Spinsters and Lesbians

Independent Womanhood in the United States

Author: Trisha Franzen
ISBN: 9780814726426

Americans have long held fast to a rigid definition of womanhood, revolving around husband, home, and children. Women who rebelled against this definition and carved out independent lives for themselves have often been rendered invisible in U.S. history.In this unusual comparative study, Trisha Franzen brings to light the remarkable lives of two generations of autonomous women: Progressive Era spinsters and mid-twentieth century lesbians. While both groups of women followed similar paths to independence--separating from their families, pursuing education, finding work, and creating woman-centered communities--they faced different material and cultural challenge and came to claim very different identities. Many of the turn-of-the-century women were prominent during their time, from internationally recognized classicist Edith Hamilton through two early Directors of the Women's Bureau, Mary Anderson and Freida Miller. Maturing during the time of a broad and powerful women's movement, they

Publisher: NYU Press
Publish Date: 1996

Subjects: Health & Fitness / Sexuality, Social Science / Lesbian Studies, Social Science / Women's Studies

This book is available in the following Community Centers: Women's Center (Location: LGBTQIA+)