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The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization That Transformed America
The history of NOW―its organization, trials, and revolutionary mission―told through the work of three members.
In the summer of 1966, crammed into a D.C. hotel suite, twenty-eight women devised a revolutionary plan. Betty Friedan, the well-known author of The Feminine Mystique , and Pauli Murray, a lawyer at the front lines of the civil rights movement, had called this renegade meeting from attendees at the annual conference of state women’s commissions. Fed up with waiting for government action and trying to work with a broken system, they laid out a vision for an organization to unite all women and fight for their rights. Alternately skeptical and energized, they debated the idea late into the night. In less than twenty-four hours, the National Organization for Women was born.
In The Women of NOW , the historian Katherine Turk chronicles the growth and enduring influence of this foundational group through three lesser-known members who became Aileen Hernandez, a federal official of Jamaican American heritage; Mary Jean Collins, a working-class union organizer and Chicago Catholic; and Patricia Hill Burnett, a Michigan Republican, artist, and former beauty queen. From its bold inception through the tumultuous training ground of the 1970s, NOW’s feminism flooded the nation, permanently shifted American culture and politics, and clashed with conservative forces, presaging our fractured national landscape. These women built an organization that was radical in its time but flexible and expansive enough to become a mainstream fixture. This is the story of how they built it―and built it to last.
Includes 16 pages of black-and-white images
In the summer of 1966, crammed into a D.C. hotel suite, twenty-eight women devised a revolutionary plan. Betty Friedan, the well-known author of The Feminine Mystique , and Pauli Murray, a lawyer at the front lines of the civil rights movement, had called this renegade meeting from attendees at the annual conference of state women’s commissions. Fed up with waiting for government action and trying to work with a broken system, they laid out a vision for an organization to unite all women and fight for their rights. Alternately skeptical and energized, they debated the idea late into the night. In less than twenty-four hours, the National Organization for Women was born.
In The Women of NOW , the historian Katherine Turk chronicles the growth and enduring influence of this foundational group through three lesser-known members who became Aileen Hernandez, a federal official of Jamaican American heritage; Mary Jean Collins, a working-class union organizer and Chicago Catholic; and Patricia Hill Burnett, a Michigan Republican, artist, and former beauty queen. From its bold inception through the tumultuous training ground of the 1970s, NOW’s feminism flooded the nation, permanently shifted American culture and politics, and clashed with conservative forces, presaging our fractured national landscape. These women built an organization that was radical in its time but flexible and expansive enough to become a mainstream fixture. This is the story of how they built it―and built it to last.
Includes 16 pages of black-and-white images
448 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 15, 2024
The Women of NOW by Katherine Turk is an example of a good book trying to do way too many things. Turk looks at the beginning of the National Organization for Women and specifically three women within NOW, Aileen Hernandez, Mary Jean Collins, and Patricia Hill Burnett. Unfortunately, I could also argue the book is not really about them.
Turk does a good job of calling out both the positives and negatives of NOW and its storied history. For instance, I would not have wanted to work for or with Betty Friedan. There are also a lot of stories which I found fascinating. Patricia Hill Burnett was a beauty queen, which you would think is a good thing, but her mother was enraged by it. Also, the founding meeting of NOW sounds like wonderful chaos.
Unfortunately, while Turk's writing is good, she tries to cover too much. Very often, the three subjects of the book disappear completely from the narrative. Turk introduces so many people in order to tell specific stories that it becomes a bit dizzying. Add in the fact that Turk needed to put all these people and places in context and you end up with an informative book which feels very disjointed and difficult to get into. I think if Turk tried to write a book on just one episode or one person, it would be a must read. This book just has too much scope and not enough focus.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux.)
Turk does a good job of calling out both the positives and negatives of NOW and its storied history. For instance, I would not have wanted to work for or with Betty Friedan. There are also a lot of stories which I found fascinating. Patricia Hill Burnett was a beauty queen, which you would think is a good thing, but her mother was enraged by it. Also, the founding meeting of NOW sounds like wonderful chaos.
