Here Christina Wolbrecht boldly demonstrates how the Republican and Democratic parties have helped transform; and have been transformed by; American public debate and policy on women's rights. She begins by showing the evolution of the positions of both parties on women's rights over the past five decades. In the 1950s and early 1960s; Republicans were slightly more favorable than Democrats; but by the early 1980s; the parties had polarized sharply; with Democrats supporting; and Republicans opposing; such policies as the Equal Rights Amendment and abortion rights. Wolbrecht not only traces the development of this shift in the parties' relative positions--focusing on party platforms; the words and actions of presidents and presidential candidates; and the behavior of the parties' delegations in Congress--but also seeks to explain the realignment. The author considers the politically charged developments that have contributed to a redefinition and expansion of the women's rights agenda since the 1960s--including legal changes; the emergence of the modern women's movement; and changes in patterns of employment; fertility; and marriage. Wolbrecht explores how party leaders reacted to these developments and adopted positions in ways that would help expand their party's coalition. Combined with changes in those coalitions--particularly the rise of social conservatism within the GOP and the affiliation of social movement groups with the Democratic party--the result was the polarization characterizing the parties' stances on women's rights today.
#759596 in Books Princeton University Press 1999-05-17 1999-06-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .93 x 6.00l; 1.16 #File Name: 0691006857368 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Sociological Look at the Nazi Concentration CampsBy AlWolfgang Sofsky's book is not a work of history; but of sociology. The author is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Gottingen; and it shows. He has written a fascinating; very worthwhile look at how human existence in a concentration camp affects how we interact with one another socially. He has entire chapters devoted to space; time; social structures and work. He examines how each affects and is affected by the concentration camp. He looks at how space and time were used in Dachau; Sachsenhausen; etc. For example; the higher your place in the camp hierarchy; the more space you had; such as in your living quarters. Also; the higher your social status in the camp; the more free time you had. Those at the bottom; the Jews; had no free time. He examines the existence of social structures within the camp; ie there was the SS at the top; then the kapos; the prisoners who were put in charge of other prisoners; the block leaders; and the average prisoners beneath them. At the bottom; treated the most inhumanely; were the Jews and the so-called Musselmen; prisoners who were so weak and sick that they were apathetic; unaware and physically almost dead. He shows that work was used in the German concentration camps; not for much productive purpose; but to hasten the death of the prisoners.One of the most important things in this book is Sofsky's look at selections. When people were brought to Auschwitz and other death camps; they were selected for either death or residence in the camp. Those most fit for work were registered and brought to live in the camp; everyone else was killed. He claims 25.9% of those transported to Auschwitz were admitted to the camp and the rest were killed. My only problem with Sofsky is that his source for that figure is other books and articles by the likes of D. Czech and Raul Hilberg. Sofsky fails to reference exact documents in that regard.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. If you do not understand why this was such a big deal; read this book.By Red WolfOf everything I have read about the Concentration Camps; this is the first thing that really gave me a feel of total horror at how they operated and what it did to the people that experienced the camps in any role. I have never appreciated the concentration of evil nearly as well as I did reading this book. War has many horrors; but even the horrors of other wars pale before this measure of evil. If you have any thoughts that the internment of Americans in American internment camps was in any way comparable; read this and realize that there is no comparison. What we did was a national disgrace; but it was nowhere near this concentrated; distilled; carefully crafted evil. Well researched; and written by a German as a warning against complacency; lest time make memories of the horror fade.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Dense but RivetingBy Tracy Cramer Austin; TexasThis is a powerful book. It analyzes and explains the sociology of the Nazi concentration camp.I would; however; recommend reading it After reading other books about the camps in general; and survivor testimony in particular.It is not light reading; but; I found it gripping nonetheless.
