis.
Her
Way by Chicago writer Paula Kamen is her long awaited study
of young women and sexuality. She credits second wave feminism for
much of today's greater sexual autonomy for women. She also wrote
the play Jane: Abortion and the Underground. Paula Kamen is
a member of the Herstory Project.
Moving
the Mountain by Flora Davis is an introduction to the history
of the women's movement since 1960. Based on over 100 interviews with
activist participants, it was recently updated. Has some CWLU references.
Feminism
in the Heartland by
Judith Ezekiel tells the story of the women's movement in Dayton,
Ohio in the 1970's. The CWLU experience was an influence on
the women's liberation movement in Dayton.
This book overcomes the bi-coastal bias of many histories of
the
period.
Yes, Virginia,
there was a women's liberation movement in the Midwest.
Getting
Home Alive by Aurora Levins Morales and Rosario Morales
is a unique mother-daughter autobiography of struggle, love and
survival
from the hills of Puerto Rico to the streets of NY and Chicago. Both
Aurora Levins Morales and her mother Rosario are former
CWLUers.
Women Writing Resistance: Essays from Latin America and the Caribbean edited by Jennifer Browdy de Hernandez unearths an emerging tradition of Latin American and Caribbean women authors who are passionately committed to chronicling, and fighting, the injustices that pervade their home countries. Former CWLUer Aurora
Medicine
Stories by Aurora Levins Morales begins with a look into
the complexities of Puerto Rico's colonized past and continues
with essays
about activism, feminism, health and love. Aurora Levins Morales
is a former CWLUer.
Sticking
to the Union: an Oral History of the Life and Times of Julia
Ruuttila
by Sandy Polishuk details the life of a longtime union activist from
her days in the IWW to her role in the International
Longshore and Warehouse Union. The forward to the book is by former
CWLUer Amy Kesselman.
Unequal
Sisters edited by Ellen DuBois and Vicki Ruiz. A broad-ranging
anthology containing some 40 works of feminist history focusing
on the experiences of women of color, from which more than
half of the articles are drawn. Ellen DuBois is a former CWLUer.
Feminist
Organizations : Harvest of the New Women's Movement is a
collection of academic articles edited by Myra Ferree and Patricia
Martin. It contains an article about the CWLU by Herstory Project
member Margaret
"Peg" Strobel. The cover uses a poster designed by Graphics
Collective co-founder Estelle Carol.
Woman's
Inhumanity to Woman is the new book by Phyllis Chesler that
explores competition among women. Has some startling insights into
how sexism is internalized and how this has affected the feminist
movement. Includes some references to former CWLUers.
The
Politics of Women's Liberation by Jo Freeman analyzes the
diversity of the women's movement from the mid 60's to 1973. The CWLU
is mentioned. Jo Freeman is a Herstory Project contributor.
At Berkeley in the Sixties by Jo Freeman tells of her days in the Berkeley Free Speech Movement and the Bay Area Civil Rights Movement. Jo Freeman is a Herstory Project contributor.
The
Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Susan B. Anthony Reader edited
by Ellen DuBois. A collection of writings from two of our most
celebrated foremothers. Editor Ellen DuBois is a former CWLUer
Don't
Kill Your Baby: Public Health and the Decline of Breastfeeding in
the 19th and 20th Centuries by medical historian Jacqueline
Wolf explores a little known area of women and children's health.
Jackie was a political activist in Chicago and much of the research
for her book was done here.
Freedom's
Daughters by Lynne Olson is a history of women in the civil
rights movement beginning in the 1830's. Includes material on the
relationship between the civil rights movement and women's liberation.
Has a discussion of Heather Booth's work in Mississippi and its relationship
to her later work in the women's movement. Heather Booth was a founding
member of the CWLU.
Abortion
Without Apology: A Radical History for the 90's by Ninia Baehr.
Contains material about
Jane and its lessons for our time.
Harriet
Stanton Blatch and the Winning of Woman Suffrage by
Ellen DuBois. Harriet Stanton Blatch (1856-1940), daughter of the
famous suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, played an essential role
in the winning of woman suffrage in the United States. Ellen DuBois
is a former CWLUer.
Voices
of Women Historians edited by Eileen Boris. Meet the women
who record the history that women make. Eileen Boris was a member
of the CWLU and talks about her involvement in its labor history project.
There is also a memoir from CWLU Herstory Project member Peg Strobel.
The
World Split Open: How the Modern Women's Movement Changed America
by Ruth Rosen. An overview of the 20th century women's movement that
includes some "hidden history" of 1940's, 50's and early
60's feminism. Has a few CWLU related references.