Unfortunately, while Turk's writing is good, she tries to cover too much. Very often, the three subjects of the book disappear completely from the narrative. Turk introduces so many people in order to tell specific stories that it becomes a bit dizzying. Add in the fact that Turk needed to put all these people and places in context and you end up with an informative book which feels very disjointed and difficult to get into. I think if Turk tried to write a book on just one episode or one person, it would be a must read. This book just has too much scope and not enough focus.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux.)
May 28, 2023
I learned so much from this book. I’m female and definitely of the age of the initial stages of NOW. I must admit it was a stage in my working life where I thought we women should just “buck up,” get a job, tell men to go to hell. But as the years increased and my constant need to prove my skills in a world of men grew, I began to appreciate NOW more. I still had no idea about all of the accomplishments spoken of in this book. More so, this is a book of history. Not a book about the history of women’s rights but about the economic and political events that changed things for women, some good, some bad.
In my mind, there is an aspect even more important than what I have mentioned previously. It is that this book is readable. It’s not full of dry academia prose. It reads easily, at times almost story like, flowing and smooth. Yet in the midst of all this are enlightening educational points. I think the best way to describe this book is that while educational, it is really a fully enjoyable read.
In my mind, there is an aspect even more important than what I have mentioned previously. It is that this book is readable. It’s not full of dry academia prose. It reads easily, at times almost story like, flowing and smooth. Yet in the midst of all this are enlightening educational points. I think the best way to describe this book is that while educational, it is really a fully enjoyable read.
August 16, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5
Wow, this was a ride. Before reading this book I knew extremely little about the history of NOW. In this book, Turk has crafted a detailed picture of NOW’s evolution. While I found this interesting, I think the best part of this book was learning about the tensions the different founding women had with each other. I also found it interesting to learn about the differing options these women had about key feminist issues in their day. For example, the diverging views on gendered newspaper ads.
I don’t see this book having a wide appeal but I think those who are interested in this specific niche will genuinely enjoy it. I would probably only recommend this to those who are interested in reading about feminism or have a specific association/ interest in NOW.
3.5/5
Wow, this was a ride. Before reading this book I knew extremely little about the history of NOW. In this book, Turk has crafted a detailed picture of NOW’s evolution. While I found this interesting, I think the best part of this book was learning about the tensions the different founding women had with each other. I also found it interesting to learn about the differing options these women had about key feminist issues in their day. For example, the diverging views on gendered newspaper ads.
I don’t see this book having a wide appeal but I think those who are interested in this specific niche will genuinely enjoy it. I would probably only recommend this to those who are interested in reading about feminism or have a specific association/ interest in NOW.
November 26, 2023
As others have said, a bit too unfocused and name heavy. Did not like the swipes at radical feminism. Also. I'm knocking a star off for not including the footnotes in the text. FAR too many nonfiction books doing what to me seems like a purely aesthetic thing these days and it is ANNOYING.
Read
November 12, 2023Very good history of NOW. Turk retells the fairly well known story of the movement's founders--Betty Friedan, Pauli Murray, Kathryn Clarenbach--but devotes most of her attention to the tensions that developed almost immediately and the way they played out in the earl Seventies and beyond. Focusing on three women with very different notions of what NOW could/should be--Aileen Hernandez (who succeeded Friedan to beome NOW's second president, Republican feminist Patricia Hill Burnett, and Midwestern working class advocate Mary Jean Collins--Turk resists simplifications and provides a thick history of fifty years of the organization's activisim.
August 14, 2023
4⭐️ content but 2⭐️ presentation. An exceptionally well researched history of NOW. It covers the organization’s growth in incredible detail. Those details, however, create a dry portrait of the organization. My knowledge of NOW’s finances through the mid 1980s could enable an audit! Turk’s writing shines, though, when she discusses the backgrounds and motivations of some of the key organizers.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for an audio ARC of this text in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for an audio ARC of this text in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2024
https://www.literarypawspectives.com/...
So, I've been on this personal quest to fill in the gaps of my history knowledge, and my latest pick was "The Women of NOW." Honestly, I'm a bit sheepish to admit I didn't really know much about the National Organization for Women (NOW) before this. It's exactly why I'm on this history journey. The founding ladies of NOW? They were total trailblazers in the world of feminism. It's clear we owe a lot to them for the freedoms and rights we have today.
