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The women who have paved the way for the first Madam President
Pat Paulsen once said that in America every boy can grow up to be president; or, if he never grows-up, vice-president (remember how they portrayed Dan Quayle on "Saturday Night Live"?).But what about if you are a girl instead of a boy?No girl has ever grown up to be president and only one has grown up to even run for vice-president on a major party ticket.However, at this writing the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2008 election is Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.Running for president is not the same as being elected, but Catherine Thimmesh highlights this progress in the sub-title of her book, "Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics."

This book looks at the women who have played key roles in political history, and one of the interesting things is that instead of proceeding chronologically from Abigail Adams to Condoleezza Rice it does so within the context of specific categories.Thimmesh begins her book with a kids talking about what they want to be when they grow up.When one young girl says she wants to grow up to become president, a young boy scoffs at the idea.Others then come up with alternatives, such as marrying a president.Thimmesh then looks at a half-dozen first ladies: Abigail Adams, Edith Bolling Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, Rosalynn Carter, and Clinton.Each is covered in a two-page spread that tells why each is remembered, with a key quotation highlights in blue print.

From marrying the president the book turns to voting for president, and looks at Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Charlotte Woodward, Susan B. Anthony, Sara Bard Field, and Mrs. J.L. Burn, and the parts they played in getting women the vote.One of the strengths of this book is that it looks at women whose names are not usually remembered in this regard, so it does get beyond the usual women who are remembered.The next category is working in Congress, beginning with the first Congresswoman, Jeannette Rankin, and the first Senator, Margaret Chase Smith, and ending with Nancy Pelosi the current minority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.Then the book looks at women who have been appointed by presidents to serve in the Cabinet and elsewhere: Frances Perkins, Madeleine Albright, Sandra Day O'Connor, Condoleezza Rice.

The briefest category has Geraldine Ferraro, the only women to run on a major party ticket (twenty years ago), and the final category is devoted to women who have been presidents and prime ministers in foreign countries: Sirimvao Bandaranaike of what was then Ceylon, Vigdis Finnbogadottir of Iceland, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, and Benzair Bhutto of Pakistan.When young readers get to the end of the book George Washington will help point out that to become president all you need to be is an American citizen, born in the States, and at least thirty-five years old.Clearly, at that point there is nothing else to be said to make the case for a woman becoming president.The back of the book has a Timeline that looks at the history of women and politics in the United States (notice that the first line covers 146 years, the second 58, and the final one only 22 years as the political evolution of women was been speeding up).

If Senator Clinton gets the nomination there will be many who will not vote for her because she is a woman, and there will be many who will vote for her because she is (and even more who will simply not vote, which is arguably worse than exhibiting a gender bias in either direction).So having a woman run for president or even winning and being the first Madam President does not mean sexual equality is at hand.But most young people who read this book will have every reason to believe that the first woman president of the United States is going to be elected during their lifetime.Final Note: The illustrations in this book were hand drawn by Douglas B. Jones with pencil on paper and then color was applied using Photoshop on a Mac.I mention this because they struck me as looking somewhat unique and this process might just explain why in case you were wondering too.

Timely and beautiful!
I bought this book for my 11 year old niece who gave it rave reviews! She has passed it on to her cousin who also loved it. The girls are showing some interest in politics especially as it is an election year and they are learning alot aboutthe basics of government at school.
The writing and the illustrations make, what could have been a dry subject,fun, hip and humorous. The characters are stylish, accurate and engaging.
We all need to encourage an interest in politics and voting in our youth. And its great to show little girls examples of strong female role models in a way that they can relate to.

I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

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A groundbreaking study of women's political involvement in the classical age, Women and Politics in Ancient Rome delineates not only the influential role of Roman women in business, government, law and public affairs, but also the emergence of women's political and liberationist movements in antiquity.

Richard Bauman's investigation spans the period from 350 B.C. to A.D. 68, from the Early Principate to the Middle and Late Republic, focusing on the steady expansion of women's roles in public affairs. Bauman's treatment is principally chronological, leading up to a discussion of the formidable careers of ladies in the Emperor's House. Women and Politics in Ancient Rome will be of interest to historians, lawyers, classicists, and researchers in women's studies. ... Read more

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This book provides a comprehensive view of women's political participation in Latin America. Focusing on the latter half of the twentieth century, it examines five different arenas of action and debate: political institutions, workplaces, social movements, revolutions, and feminisms. Nikki Craske explores the ways in which women have become more effective in the public arena as the context of politics has altered. Craske demonstrates how gender relations shape political institutions and practices while simultaneously being shaped by them. She examines the moments when women's action has challenged received ideas and had a significant impact on the political life of Latin American nations. Women remain heavily under-represented in political life, despite their important role in popular movements against authoritarianism. Craske posits that the economy is a substantial constraint on women's political participation. This powerful book analyzes the gains made since the 1950s while scrutinizing the challenges and difficulties that still constrain women's political participation. ... Read more

