America's Women: A Legacy of Change
 

  Listen to an MP3 sample from Show 2         
 

America’s Women: A Legacy of Change first aired in November 1995, the 75^th Anniversary of women voting in national elections. The four part series of ½ hour shows takes an in-depth look at how changes in American women’s roles have evolved from the first women’s rights convention in 1848 to today. That legacy comes alive as women of different ages and cultural backgrounds tell their stories. Woven in are historic sound clips, music from different periods, and comments from historians. By weaving together all of these elements America’s Women reminds listeners that the rights that so many of us take for granted were not always there.

It’s not often that women’s history is examined in the context of many different events over a number of years. It is more often dealt with in fragments: the Suffragettes, Rosie the Riveter, the women’s rights movement, etc. Indeed, most school textbooks give it less than a page. This series shows the progression of these changes and how they came about. It explores – not just the political changes, but also the societal attitudes that influenced them; the progressive movement of the 1920’s, the impact of electricity on housework, the role women played in World War II, and where their place was perceived to be in the 1950s and 60s. It shows that history is composed, not by just a few great people, but by all of us. 

The four shows are:

Votes for Women: The Women’s Movement until 1910.
This show covers the women’s movement from the the first 1848 suffrage meeting until 1910 – the eve of the final push for passage of the 19^th Amendment. We show how women moved from the narrow constraints of Victorian America to organize thousands to march for the vote. This show features interviews with historians and re-enactments of speeches and letters of suffragists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, and Susan B. Anthony.

 From Suffragist to Citizen : 1910 to World War II.
We pick up the story on the brink of the final push for suffrage, explore how women organized and won the vote. We then move on to the period after the1920s which has long been considered to be a period of little progress. But there are quiet changes- more jobs were opening for women. We talk to women who remember the different decades and hear historic sound clips. 

“We’re Here to Work”: World War II to the Early 1960’s
Prior to World War II there were few jobs that were socially acceptable for women. The war gave them the opportunity to show they could work in men’s fields. But after the war there was a strong message for them to “go home”. Many women put their energy into the Civil Rights movement and the “Ban the Bomb” anti-nuclear movement.

 True Equality? 1963 – Present
Though many women in the 90s reject the term “feminist”, many gains in status for women came about because of the Women’s Movement in the 60s and 70s. This show looks at topics important to women of our time and will explore the contrast between women of the 60s and their daughters. 

The series won four state, national and international awards including a Silver Medal from the International Radio festival of New York and a First Place for Documentary Series and Best of Show from the American Women in Radio & TV 1996 Commendation Awards. (now the Gracie Awards).

The project producer is award-winning journalist, Sandra Sleight-Brennan .