My Initial Worries
Heading into this book, I was kinda worried it would be all about feminism from the perspective of white women only. We all know that the full picture of feminism includes so much more, especially the crucial roles played by women of color and their ties with the Civil Rights movement. I was super relieved to see this book didn't shy away from those truths. It gave credit where credit's due and didn't gloss over the messy parts of merging different voices and needs within the movement.
What Stuck With Me
A bittersweet realization from the book is that even groups with the best intentions can stray from their core values, getting tangled in unexpected challenges. But there's a silver lining—seeing how NOW recognized when they were veering off course and made efforts to steer back. It's kind of uplifting and shows that growth and learning from mistakes is possible.
Founded back in 1966, NOW has been around the block a few times. They've faced their share of "growing pains," but rather than falling apart, they've adapted and grown stronger. Fifty-eight years on, and they're still out here fighting for women's rights everywhere.
Wrapping Up
"The Women of NOW" isn't just a history lesson; it's a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of including all voices in the conversation. It made me reflect on how far we've come and the work that still lies ahead. Turk's research and Wetherell's narration made for a compelling combo that kept me engaged from start to finish.
So, I've been on this personal quest to fill in the gaps of my history knowledge, and my latest pick was "The Women of NOW." Honestly, I'm a bit sheepish to admit I didn't really know much about the National Organization for Women (NOW) before this. It's exactly why I'm on this history journey. The founding ladies of NOW? They were total trailblazers in the world of feminism. It's clear we owe a lot to them for the freedoms and rights we have today.
My Initial Worries
Heading into this book, I was kinda worried it would be all about feminism from the perspective of white women only. We all know that the full picture of feminism includes so much more, especially the crucial roles played by women of color and their ties with the Civil Rights movement. I was super relieved to see this book didn't shy away from those truths. It gave credit where credit's due and didn't gloss over the messy parts of merging different voices and needs within the movement.
What Stuck With Me
A bittersweet realization from the book is that even groups with the best intentions can stray from their core values, getting tangled in unexpected challenges. But there's a silver lining—seeing how NOW recognized when they were veering off course and made efforts to steer back. It's kind of uplifting and shows that growth and learning from mistakes is possible.
Founded back in 1966, NOW has been around the block a few times. They've faced their share of "growing pains," but rather than falling apart, they've adapted and grown stronger. Fifty-eight years on, and they're still out here fighting for women's rights everywhere.
Wrapping Up
"The Women of NOW" isn't just a history lesson; it's a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of including all voices in the conversation. It made me reflect on how far we've come and the work that still lies ahead. Turk's research and Wetherell's narration made for a compelling combo that kept me engaged from start to finish.
Read
April 26, 2024This was a bit dry. For me, it also didn't provide a ton of new information; yes, I got a lot more detail about the petty dramas and internal politics of the organization, plus the names of a few more of the key players, but I don't really think it advanced my overall knowledge or understanding of second wave feminism.
This was a bit disappointing because the foreword promised to uncover new complexities of the movement and push back against the perception of this era of feminism as mostly for the straight white ladies. If you have even a moderate level of knowledge about second wave feminism, what it was fighting for, and who was ignored/excluded in the movement, I think you should skip this one.
This was a bit disappointing because the foreword promised to uncover new complexities of the movement and push back against the perception of this era of feminism as mostly for the straight white ladies. If you have even a moderate level of knowledge about second wave feminism, what it was fighting for, and who was ignored/excluded in the movement, I think you should skip this one.
February 21, 2024
I was raising babies and struggling to develop my own career in a "man's" world when a lot of what Turk writes in the book was going on and I admit I wasn't paying too close attention to the direction of women's rights. I appreciate the knowledge I've gained by reading this book. I certainly felt the pressure and experienced much of what she wrote. We as women have come a long way, but I hear it everyday from friends and on the news how men still want to suppress women. Abortion is only one example. We have gone backwards on the abortion issue when 67% of voters want abortion rights, it's clear that the Supreme Court is not working for us. They want their own agendas passed. What a shame all the hard work that was put into this right in the 60 and 70's to send women back in time.