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Globalizing gender Studies
Finally a comprehensive textbook, of real pedagogical value for professors, ready to incorporate Women and Politics in Latin America in their syllabi. The survey and analysis of machismo is exhilarating.
great job! ... Read more

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Despite increased international rhetoric in support of women's equality, women currently comprise a disproportionate share of the world's illiterate, poor, displaced, underpaid, underemployed, and underrepresented populations. And though women have gained visibility and influence in a wide array of political and economic arenas, their position and status in society are still far from equal to those of men. On the other hand, since the post-World War II era, there has been a global explosion of women's activism on behalf of equality, liberation, and better living conditions--women are standing up not only for themselves, but also for other disempowered groups.
Participation and Protest provides an overview of the ways in which women participate in institutionalized politics, social movements, and revolutionary movements. It discusses key policy issues that affect women, such as equality in the workforce, maternity and family leave policies, and reproductive rights. Exploring the critical concerns that confront women in the world community--including economic development, war, and international law--the book analyzes the role of women in nationalist and fundamentalist movements, and also considers women's rights in the broader context of international human rights. Offering global coverage of this important subject, Participation and Protest examines the impact of women in politics--and politics' impact on women--from a cross-national, comparative perspective. ... Read more

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Impressive and Powerful!!
After reading this well-written book I came away knowing so much more about the status of women's rights and struggles in modern Iran. This powerful and insightful author has highlighted the tenuous interplay between women, the discourse of rights, and post-revolutionary Iran. The interweaving of powerful ethnographic illustrations also makes this an excellent book for anyone embarking on thick, rich, and culturally descriptive ethnographic research. This book is a must-have for any budding scholar in the field of human rights, women's rights, or law. This is one of the best examples of legal anthropology I have ever come across. ... Read more

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In recent years, political parties and national legislatures in more than one hundred countries have adopted quotas for the selection of female candidates to political office. Despite the rapid international diffusion of these measures, most research has focused on single countries - or, at most, the presence of quotas within one world region. Consequently, explanations for the adoption and impact of gender quotas derived from one study often contradict with findings from other cases. Quotas for Women in Politics is the first book to address quotas as a global phenomenon to explain their spread and impact in diverse contexts around the world. It is organized around two sets of questions. First, why are quotas adopted? Which actors are involved in quota campaigns, and why do they support or oppose quota measures? Second, what effects do quotas have on existing patterns of political representation? Are these provisions sufficient for bringing more women into politics? Or, does their impact depend on other features of the broader political context? Synthesizing literature on quota policies, this book develops a framework for analyzing the spread of quota provisions and the reasons for variations in their effects. It then applies this framework to examine and compare campaigns for reserved seats in Pakistan and India, party quotas in Sweden and the United Kingdom, and legislative quotas in Argentina and France. ... Read more

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The only global, comparative text on women in politics, Women and Politics in a Global World, Second Edition, is a thorough examination of the impact of women on politics--and the impact of politics on women. Whereas most texts on this topic assume an American perspective, this unique text takes a cross-national, comparative approach to women and politics. Sarah L. Henderson and Alana S. Jeydel carefully consider women's participation in institutionalized politics, social protest, and nationalist, fundamentalist, and revolutionary movements.

To help break down the material and make it more accessible to students, the authors unify discussions of women's issues around four core areas:

* The assurance of women's safety and autonomy
* Reproductive rights and health care for mothers and children
* Equal access to employment and public resources including education, social services, and economic benefits
* Women's access to political institutions and positions of authority

They also explore women's rights in the broader context of international human rights and address issues confronting women in the world community, including economic development, war, and international law. In addition, the authors address the global explosion of women's activism in the post-World War II era. They illustrate the ways in which women are standing up not only for themselves but for other disempowered groups on behalf of equality, liberation, and better living conditions.

Designed for courses in women and politics, Women and Politics in a Global World, Second Edition, is also an ideal supplement for women's studies and comparative politics courses.

NEW TO THIS EDITION

* Updates all data to reflect recent global issues and new political developments
* Expands coverage of women's issues within Part III, featuring topics of high student interest
* Integrates new discussions of many women's issues, including international trafficking, the increasing incidence of female soldiers in civil conflicts, the reintegration of child soldiers after war, global migration, and the impact of structural adjustment policies on women's access to education
* Adds "Feature" boxes with profiles of individuals and organizations that have influenced women's issues
* Provides new end-of-chapter "For More Information" sections listing resources for further learning (relevant books, memoirs, diaries, and websites) ... Read more

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Good book for study & paper purpose
I purchased this for graduate class use. I haven't finished reading the whole book yet. But the chapters I have read so far are good. Talking about women's participation in political system, social movements, revolutionary movements. Also discussed sexual violence, globalization, etc.

