A definitive overview of court decisions and legislative victories in the fight for gender equality in U.S. history.
Until the late 19th century, women were the property of their fathers and husbands with no rights or legal identity. In 1848, a movement began that would eventually win the right to vote for women in 1920. Since then, the Equal Rights Amendment has been introduced every year in Congress but has never passed, and women are still not equal under the U.S. Constitution.
Women and the Law: Leaders, Cases, and Documents chronicles the evolution of women's rights from the Revolutionary War to the present day. Spanning the gamut of legal concepts, court decisions, justices, and organizations, this extensive reference also explores a broad range of issues from sexual harassment and spousal abuse to the gender gap in voting and the custody challenge of Baby M.
Profiles of Susan B. Anthony, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anita Hill, Betty Friedan, and other activists explore their roles in bringing the issue of equal rights for women to the forefront of U.S. politics. A thorough review of key legislative acts, including the 19th Amendment, the Equal Pay Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, and more recent rulings like the Violence against Women Act of 1994 reveals the successes, failures, and tenacious efforts of those who are fighting to achieve gender equality in the United States.
Features
• A–Z entries ranging from legislation such as Title IX, the Equal Pay Act, and the failed Equal Rights Amendment to pioneers such as Susan B. Anthony, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Betty Friedan
• An introductory chapter presenting key concepts and issues that pertain to women in U.S. law
• A table of cases that features more than 50 key judicial decisions
• Chronological coverage of the history of U.S. laws pertaining to gender
• An appendix of key original documents in the struggle for equality
• Photographs of many important pioneers of women's rights
Highlights
• Profiles not just the women, but the men who forced society to view gender issues with more neutrality
• Discusses particular groups aimed at gaining equality, such as the National Women's Party and the modern-day National Organization for Women
Ashlyn K. Kuersten is associate professor of political science at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. Her published works include Decisions on the U.S. Courts of Appeals and various articles on judicial decision making.
Reviews
"This well-written and well-researched book would be useful in high school and public libraries with a strong demand for the topic."—VOYA
"Because the volume collects a wide range of information, it is a valuable resource for libraries and researchers new to the field ... Recommended. General readers and library collections serving lower-division undergraduates."—Choice
"Kuersten's volume is more current and focuses on women in the legal and political arenas. It should prove useful in academic and large public libraries."—Booklist
"... this work provides a wealth of information on an important topic, is well-organized, and contains well-written entries ... it is a highly recommended purchase for public, high school, and undergraduate libraries."—American Reference Books Annual
"This is a well-written reference work on the history of and themes related to women and law in the United States. ... an excellent choice for high school, public, and college libraries."—Feminist Collections
