Women's Rights: Documents Decoded

(Hardback)

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Description

Taking a broad view of the ongoing efforts to attain rights for women, this work provides unique insight into the context of the issues and reveals the range of factors that can influence a particular policy decision. What constitutes "women's rights" depends on whom you askor who is in political office at the time. Understandably, women's rights have changed across time as perceptions of women and their roles have changed. What remains consistent regardless of the historic era is that rights assumed by men often must be specifically granted to women. This book presents an overview of women's rights that also addresses specific policy decisions. Within each policy entry, the author explains the factors that can influence a particular policy decision, such as the current American political culture, prevailing views of women as mothers and caretakers, perceptions of female/male relationships, systemic governmental influences, and conflicting opinions over the role of government in decisions related specifically to women's lives. The book's conclusion examines current issues, encouraging students to consider whether or not these rights will continue to evolve along with U.S. society and women's roles in it.

Reviews

This volume is broad in scope and includes information on the progress women have made and on the challenges that still exist. The format and the content are very suitable for students without much prior knowledge. . . . Recommended. * Choice *
[A] good collection of primary sources . . . recommended for high school and public libraries. * Booklist *
A solid starting point for anyone researching women's rights history, this title will make a worthwhile addition to reference collections at high school, public, and junior college libraries. * Library Journal *
Taking a broad view of the ongoing efforts to attain rights for women, this work provides unique insight into the context of the issues and reveals the range of factors that can influence a particular policy decision. . . . This work will provide students with a deeper understanding of the evolution of women's rights in this country and what work still needs to be done to ensure equity among for all people. This will be a particularly useful book in high school libraries and undergraduate libraries. * ARBA *

Author Bio

Aimee D. Shouse, PhD, is a professor and department chair in the Department of Women's Studies at Western Illinois University.