Feminism and Feminist Movements in America: An Encyclopedia of Ideals and Activism

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Offers deeply researched entries on nearly 200 essential people, events, organizations, laws, concepts, and issues that have defined US feminist movements, from the founding era through today.

US feminist movements are defined by persistence, bravery, and a steadfast belief in the fundamental worth of girls and women. These carefully curated entries delve thoughtfully into topics of significant public and scholarly interest in the realms of feminism, women's rights, and gender dynamics in both public and private spaces. Featured here are the activists and ideas that have challengedand in many instances prevailed overinequities in US society, from key figures such as Angela Davis and Betty Friedan to significant events such as the Women's March on Washington in 2017 and the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. America's feminist movements have fundamentally changed the lives of millions of people of every sex, gender, race, ethnicity, faith, and sexual orientation. This resource shows how feminist movements have also been integral in championing the many women who have made pioneering contributions in fields ranging from science and medicine to politics and advocacy. It also casts an unflinching light on the issues that women continue to face every day in fighting for equality in the home, workplace, classroom, and popular media in the 21st century.

Authored by feminist scholars, activists, and practitioners, this is an essential first stop for readers looking for a comprehensive introduction to US feminisms most relevant milestones and the concepts needed to contextualize its history and chart its future.

Author Bio

Sarah Kornfield is a professor of communication and women's and gender studies at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, USA. Dr. Kornfield is a feminist communication scholar who studies the public persuasion of sexism, and she is the author of Contemporary Rhetorical Criticism (2021), Invoking the Fathers: Dangerous Metaphors and Founding Myths in Congressional Politics (2024), and Watching Women: Femininity on TV (2025).