Review: Women's Right Movement Reference Chronology a Must for Your Library!

The American Women’s Rights Movement:
A Chronology of Events and Opportunities
From 1600 - 2008
By Paul Buckanan
Branden Books
ISBN: 0828321604256 Pages

Kudos to Paul Buchanan for being the first man—or woman—to create an extensive chronology of events and opportunities in support of Women’s Rights!

This is exactly the type of information you will find in The American Women’s Rights Movement: A Chronology of Events and Opportunities From 1600 – 2008 by Paul Buchanan. In my opinion, this is a must for your home library reference section.

Included in this book are all of the relevant laws, well-known events, and people who have contributed toward helping women move forward. You will find references on any woman who has been “first” to hold public office, “first” to receive prestigious awards, “first” to make a scientific discovery, et. al. You will find authors, athletes, musicians, and even movie stars—I especially enjoyed the story on Mae West and her role.

To whet your appetite about what you might learn, I’ve chosen to share about those items that were both new, and meaningful, to me. Believe me—I know you are going to learn much from this book—there are 140 women and men included in this chronology:

Did you know:

That there are, reportedly, more statues of Sacagawea than any other women in American History and that her name is synonymous with good Indian relations?

Dorothea Dix went before the Massachusetts Legislature describing the way individuals were “in cages, closets, stalls, pens...chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience” because criminals, paupers and mentally ill were all confined together?

About the “Ain’t I A Woman” speech given by Isabella Baumfield (Sojourner Truth)?

That when Mary Ferrin got married to a man who turned out to be an abusive alcoholic, she couldn’t divorce him because she would lose all of the property she owned when she married?

That Mary Surratt was the first female hanged by the government?

That Jane Addams became the first female and only social worker to win the Nobel Peace Prize?

That the State Seal of Idaho is the only one designed by a woman?

That before Rosa Parks, Holly Springs refused to go to a segregated section of a train and was dragged out; then she sued, winning in the local jurisdiction, but losing in the Supreme Court!

That Ella Grasso was the first female governor, of Connecticut, chosen in her own right?

That Cagney and Lacey was the first TV drama (1982) to portray female police officers and strong role models for women?

That in 2006 Ingrid Mattson was elected president of the Islamic Society of North America, the first woman to lead the ISNM?

That in 2007, based upon the 2005 census, that 51% of American women are living without a husband...?

In my own small way, I’ve considered myself a minor trailblazer—struggling upward to then enter a predominantly male career field, keeping track of what legal options there were that supported my efforts. If you have a similar background, this book will bring a feeling of pride for yourself and for these women and men. If you are a young woman, you need to read this to learn of the past and find your own role. For women, and men, like Paul Buchanan, I believe The American Women’s Rights Movement is a Must-Read!

G. A. Bixler