The Other Feminists: Activists in the Liberal Establishment

A professor of history and women's studies at Ohio State University, Hartmann uses her dual specialties to remarkable advantage, highlighting here the neglected heroes of second-wave feminism. Whereas other feminist historical studies have focused on groups such as the National Organization of Women (NOW), this work explores the advances made by men and women within male-dominated liberal associations in the 1960s and '70s. Hartmann illuminates the scope of the contributions of working-class women by extensively chronicling the agendas of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Ford Foundation, the International Union of Electrical Workers and the National Council of Churches. She expertly shows how these institutions provided a bridge between policymakers and activists, furthering change for women by merging their concerns with those of class, race and sexual orientation, and by developing policies that later inspired legal precedents. She also includes a chapter on civil rights and the method by which African American women shaped the dialogue between feminist groups and advanced debate on the issue. Although the abundance of details and names can be daunting, the insights offered here about largely ignored, hard-won political victories make this an important addition to feminist studies. Photos. (Nov.)