For the Many: American Feminists and the Global Fight for Democratic Equality

The book For the Many by Dorothy Sue Cobble explores how US women and their global allies pushed for justice and equality for all, reclaiming social democracy as a central thread of American feminism. It follows egalitarian womens activism from before World War I to the New Deal, midcentury upheavals, and the reassertion of conservatism. Readers encounter famous figures and less well-known leaders, highlighting the fight for social and economic rights across multiple generations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 584 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

For the Many: A History of Twentieth-Century Feminists Who Fought for the Rights of Women, Workers, and the Poor, Both in the United States and Abroad

In her groundbreaking book, For the Many: A History of Twentieth-Century Feminists Who Fought for the Rights of Women, Workers, and the Poor, Both in the United States and Abroad, Dorothy Sue Cobble offers an inspiring account of how US women and their global allies pushed the nation and the world toward justice and greater equality for all. Reclaiming social democracy as one of the central threads of American feminism, Cobble provides a bold rewriting of twentieth-century feminist history, documenting how forces, peoples, and ideas worldwide shaped American politics.

The book spans from the explosion of democracy movements before World War I to the establishment of the New Deal, through the upheavals in rights and social citizenship at midcentury, to the reassertion of conservatism and the revival of female-led movements today. Cobble brings to life the women who crossed borders of class, race, and nation to build grassroots campaigns, found international institutions, and enact policies dedicated to raising standards of life for everyone. Readers encounter famous figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Perkins, and Mary McLeod Bethune, as well as less well-known leaders such as Rose Schneiderman, Maida Springer Kemp, and Esther Peterson.

Multiple generations partnered to expand social and economic rights, and despite setbacks, the fight for the many persists as twenty-first-century activists urgently demand a more caring, inclusive world. By putting women at the center of US political history, For the Many reveals the powerful currents of democratic equality that spurred American feminists to seek a better life for all.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in women's rights, social justice, and the history of twentieth-century feminism. It provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the struggles and achievements of these women and their allies, and serves as a reminder of the ongoing importance of fighting for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed.

Weight: 972g
Dimension: 322 x 251 x 46 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691156873