Will be good for study&paper use. ... Read more

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The result of a collaboration among eight women scholars, this collection examines the history of womens participation in literary, journalistic, educational, and political activity in Latin American history, with special attention to the first half of this century. ... Read more

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Many young women today consider "feminism" a dirty word, an antiquated term that hasn't expanded to accommodate the diverse needs of a new generation. In addition, decades of negative campaigns, excessively "messaged" issues, and hanging chads have all combined to make political apathy appear not only smart, but also sexy. The result is that while they still bemoan the state of gender politics, gender equity, and the agendas of their local, state, and national politicians, nearly 19 million young women chose not to vote in the last election. Yes, the face of feminism is changing, but to what end? Is a new generation taking for granted the rights hard-won only a generation before? And by focusing on cultural—not electoral—politics, are women today giving their power away? In this pivotal book, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, environmental and political consultant, asks these critical questions, tracing feminism's distinguished past and exploring new developments in American political history, asking what can be done to protect and further women's rights and freedoms. The F-Word is truly an astonishing look at the tenuous state of women’s rights and issues in America, and a call to action for the young women who have the power to change their situation. ... Read more

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An eye-opening read
This is one of those books I'd like to put into the hands of all my friends - I found valuable insights into the plight of women's rights in every section of every chapter, and if every section didn't apply directly to me, it did apply to someone I know.Because the women's rights movement has been ongoing for so long, and the bra-burning days are mercifully behind us, lots of people (both male and female) seem to think it's all better and women don't have any more problems balancing work, family, and life.This book does a nice job of exploring the issues women still face, with a particular emphasis on issues facing young women, those of us who grew up after the main thrust of the movement.

The first few chapters cover the history of the women's rights movement, up to the present day, which Rowe-Finkbeiner characterizes as the 'third wave'.She then turns to a discussion of the issues that face women on college campuses, in the workplace, and at home with partners and children.The last few chapters explore how these areas of women's lives are influenced by our government, specifically, the legislative process and its products, and how young women can (and must) become more proactive in the process.

One of the other reviewers commented on the repetitive preachiness of Rowe-Finkbeiner's message, that is, that women, especially young women, must understand the importance of the political process in their lives, and then must channel that importance into taking action.It is true that most sections close with that idea - but that's the idea.If reading even one section of one chapter can make a person think, "hey, that applies to me," and then make them want to become more aware about political issues, then the book has done its job.

I found the book to be extremely readable.It stayed on point within each topic, and was full of real-life examples of women facing the situations being discussed.Each chapter is narrowly focused, but the topics flow together seamlessly from one chapter to the next.The ideas are thoroughly researched and engagingly presented.Another thing I really like are the grey boxes scattered throughout the book, chok full of resources and quick information relevant to the main topics.And in the back, there's a guide for reading/discussion groups, an appendix titled "how to run and win", and another appendix of contact information for activist organizations, government resources, political parties, and research groups.All in all, this is truly recommended reading for all young women.

Inspiring read
The F-Word made me wake up and realize that I can make a difference.I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what is really going on with today's American women.It was great to peek into other women's lives and see what is important to them and how they handle day-to-day issues big and small.Those who are interested in learning about modern feminism and the "third wave", along with the historical context of equal rights in our nation will also be happy with this book.The reading group guide in the back makes this a great book group pick.

Weak conclusions
Though there was much about this book that I enjoyed, Rowe-Finkbeiner's tendency to end every segment with "which could be accomplished by getting more young women to vote and increase the number of women in politics. . ." got very old very quick.Do I disagree?No.However, asserting that every feminist plight could be solved as easily as this is single tracked and disappointing.Furthermore, it made it a very predictable and almost boring read.

Who's telling the truth?
Oh, Spike in San Antonio. It's so hard to believe that sexism exists, isn't it? I'm not sure where your numbers come from, as your logic seems tenuous, at best, but according to that left-wing, liberal think tank known as the US Census Bureau, Rowe-Finkbeiner is right. And it's getting worse.

The Census Bureau reported in August, based on the Current Population Survey, that women'sreal median earnings fell by $171, or 0.6 percent, from 2002 to 2003, while men's increased by$336, or 0.8 percent. (The increase for men was not statistically significant, but the decrease for women was.) The gender wage ratio thus fell to 75.5, compared with 76.6 in 2002. In addition, a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released in October of 2003, controlling for changes in education and work experience over time, concludes that women¹s earnings haveremained stagnant, relative to men's, for an even longer period--17 years--with a gap that cannot be explained by measurable differences in education and experience.

