( 5 reviews )
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( 3 of 5 found this review helpful ) Posted: Sep 29 2001
Lillian Faderman is, hands down, THE best researcher and writer of lesbian American history EVER. I own a copy of all her books; each gets better than the last. And this one continues the trend -- it is simply wonderful. A great read and an important historical document.
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( 9 of 11 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jun 3 2001
A heterosexual feminist ally, I picked up this book at the suggestion of a friend, and was entranced by the premise of the book and meticulously researched evidence. Precisely because they were not bound by unintended pregnancy (which continued to be a problem until the early 70's)Lesbians were the vanguard of the women's movement on everything from equal employment to the vote and birth control, and had an obligation to work towards policies that would benefit all women regardless of sexuality. Granted some readers of the reviews will decide that this book attempts to glorify lesbians at the expense of straight women, but I have read this book repeatedly and simply find the truth as it existed in historical context. Faderman simply points out the important role that Lesbians have played---a contribution that gets over shaddowed in many straight women's and gay men's focused history books.
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( 2 of 5 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 2 2000
in our country. For lesbians, to be reminded that sisters took the first steps to freeing all women, to straight women who need to remember that we are all the same under the jeans... I couldn't help but be struck with an intense understanding that all the freedoms so far won for women began with a group of women willing to be unique in a world that doesn't celebrate individuality. A bit "dry" in places, still a valuable book for people to understand humanity at a new level.
