Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women | Susan Faludi

Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women | Susan Faludi | A TRULY AMAZING BOOK

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Backlash: The Unde...

	Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women Susan Faludi Three Rivers Press, 2006 - 592 pages average customer review:based on 81 reviews view larger image
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very well-researched book

Susal Faludi maintains that, in response to the popularity and mild success of the 1970s women's movement, 1980s America began to push in the opposite direction ... television shows promoted the image of a devoted, stay-at-home mom; popular psychologists maintained that single career women were miserable; fashion designers created increasingly restrictive and "feminine" clothing; lawmakers challenged and placed restrictions on Roe v. Wade .... all of these factors and more contributed to what Faludi feels was a backlash.

Essentially, her book (appropriately titled BACKLASH) is divided into 3 sections. In the 1st section, Faludi discusses the ways in which 80s popular culture contributed to the backlash. In the 2nd section, she turns a critical eye toward several politicians, activists and scholars who promoted the backlash. And, in the 3rd section, she gives specific (and frequently heartbreaking) examples of how the backlash had a negative effect on working women and women's reproductive rights.

First and foremost, I have to give Faludi props for her amazing research skills. Sure, she has an angle, but she's also got evidence! BACKLASH is jam-packed full of facts, statistics and interviews. It's obvious that a TON of work went into this book.

Not only is Faludi's book based almost entirely on objective information - but it is also presented in a very organized and readable manner. Faludi is not one to ramble. She makes her point and moves on. Nonetheless, she also manages to create a witty, sometimes humorous, and frequently moving text.

The one thing about this book that might turn off potential readers is the fact that it is somewhat "dated" - i.e. it is an exploration of 1980s America. Still, I recommend it for 2 reasons: 1. It does a fantastic job of documenting a specific period in American history and 2. Many of the issues brought up in BACKLASH are, unfortunately, still relevant. Although women do continue to make strides, we also continue to face resistence, especially in our present political climate.

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A TRULY AMAZING BOOK

Susan Faludi`s book is truly amazing. With point by point, argument by argument, fact by fact thoroughness, Faludi demolishes numerous sexist myths, including the old chesnut about the "shortage of marriagable men" that has caused so much panic and misery among American women for the last 30 years.

This is one of the best books on women and sexism ever written in America. Buy it!

still needed in 2006.

In some ways, this is the book that came out to say, "Why Feminism is Still Needed." Written in the early 1990s, it covers the way that - sometimes despite appearances - American culture's deck is still well-stacked against women. If there is any book you can read that will fire you up about feminist issues, this is it.

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Putting words to our experience

A hard, serious look at the New Right's attacks on feminism, and the slow erosion of the hard-won victories of the feminist movement in the 1980's. I lived through this as a lesbian feminist pornographer, and its ramifications still affect me.

reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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