Provoking
Agents: Gender and Agency in Theory and Practice edited by
Judith Keegan Gardiner contains 17 essays on feminist theory and practice,
exploring their impact on society and individuals. Judith Keegan Gardiner
is a former member of the CWLU and is a Herstory Project contributor.
Dear
Sisters edited by Rosalyn Baxandall and Linda Gordon. An illustrated
anthology of documents from Second Wave feminists. There are several
CWLU documents in the collection.
Feminism
and Suffrage by Ellen DuBois.
A close look at the early days of the women's movement from 1848-1869.
Ellen DuBois is a former CWLUer.
Women
Building Chicago edited by Rima Lunin Schultz and Adele Hast.
A very thorough biographical reference work of how women helped build
the Second City.
Politics
of Women's Studies edited by Florence Howe. Modern women's
studies programs grew out of the struggles of the women's liberation
movement. This anthology explores the many points of view among today's
women's studies practitioners. CWLU Herstory Project member Peg Strobel
has an essay in the book.
A
Room at a Time: Women's Entry into Party Politics is Jo
Freeman's new book about how women transformed political parties in
America. Jo Freeman has generously contributed material to the Herstory
Project.
Woman
Suffrage and Women's Rights by
Ellen DuBois is a collection that traces the suffrage story against
the backdrop of changing attitudes to politics, citizenship and
gender,
and the
resultant tensions over sociological issues. Ellen DuBois is a former
CWLUer.
The
V. I Warshawski Series by Sara Paretsky chronicles
the life of Chicago's fictional feminist private detective, V.I.
Warshawski.
V.I. is described as having once belonged to an underground abortion
network based at the University of Chicago. Sounds like V.I. was
a
fictional member of "Jane". Paretsky's books explore the
political corruption, corporate crime and street life of Chicago
in
gritty vivid detail. Use the link we provide and then type Sara's
name into the search field to get the latest list of V.I's adventures.
Feminist Fatale by Chicago writer Paula Kamen is widely noted
as the first book on Generation X women and feminism. She also wrote
the play Jane: Abortion and the Underground. Paula Kamen is
a member of the Herstory Project. Out of print, but available directly
from the author HERE.
Every
Mother's Son : The Role of Mothers in the Making of Men is
Judith Arcana's book detailing the role mothers play in the making
of men. Judith Arcana was active in Jane and is still involved with
the abortion movement. She has generously contributed material to
the Herstory Project
Our
Mother's Daughters is Judith Arcana's book detailing
the role mothers play in the making of women. Judith Arcana was active
in Jane and is still involved with the abortion movement. She has
generously contributed material to the Herstory Project.
Women:
Images and Realities edited by Amy Kesselman, Lily D. McNair
and Nancy Schniedewind, is a far ranging multicultural anthology of
feminist writings on a variety of subjects. Amy Kesselman is a former
member of the CWLU and is a Herstory Project member.
You
Can't Not Do It: The Journal of an Older Activist edited
by Rima Lunin Schultz is the inspiring account of Chicagoan
Ruth Dear's long commitment to social justice. This memoir
is a testament to the persistence and courage of one woman
in the face of militarism, racism and nuclear proliferation.
Ruth is a former CWLU member.
For
Women Only by Gary Null and Barbara Seaman is a definitive
look at the major contributions to women's health throughout history,
together with a practical guide to women's health concerns. Has some
CWLU references.
When
Abortion was a Crime by Leslie J. Reagan is an award-winning
history of abortion in America from 1867-1973. Has references related
to the CWLU affiliated Abortion Counseling Service or "Jane"
.
The
Rising of the Women by Meredith Tax is an introduction
to the remarkable working class organizing that went on in the
pre WWI period. Meredith Tax is a former CWLUer.
Rivington
Street by Meredith Tax is the fictional story
of Jewish women growing up on New York's Lower East Side in the
early 20th century. Meredith Tax is a former CWLUer
Union
Square by Meredith
Tax is the sequel to Rivington Street and follows the story through
the years between the world wars. Meredith Tax is a former CWLUer
Radical
Feminism by Barbara Crow is a carefully chosen collection
of classic documents from second wave feminism. Has several documents
written by CWLU members.
Daring
to Be Bad: Radical Feminism in America 1967-1975 by Alice
Echols is a good overview of the period, especially the tension between
radical feminism and the Left. There are a few brief references related
to the CWLU.
Grace
Paley's Life Stories : A Literary Biography is Judith
Arcana's book about the activist writer Grace Paley. Judith Arcana
was active in Jane and is still involved with the abortion movement.
She has generously contributed material to the Herstory Project.
Personal
Politics: The Roots of Women's Liberation in the Civil Rights Movement
and the New Left by Sara Evans traces women's liberation back
to the days of the civil rights movement and the New Left. Includes
some material
about CWLU founders Heather Booth and Vivian Rothstein.