A Graphic History of Uprisings, Breakdowns, Setbacks, Revolts, and Enduring Hope on the Unfinished Road to Women's Equality
A sweeping, smart, and smart-ass graphic history of women's ongoing quest for equality
In March 2017, Nevada surprised the rest of America by suddenly ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment--thirty-five years after the deadline had passed. Hey, better late than never, right? Then, lo and behold, a few months later, Illinois followed suit. Hurrah for the Land of Lincoln!
“Fast paced and full to bursting with vivid, raucous figures and stories that have been kept out of our history books for too long, Jen Deaderick’s She the People is a remarkable corrective that will broaden readers’ views and deepen their understanding of the history that has brought us to this moment—and will inspire new approaches to moving forward.”
That left the ERA just one state short of the congressional minimum for ratification. One state--and a legacy of shame--are what stand between American women and full equality.
“Jen Deaderick does a killer job of addressing the history of women in the United States and makes a solid case for the ERA. I hope that in my lifetime, we get this bill officially ratified. The book definitely has a feminist liberal slant, but I’m here for it.”
She the People takes on the campaign for change by offering a cheekily illustrated, sometimes sarcastic, and all-too-true account of women's evolving rights and citizenship. Divided into twelve historical periods between 1776 and today, journalist, historian, and activist Jen Deaderick takes readers on a walk down the ERA's rocky road to become part of our Constitution by highlighting changes in the legal status of women alongside the significant cultural and social influences of the time, so women's history is revealed as an integral part of U.S. history, and not a tangential sideline.
“This isn’t women’s history; it’s history. She the People is a hilarious, brilliant take on the road to equality.”
Clever and dynamic, She the People is informative, entertaining, and a vital reminder that women still aren't fully accepted as equal citizens in America.
Jen Deaderick has written about women and citizenship for The New York Times and has been featured in Refinery 29, Boston Globe, Thrillest, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Globe & Mail, and others. This Is her first book.
Rita Sapunor is an editor and artist in Oakland. Her work has appeared in New York magazine, Vice, and MTV.com, and other outlets.
“Rewinding to the American Revolution, when Abigail Adams famously counseled her husband, John Adams, to “remember the ladies” at the Continental Congress, and progressing through the decades, Deaderick covers the ups and downs of the fight for equality in a style that’s lively and conversational. Her advice for women: “We shouldn’t look for leaders to save us. We make change together. We’re stronger together.””
Now offering a limited number of free copies of SHE THE PEOPLE for schools via Etsy.
Events
Video
Greater Boston — February 21, 2019
Honoring Suffragists And Working To Finish Their Unfinished Business
Extras
Video Collection
There are lots of pop culture references in SHE THE PEOPLE. This YouTube list should help keep track of some of them.
Additional Reading
So much research went into this book over so many years, and only a fraction of what I learned could be included. To see a list of books that influenced SHE THE PEOPLE and expanded my mind, visit the Influential Texts page. Or check out Good Reads:
