Inventing the American Woman

When the first edition of this groundbreaking survey of U.S. women’s history first appeared in 1986, no one could have predicted its spectacular success and widespread support—or the vast proliferation of women’s history courses in the nation’s high schools, colleges, and universities. Informed by the generous feedback of many of “Inventing"’s loyal users—student readers and instructors from every region of the nation—the fourth edition of Glenda Riley’s dynamic text remains the most inclusive, accessible, and affordable choice as a core text for the Women’s History course, as well as useful supplementary reading for courses in Women’s Studies and the U.S. survey. Completely up to date, with expanded coverage of women in the military, sports, women’s healthcare, divorce, and women of color—especially Spanish-speaking, American Indian, African American, and Asian American women—this well-balanced, interpretive account portrays the myriad of women’s experiences as they shaped and were shaped by American history, and redounds as a remarkable feat of insight and inclusion. As always, each volume features a stunning photographic essay, a visual account from the colonial era to the present.

Introduction: Gender Expectations Across Cultures ix Chapter Six “Reordering Woman’s Sphere”: The Gilded Age and Progressive Era, 1878 to 1914 261 The Gilded Age, 1878 to 1890 262 Reform during the Progressive Era, 1890 to 1914 271 Employed Women during the Progressive Era, 1890 to 1914 288 The New South during the Progressive Era, 1890 to 1914 297 The New West during the Progressive Era, 1890 to 1914 299 Study Guide 308 Suggestions for Further Reading 309 Chapter Seven The “New Woman”: World War I and the “Roaring Twenties,” 1914 to 1929 319 Women during World War I, 1914 -1918 319 Woman Suffrage Triumphant 329 Change and Continuity during the 1920s 340 Racial Issues 353 Study Guide 362 Suggestions for Further Reading 363 Chapter Eight “Making Do and Pitching In”: The Great Depression and World War II, 1929 to 1945 370 The Great Depression of the 1930s 370 Life during the 1930s 386 World War II, 1941-1945 396 Survival of Regionalism during the Depression and World War II 407 Study Guide 412 Suggestions for Further Reading 413 Images and Realities (Photographs) Follow page 418 418 Chapter Nine The Feminine Mystique and Beyond, 1945 to 1965 419 Back-to-the-Home Movement of the Late 1940s and the 1950s 420 Beyond Suburbia: The Late 1940s and the 1950s 431 Emerging Feminism: The Early 1960s 443 Women’s Lives: The Early 1960s 452 Study Guide 462 Suggestions for Further Reading 463 Chapter Ten Modern American Women: 1965 to the Present 468 The Feminist Movement, 1965-1985 469 Assessing Gains and Losses, 1965-1985 488 Since 1985 500 Study Guide 517 Suggestions for Further Reading 518 Conclusion: Looking Toward the Future 526 Index xii (follow page 530)