If you actually read The F-Word, you might findcited cases like this: Although women make up nearly 3/4 of Wal-Mart's workforce, men hold 90% of management positions--despite female employee's receiving better performance evaluations overall--and female employees are paid lower wages than male employees for the same jobs. None of this is disputed by the corporation. Why? According to Wal-Mart, because men are there for a career, while women are working for pocket money. I wish I could say your attitude was merely naive--but the truth is it's far more dangerous and insidious. Thanks to Rowe-Finbeiner for telling it how it really is.

What color is the sky on your planet?
I just watched Ms. Rowe-Finkbeiner on the Dennis Miller Show, and she trotted out the trusty "women only make 76 cents for the same work a man gets paid a dollar." This is another of the patently false statements used to divide men and women. It has clearly been debunked by multiple studies which block for age, marital and parental status, and years on the job. But even if the proof weren't there, I challenge you to put this to a simple logic test. Most businesses operate on a very thin margin. CEOs are given huge bonuses if they can improve the bottom line by 1-2%. What do you think they would get if they could save 24% on labor costs just by trading their male employees for female employees? If this canard were true, males would NEVER find work in this country. ... Read more

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Based on meticulous and original archival research, this study definitively shows that despite contemporary "woman's sphere" prescriptions advising them to stay out of public affairs, a number of New England women in the antebellum era amply demonstrated political consciousness and proffered partisan opinions with little social reprobation for having overstepped their "proper" role. Voices without Votes rescues the "voices" of these women who, though barred from voting, nevertheless thought and acted in a deeply political manner. This long-awaited volume offers a startling counter to the traditional view that antebellum politics was solely a man's world. ... Read more

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Women and Politics in the Third World provides a feminist analytical perspective on the specific forms of resistance, organisation and negotiation by women in Third World States. Using case studies, the book focuses on difference as a theoretical basis for investigating feminine political activism, arguing that Western analysts have attributed weakness to terms such as motherhood, marriage and domesticity as choices made by non-western women, they show that such strategies are used by women to pursue particular goals such as seeking resources, welfare or freedom from oppression for their children. These strategies, the book suggests, should not be classified as unimportant or temporary and can be highly effective even within such discourses as Islamic fundamentalism.
The contributors to this volume have embarked on an innovatory path which higlights differing political approaches in regions as diverse as Latin America, South East Asia, China and the Middle East. It will provide a real insight for students wishing to understand the diversities and complexities of women's political participation in these areas. ... Read more

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The Civil War-era U.S. Sanitary Commission (USSC) was the largest wartime benevolent institution. Judith Ann Giesberg demonstrates convincingly that that generation of women provided a crucial link between the local evangelical crusades of the early nineteenth century and the sweeping national reform and suffrage movements of the postwar period.

Drawing on Sanitary Commission documents and memoirs, the author details how northern elite and middle-class women's experiences in and influence over the USSC formed the impetus for later reform efforts. Giesberg explores the ways in which women honed organizational and administrative skills, developed new strategies that combined strong centralized leadership with regional grassroots autonomy, and created a sisterhood that reached across class lines. She begins her study with an examination of the Woman's Central Association of Relief, an organization that gave birth to the USSC. Giesberg then discusses the significant roles of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, Dorothea Lynde Dix, and Henry Whitney Bellows, and considers the rationale for bringing women and men together in a collaborative wartime relief program. She shows how Louisa Lee Schuyler, Abigail Williams May, and other young women maneuvered and challenged the male-run Commission as they built an effective national network for giving critical support to soldiers on the battlefield and their families on the home front.

This fresh perspective on the evolution of women's political culture fills an important gap in the literature, and it will appeal to historians, women's studies scholars, and Civil War buffs alike. ... Read more

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In January 1999, five women were elected to the highest offices in Arizona, including governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. The “Fab Five,” as they were dubbed by the media, were sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, herself a former member of the Arizona legislature. Some observers assumed that the success of women in Arizona politics was a result of the modern women’s movement, but Winning Their Place convincingly demonstrates that these recent political victories have a long and fascinating history.

This landmark book chronicles for the first time the participation of Arizona women in the state’s early politics. Incorporating impressive original research, Winning Their Place traces the roots of the political participation of women from the territorial period to after World War II. Although women in Arizona first entered politics for traditional reasons—to reform society and protect women and children—they quickly realized that male politicians were uninterested in their demands. Most suffrage activists were working professional women, who understood that the work place discriminated against them. In Arizona they won the vote because they demanded rights as working women and aligned with labor unions and third parties that sympathized with their cause. After winning the vote, the victorious suffragists ran for office because they believed men could not and would not represent their interests.



Through this process, these Arizona women became excellent politicians. Unlike women in many other states, women in Arizona quickly carved out a place for themselves in local and state politics, even without the support of the reigning Democratic Party, and challenged men for county office, the state legislature, state office, Congress, and even for governor. This fascinating book reveals how they shattered traditional notions about “a woman’s place” and paved the way for future female politicians, including the “Fab Five” and countless others who have changed the course of Arizona history. ... Read more