Despite its somewhat grandiose title, this isn't in any way a
comprehensive approach to the vital question posed, but a
collection of speeches and articles that offer only a glimpse of
the author's important contributions to historical inquiry. Lerner
(The Creation of Feminist Consciousness, 1993; Univ. of Wisconsin,
Madison) is a fascinating woman, and some of her extraordinary
experiences are revealed here in the portion of the book called
"Life." An Austrian Jew, Lerner escaped from the Nazis and
emigrated to America at age 18. Once here, she determined to be a
writer and set about gaining a proficiency in English the likes of
which few native-born Americans can boast. But Lerner didn't stop
there. At the age of 40, she returned to school to get a graduate
degree in history - and not conventional history, but women's
history, an area of study that she helped define. In another
section, called "Thought," Lerner discusses the field of women's
history a little, but these essays, collected from her writings and
lectures of the past few years are limited in scope and often
repetitive. (For instance, we hear many times that women cannot be
treated as a single, unified category because they come from all
classes, races, and religions.) This is not to say that Lerner
offers nothing of value. For example, her discussions of how to put
women into the history curriculum without making them seem inferior
to men are perceptive and thoughtful, as is her attempt to redefine
race and class in terms of gender. Even here Lerner has much to
offer students of history, but from a scholar of her stature, this
jumble of essays is a disappointment. (Kirkus Reviews)
A pioneer in women's studies and long-term activist for women's issues, Gerda Lerner is one of the founders and foremost scholars of women's history. In her latest work, Lerner combines personal reminiscences with innovative theory that illuminate the importance of history and the vital role women have played in it.
The book's topics range from pieces on the author's early life as a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany and on her slow assimilation into American life, to an insightful essay on non-violent resistance from the Quakers to the civil rights movement of the 1950s. Lerner also offers a bold and innovative look at the issues of race and class as they relate to women.
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