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"Maybe she felt like a soda bottle that the world was just shaking and shaking- and one day the cap comes off" - Patti Robinson
In March of 1970, Newsweek published a cover story on the Women's Liberation movement entitled "Women in Revolt". That same morning, 46 women employed at Newsweek held a press conference to announce they were suing the paper for gender discrimination. For viewers who can't get enough of the Amazon mini-series based on this historic event, below are some reads that provide a closer look into the era.
The Good Girls Revolt by Lynn Povich
This memoir chronicles Povich's experience working at Newsweek during the development of the Women's Lib movement. Povich ties the Newsweek cases in the 1970s to a continuing and adapting culture of sexism in the workplace. A must read for people trying to understand the history of stereotypical gender roles infiltrating the work world.
I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections by Nora Ephron
Ephron worked briefly for Newsweek at the beginning of her career (starting as a mail girl and moving up to a researcher position) but left to be a reporter for the New York Post shortly after she realized that she would not be able to write at Newsweek. This collection of essays features one on her experiences in journalism which provides an in-depth picture of office life for women in the 1960's. Ephron's writing style is sharp and humorous with a structure that signals her strong journalistic background.
Eleanor Holmes Norton: Fire in my Soul by Joan Steinau Lester
This compelling account of D.C.'s congresswoman follows Norton from her early days in segregated education through her ascent to Capitol Hill. Lester's straightforward writing illuminates Norton's fortitude and unique ability to effectively and strategically fight injustice. A great read for Washingtonians from all walks of life.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
O'Brien reveals the internal struggles of soldiers in his collection of linked short stories based on his service in the Vietnam War. The book speaks to the raw human emotions that tugged at the minds of service men during their time in the military and after their return home. This literary classic was published fifteen years after the US withdrawal from Vietnam and shares elements with O'Brien's earlier memoir, published in 1973.
The Black Panthers by Stephen Shames
Over 40 years after they were taken, Stephen Shames' photographs documenting the Black Panthers have been collected into a book which brings back into the spotlight social issues that have rippled into modern day. The collection allows the reader to visualize life during the turbulent 1960's while simultaneously inspiring reflection on what steps can be taken in the present to confront race-related social challenges.
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About the Author: Mierka W.