When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to

Book Review >>> Eryn Kane When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women From 1960 to the Present

Collins, Gail. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. 471 pp.

In the modern era, American women possess the confident knowledge that there are no limitations to what can be achieved. As a result, these women attend college in the pursuit of a fulfilling career. They are able to become lawyers, doctors, CEO’s, or athletes, and if so desired, they can maintain a household while campaigning to become the next President of the United States. With the endless possibilities presented to these women, it is hard to believe that a half century ago, such pursuits were deemed unacceptable or impossible within American society. Why and when did these changes begin to occur within American society? In When Everything Changed, New York Times Columnist, Gail Collins, outlines the pivotal people and events that brought about a revolutionary change in the lives of American women and the social and political advancements they have made over the past five decades. Collins separates the book into three parts and begins her narrative in the year 1960, the birth of the decade that would change American society through political decisions and revolutionary social movements. For generations of American women, “the world around them had been drumming one message into their heads since they were babies: women are meant to marry and let their husbands take care of all the matters relating to the outside world” (11). Women were expected to marry young and dedicate their lives to the maintenance of their household and the well being of their husbands and children. Popularized on television programs, such as Father Knows Best, and emphasized within feminine magazines, this restrictive message was the desired lifestyle of the average American female born before 1960. Included within this message were instructions for women on how to dress, socialize, and most importantly, interact with men. Within the first part of the book, entitled “1960,” Collins uses personal narratives to illustrate the ways in which this message not only impacted the daily lives of American women but consequently restricted their entrance into the world of business, politics, and education. In the second part, “When Everything Changed,” Collins attributes the eventual emergence of the American women’s liberation movement to seven key events: the Kennedy administration, the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the Civil Rights Movement, the Sexual Revolution, the invention of the birth control pill, the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, and the founding of the National Organization for Women. Collins meticulously details each event and describes its importance and contribution to the women’s liberation movement. For example, Collins argues that female participation within the Civil Rights movement in America made many women aware of the idea that they too were discriminated

against within society, and that could also lead a successful campaign for equal rights. Collins argues that the first step taken by female activists towards the disintegration of the restrictive female message within American society was the attempted passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. The Equal Rights Amendment was the brainchild of Alice Paul, a legendary Suffragist whose militant tactics helped to pass the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment intended to guarantee that equal rights could not be denied on account of gender. Led by famous female activists, Betty Freidan and Gloria Steinman, average and exceptional women worked towards its passage within Congress throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Although the Equal Rights Amendment was not added to the United States Constitution, its promotion and publicity in addition to the radical movements of the 1960s, created a change in the self-image of American women. For the first time, American females no longer saw themselves as just wives and mothers, but as strong women whose intelligence and determination made them capable of anything. In her final section, “Following Through,” Collins outlines the advancements that American women have made as a result of the women’s liberation movement. Using personal narratives and testimonies, Collins presents the reader with a wide array of careers and lifestyles that have become open to American women of all races and socioeconomic statuses. The message prescribed to American girls at birth is no longer that of domesticity and subordination to men. Instead girls are taught to pursue their dreams with both confidence and determination. As a stark reminder— and to offer proof of the overwhelming change that has occurred within the lives of American women—Collins ends the book with a chapter dedicated to the very different presidential campaigns of Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin. When Everything Changed is an inspiring and often humorous read for any reader, male or female, who is interested in the history and progression of American culture and society. Focusing on the personal aspects of daily life and historical events, the book is both an interesting and nostalgic look into the past. As a social and cultural narrative, the book applies to various disciplines and should not be perceived as a work limited to those of history and women’s studies. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever loved or admired a female relative or friend who has demonstrated a strong will and determined attitude. For the female reader, this book will elicit a sense of pride and appreciation for the vigilance and perseverance made by her predecessors to ensure for all American women a future free of restrictions and limitations.