Through Women's Eyes: An American History with Documents

I should state upfront that I am that rare bird who enjoys reading well-written history books, even if that book is a textbook, which this book is. If you are interested in women's history in America, you will find many inspiring contributions of American women from all ethnicities and social statuses. I enjoy learning about the women who are motivated to make a difference, but I also have a vested interest as an aspiring historical fiction writer. For example, the setting in the novel I am working on now is a settlement house in Boston at the turn of the 20th century, and I have read about extensively about those at this point. Even though the entry on settlement houses (Jane Addams established one of the first managed by females in Chicago called Hull House) was only a few pages, it documented women's role in growing the settlement house movement and mentioned something I hadn't come across yet: all-black settlement houses were established in both the North and South. Now, I have further reference points to explore in my background research (the benefit of academic books). The book covers the role of women during the Revolution, the actions activist black women took on during Emancipation, the indigenous women who fought to protect their tribes during Western Expansion, women in the industrializing labor force, and the feminist movement to name just a few topics in the textbook. I have discovered several new lines of deeper inquiry regarding women in American history. From a research perspective, the primary source material and further reading is especially valuable as are the images, photographs, and maps. If you are teaching America history in a high school, I would recommend using this text to enrich the history your students are learning. Since proficiency reading and analyzing primary source documents is an essential element of Common Core Historical Literacy standards, you will find content here to help you easily pull documents for your students to read and analyze while at the same time highlighting women's contributions to U.S. history, which we all know are highly underrepresented in K-12 history textbooks. Overall, if you are looking for a chronological presentation of important contributions of diverse American women in history, you will find interesting, inspiring content in "Through Women's Eyes."

History textbooks can be so dense and difficult to get through, which is a shame considering what an interesting subject history is. This book was used for a class I took in women's history and the chapter readings were something I found myself looking forward to. The topics covered and the way they're presented is clear and intelligent instead of stuffy and dense. The material is delivered in a way that it is entertaining and accessible. The photographs and letters and even the old advice columns included in the "documents" that are part of this book make it easy to see what life was like for women in different time periods without simply having it told to us. It was a great way to get a more personal feel for their experiences and make the connection between the women of our past and the women of our present and future. I learned a great deal about familiar events from the very different perspective of the women involved, as well as how the same events affected various races of women differently, which is a subject that has been largely ignored in most of my history classes and probably most history classes in general. It's rare I want to hang onto a textbook after a class is finished, but this is one I'm definitely keeping. I'd recommend it as a textbook, but also as a book to pick up if you want to learn more about the history of women in the United States, though it is pricey for casual reading. A used copy would be a great addition to anyone's collection.

It is very clear this book has been used and been though "hell" but that don't mean pages need to be missing. And i don't like finding out till i get to those pages that they area gone. I have to take this book to class 3 times a week, so that means it gets used and worn out more. I don't blame the person renting it out but really with how its being used maybe not rent it or more ages will go missing.

A book which goes well with the course we used it for, Women's Studies 210G at NM State's Dona Ana Community College, it covers the fight for women's equality from the 1500's, a time when many Indigenous women were sadly raped in the " Name of Christ"; to the American and UK Women's Suffrage Movement and the passage of Roe v. Wade in 1973. I highly recommend reading it and feel that it should be " required reading material" for Governor McCrory of North Carolina, a right-winger who abolished women's studies programs in NC's state universities.

The book was alright. The sides were pretty worn but the book was durable for my daughter's class. To me the book price was too high but I had to get it for my daughter. I wasn't thrilled that there was no receipt for it in case there was any issues with it if I needed to return it if any issues.

I used this book for a college course in women's history in the US. I thought the book was very well written and documented. You'll learn a lot about women in US history since the Civil War; multiple perspectives from many ethnic backgrounds.

Not to say I love the book, but it is well written for a textbook. I am pleased with it. However, womens history is not that exciting to me, so I cannot tell you it doesn't put me to sleep.

Currently using this for a basic Women's history course and it's very insightful and provides various types of documentation to support each chapter.