In 1963; Betty Friedan unleashed a storm of controversy with her bestselling book; The Feminine Mystique. Women wrote to her by the hundreds to say that the book had transformed; even saved; their lives. Nearly half a century later; many women still recall where they were and what they were doing when they first read the book. In A Strange Stirring; prominent historian of women and marriage Stephanie Coontz strips away the myths; examining what The Feminine Mystique actually said; and which groups of women were affected. Coontz takes us back to the early 1960s – the age of Mad Men – when the sexual revolution was barely nascent; middle class wives stayed at home; and husbands retained legal control over almost every aspect of family life. Based on extensive research in the magazines and popular culture of the 1940s; 1950s; and early 1960s; as well as interviews with women and men who read The Feminine Mystique shortly after its publication; A Strange Stirring brilliantly illuminates how Friedan's book emboldened a generation of women to realize that their boredom and dissatisfaction stemmed from political injustice rather than personal weakness.
#248094 in Books Dyson; Michael Eric 2007-07-03 2007-07-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x .75 x 5.25l; .61 #File Name: 046501772X288 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Bungled Katrina ResponseBy David RobinsonDyson approaches his assessment of the failed disaster response on the bases of color and/or class. The question he poses is; 'Was the response influenced by racism or by poverty?' YES is the answer; of course. But the focus of the book is an exercise in identifying the fateful (in)decision process; with efforts to attribute credit and blame where appropriate. Early on in the book; I found myself suspecting that the author was being an apologist for the Bush administration; and more specifically Homeland Security and FEMA. However; as I proceeded through the book; it seemed that he was simply striving to clarify the factors that influenced the actions of the federal; state; and local governments; and relief organizations; with particular attention to the Red Cross. The net result being a melange of too little and too late. There is evidence of incompetence; petty politics; lack of coordination; etc. And; yes; these failings were quite possibly tolerated due to underlying attitudes of racism and elitism. More attention is given to the details of the failed response rather than to the heroic actions of those who actually did provide immediate rescue and relief. The fate of Gulf Coast residents seems to be rendered secondary to the egos of officialdom. A sad account of tragic failures at many levels.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. As it really happenedBy Mildred CobbinahHaving lived in New Orleans and dealing with the threat of hurricanes it is interesting to read of the other views of the reactions to hurricanes. As long as I've lived in New Orleans; I was always aware of the vulnerability of the city. To hear that the Office of the President of The United States and those in charge of FEMA were not aware is disingenuous. It appears that they knowingly ignored the plight of the citizens of New Orleans. Thanks for a well written story.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Dark side of AmericaBy MeiIn past decade; one of big natural disaster was Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans; a lot of people lost their houses and most of them could not evacuated on time and left behind. In Come Hell or High Water Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster; Michael Eric Dyson presents "unnatural disaster"- man-made disasters; such as poverty; racism and classism" beyond Katrina. Author advocates for black community; emphasizes racial issue and how this issue affects in society.In Dyson's book; he shows that poor black Americans suffer the damage brought from Katrina. Those affected were from legacy of discrimination and racism and racism creates a gap of unequal treatment comparing with wealthy Caucasian American by the government policies.To support Dyson's theory; first he points out the primary offenders of this disaster were Bush administration; local and federal government. He shows the detail time line of background of New Orleans; then he approaches Hurricane Katrina to racism and classism; he analyzes natural disaster correlated with unnatural disasters. By time; he explains racial stereotyping in a whole society and media coverage and portrait of blacks.In explaining racism issue; Dyson quotes CBS's Sunday Morning that "...in New Orleans were white people; they would not have gone for days without food....." (18) By this; that means whites would get help sooner and more effectively. In other word; that is an assumption about whites and blacks are treated different. Clearly this approach was at odds with that expected by readers. That is hard to totally agree Dyson's theory. However; if Dyson emphasizes that the unequal evacuation relates with different of social economic status and people living in New Orleans are poor lower class and they are seldom to vote; so those people only have got lesser attention comparing than rich privilege class. That explanation will be more convinced.Ironically; the weakness of Dyson's book is his overemphasis of race. He states; "How can race possibly be quarantined from a consideration of Katrina when it so thoroughly pervades blacks culture--the choices we make; the laws we adopt and discard; and the social practices that are polluted by its pestering ubiquity?" (19). Obviously; race plays a role in society; but this is an overstatement. Most decisions people make have nothing to do with race. This overemphasis on race; I believe; leads him to find racial difference in his perception of reality.To reinforce racism's view that Dyson points out that media exemplifies a low view of blacks. He refers to the Associated Press's report; young blacks "looted" food but whites "found" food. (164) By that caption from report; that means reporter also has its own perception and cultural bias. That is significant aspect of Dyson's book; media creates a negative stereotype of blacks. Obviously; media pay an important role of giving messages in society and media has a way with words to influent image of blacks in society. That is a good reason to explain why blacks couldn't get equal treatment with others because they have bad reputation from media's commentary.Another questionable aspect of Dyson's book; he constantly decries the inefficiency of the Bush administration; particularly FEM incompetency during this disaster. Dyson clearly points out the incompetence of the administration; the government and FEMA really had no structure in place to handle a natural disaster; particularly their lack of proper coordinating for handling the situation. However; for the incompetency has no relation to racial issues. Despite these criticisms; Dyson's book does have its positives and we need to judge it in terms of the author's purpose in writing it. It is intended to be a rigorous piece of academic work. After we read Dyson's biography; he is a black academic; an author; radio host and a professor of sociology. We can understand the purpose of his book; he reminds us including society and government "class issue" and "racism" still exit. We shouldn't be ignored them. I agree with Dyson that class certainly had something to do with the response to Katrina and that race probably played a role too. If we consider Dyson as a black academic; he speaks the truth about country's attitudes toward the poor; as well as government's continued refuse to response to these taboo issues. These issues didn't begin with a hurricane; it states that to remind the entire country that we are not a classless society. The book was insightful in many ways; and it provided new information about what really happened.