June 24, 2024
This book was kind of soul-crushing, TBH. It lays out the origin and evolution of the National Organization for Women, one of the first and the largest feminist organizations in the US. What started out with such energy and promise and vision was torn apart and minimized by infighting, like a lot of activist groups with good intentions. Making good the enemy of perfect, unwillingness to compromise or hear other people out, purity tests and judgementalism, "my way or the highway" thinking - all of the things that frustrate me to no end about almost every group I've tried to be a part of. No wonder progress is achieved at a snail's pace - or not at all.
April 17, 2024
This book tried to tell both the story of the formative years at the National Organization of Women (NOW), and the back stories of several of its influential members. Katherine Turk explored both the strengths and weaknesses of NOW's organizational structure, advocacy strategies, and approaches to defining feminism. She did not pull punches in criticizing NOW's weakness at including women of color and poorer women in a meaningful way. A lot of good information in here for those interested in the American feminist movement.
November 4, 2023
The Women of Now, written by Katherine Turk, is an overview of the NOW movement. I did enjoy this book and feel I learned a lot from it, but I was overwhelmed by the book, and had some trouble following the characters. I think this would be a good book for someone who has already done research on this movement. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of this book for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 8, 2024
An informative, in-depth and pretty all encompassing of history (so far) of the National Organization of Women and how it worked with and influenced the second wave feminism movement.
Contains a lot of good information and insights into the inner working of group and how it affected the country and it's policy.
Though honestly, it did feel a bit dry and bogged down with too many details. An important read nonetheless if you have the time and patience.
Contains a lot of good information and insights into the inner working of group and how it affected the country and it's policy.
Though honestly, it did feel a bit dry and bogged down with too many details. An important read nonetheless if you have the time and patience.
October 26, 2023
A solid, well-researched read. This was an in-depth look into the Women of NOW, including the at-times controversial Betty Friedan and subsequent presidents. Turk does a fantastic job at offering insight into the growth of the organization and its various struggles and successes.
There's plenty of backmatter, citations, AND pictures in the middle!
There's plenty of backmatter, citations, AND pictures in the middle!
May 23, 2024
So many women, so many details. I was often lost and wondering "who was that person again?" A more streamlined book focusing on only the most significant people would have made the book more readable for the general, curious, reading audience. Still, I applaud the effort.
Recommended if you are a serious student of women's history.
Recommended if you are a serious student of women's history.
November 29, 2023
A great way to get to know a lot of important figures we could do a much better job remembering and celebrating. Pauli Murray is the figure that stuck with me the most after reading this--what an incredible human being.
Want to read
January 27, 2024As seen in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
March 31, 2024This sounded really interesting so I borrowed it from my library, but other stuff came up and I didn't get past the first chapter before it was time to return it to the library. Maybe some other day ...
September 12, 2023
Interesting and easy to read, but I want to lose myself in some fiction right now. 🙂
September 15, 2023
Occasionally got bogged down in the details but interesting background history.
September 24, 2023
Excellent history.
September 30, 2023
I'm torn btwn 2.5-3 stars for this. I think I read this in another review: too much scope, not enough focus.
January 5, 2024
Worth the read.
January 14, 2024
yay women!
March 28, 2024
An important detailed and contextualized history of a transformative organization in America's story.
September 2, 2024
My favorite parts were the parts about the delegation type politics, to a person relatively new to activism I learned so much
June 21, 2024
Turk’s history of the National Organization for Women focuses on three early leaders: Aileen Herandez, black and leftist, Patricia Burnett, rich, artistic and Republican, and Mary Jean Collins, a labor organizer, Catholic and lesbian. It’s a thorough and fair history, containing a lot of information that was new to me. I think it could have been better edited; it is mostly chronological, but sudden dips into the past were confusing. There is a bit too much off-putting 21st century jargon. And naturally, the narrative gets depressing as time goes on and everything goes to shit, but that’s hardly Turk’s fault.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews