Book Description
An incisive expos of the underhanded advertising initiatives that target teens-and an exploration of their disturbing consequences.
Generation Y has grown up in an age of the brand, bombarded by name products. In Branded, Alissa Quart illuminates the unsettling new reality of marketing to teenagers, as well as the quieter but no less worrisome forms of teen branding: the teen consultants who work for corporations in exchange for product; the girls obsessed with cosmetic surgery who will do anything to look like women on TV; and those teens simply obsessed with admission into a name-brand college. We also meet the pockets of kids attempting to turn the tables on the cocksure corporations that so cynically strive to manipulate them. Chilling, thought-provoking, even darkly amusing, Branded brings one of the most disturbing and least talked about results of contemporary business and culture to the fore-and ensures that we will never look at today's youth the same way again.
Customer Reviews:
Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers.......2006-07-22
The premise of this book seemed very appealing to me. I have always been very opinionated about "Branding" teenagers, and while in high school I refused to wear well known brand-name clothes.
However, once I got into actually reading the book, I was very dissapointed. Quart seemed, at least to me, to merely skim the surface of the problem, filling the pages with statistics and endless lists of numbers but not really pulling much meaning out of any of it.
It also seemed to me that she focused most of her attention on the "rich" kids. I feel that a comparison between priviledged and average teenagers, even severely underpriviledged teens, would have made the book much more interesting. It got especially frustration for me when I reached the chapter titled "Logo U" because (my being fresh out of highschool) I felt that she was exaggerating, or else obviously not expanding her interviews for children NOT from wealthy families. I never took an SAT course, never bought an expensive SAT book but still did perfectly well on my SATs, and got into several excellent colleges.
I understand that the point she was trying to make was about teens getting the "Logo U"s in their minds and refusing to be denied access to them, but I feel the endless droning about SATs offered nothing to feed that point and just made me try to compare the information to my own experience, with little, if any, success.
I apologize for my review being so unorganized. I am no professional writer myself.
Okay, but lacking..........2006-05-25
"Branded" definitely supplies a great deal of information, but Quart seems to fail in synthesizing this information for the reader. Granted, it is fairly easy to understand the points she is trying to make, but she fails to coherently state these points in a memorable fashion. The book is filled with endless examples and statistics, but it is lacking in overal argumentation. She seems to allow the facts and the stats to speak for themselves, without using them to prove specific points. The book is an endless supply of premises, with very few conclusions.
However, I did learn much from this book, and the chapter on teenage plastic surgery was quite shocking and disturbing to me.
Overall, I do recommend this book, if you are able to draw your own conclusions from the facts provided.
Brand This!.......2005-07-07
Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers by Alissa Quart is a quick and fascinating read on the current and constructed intersections between young people, the media and popular culture, corporate agencies, and consumer culture.
What struck me most about Quart's analysis is how RELEVANT it is. Unlike many books published today, the research, reference, and anecdotal material in Branded (published in 2003) is very recent and does not rely too much, or at all really, on the 1990s.
Two shortcomings of the book were the chapter on Self-Branding (I felt Quart could have done more with body piercing, for example) and the last few pages (her final analysis could have been stronger). Despite these weak spots, Quart clearly did her research.
Branded is an interesting and even fun read suitable for parents, teenagers, and educators alike. As a teacher myself, I will definitely refer to it in the future.
Good concept, but not totally engaging.......2005-01-18
Alissa Quart tackles an admirable and potentially fascinating subject in Branded, yet I was left feeling a bit disappointed after finishing the book. I personally found her writing style a bit stilted, and it seems like there is a lot of information and many observations, yet not so much in-depth analysis. The book itself is not extremely long, so there is definitely room for more expansion. There are countless examples of teen branding in movies, fashion, magazines, advertisements, etc., and the author touches on all of these and more, but somehow the book felt more like a bombardment of information than a nuanced analysis. I had pretty high expectations when I read this book (especially from the many positive editorial reviews available), but it was ultimately not as satisfying an experience as I would have hoped.
Fresh and Disturbing Take on a Rather Tired Argument.......2004-09-23
I found it to be an excellent read, and I'm considering using some excerpts from it to spark writing and discussion in a basic writing class that I teach--a class where I'm always concerned that the readings I use are immediate, accessable and read well.
Although the book's subject is the way that companies market to teenagers, in a sense this is only a subset of the author's larger concern with capitalism and consumer culture. She obviously has a left wing take on this subject, although I disagree with earlier reviewers that her presentation is manipulative or unfair. The issue isn't whether or not companies fill a demand (obviously, they do), but about the lengths to which they go to create that demand. How you feel about this obviously depends on your politics, but Quart's viewpoint seems to me to be reasonable and valid.
My problem is that this argument is just sort of tired. I'm just bored of hearing the same critique of "consumer culture" over and over again. What sets this book apart, though is its focus on marketing to children, and, in particular, the passages where Quart presents the kids' lives through their own words. It's pretty disturbing to hear how closely they identify their own self-worth with the products that they use. I'm not just talking about the idea that they have to conform to a certain image in order to be beautiful--again, this is old news. But about how the almost BECOME the brand that they use. When a teenager named Carrie, a fan of MTV's "Total Request Live" describes her loyalty to that show and to the marketing she does for The Backstreet Boys by saying, "I like the Boys as much as my friends and family"--well, there's something really disturbing about that.
Customer Reviews:
(RAW Rating: 4.5) - What is happening to black men?.......2007-08-04
Demico Boothe has explored the reasons so many black men are indeed in prison in, WHY ARE SO MANY BLACK MEN IN PRISON? He begins with his own story of a shaky upbringing and his subsequent dabbling in drug dealing. He was caught with a few grams of crack cocaine but because it was the dreaded crack, he was given 10 years in prison. When he left prison after serving his time, he was actually railroaded back into prison by a crooked justice system. He delves deeply into our justice system and the motives behind all the new prisons that are being built. He gives succinct and reasonable views of exactly what is happening now in the United States and how the past has played a role in the present. He uses persuasive statistics regarding the number of black men in prison as compared to the number of white men who are incarcerated.
Demico Boothe has done an excellent job of researching his subject and it is a plus, if unfortunate for him, that he has actually experienced first hand what he's talking about. I knew I was hearing the real story rather than just statistics from an intellectual who had no real idea of what the prison system is really like. I would have liked for Boothe to search a little deeper into the Haiti, Aristide and USA question, maybe even reading Randall Robinson's take on the situation, and then he might see it a bit differently. Otherwise, it is a good book and one every one in America should read. We indeed, have a crisis going on.
Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Why Are So Many Black Men In Prison? A Comprehensive Account Of How And Why The Prison Industry Has Become A Predatory Entity In.......2007-06-09
The book was very interesting. I learned soooo much about the government and the prison industry. I did some searching independantly to check on the things reported in the book and they are very true. Great Read!! Buy the book.
A Must Read.......2007-05-25
Mr. Demico's book is a must-read for anyone concerned about young African American men. Although I did not agree with every conclusion he reached, Demico's main premises are convincing. As a white woman who teaches mainly students of color, I am always impressed, and often in awe, of those young men who reach college with so much going against them. Demico's books lays bare not only the horrible inequalities of our society, but also the racist attitudes of our political system - - Democrats, Republicans, and most everyone in between.
Why are so many Black Men in Prison?.......2007-05-13
I is a well put together book. He really goes into a lot of detail of how our society is really set up.
Why are so many blacks in prison?.......2007-05-12
I found this book very interesting. As a white devil myself, I had no idea that I was responsible for forcing blacks into committing crimes and then subsequently clogging up the whole "Prison Industrial Complex"(tm). I will try to stop causing this, as I am sure it is creating a LOT of trouble for everyone! Sorry!
It is probably also my fault that young black men dressed in XXXXL clothes overtly threaten me and my family members routinely. Can anyone tell me what I should do to make this not happen?
I imagine it's also my fault that black on white violent crime is WAY higher than white on black violent crime, even though blacks constitute about 12.5% of the population, and whites are about 70%. But since it is impossible for a black to commit a hate crime according to our criminal justice system (since blacks are not under any circumstances racist), statistically, there are more white on black hate crimes. Boothe notes a statistic regarding hate crimes, but he skips the one about interracial violence in general.
In sum, Boothe notes that just about everything blacks do is actually MY fault, because my skin is white. Boothe, I've got a word for you.
Introspection.
Book Description
This innovative collection of newly commissioned essays from leading experts in sociology and cultural studies looks at youth culture through subcultural identity. Youth Culture is the first text to bridge sociology and cultural studies in order to understand youth identity replacing the outmoded theories based on deviance. This volume examines the social worlds of young people in their natural environments; suburban bedrooms, shopping malls, rock concerts, and school. In addition, it explores the impact of the media and music on youth, using Beavis and Butthead, grunge, and heavy metal bands as examples of youth subcultural identity.Epstein's collection of prominent writers and researchers will give you a better understanding of why youths, in particular, are prone to collective identity, and how they achieve their sense of self through fashion, music, sports and entertainment.
Customer Reviews:
Where do they get off?.......2001-04-07
I've associated myself with punk culture since I was 14. I'm 21 now, and as a college student, I find myself growing out of my angst and search of identity. I was interested, then, to see an objective point of view on why someone like me would have been drawn to such a subculture.
I searched my school library's limited database for the word "punk" and this book came up. I checked it out, and thoroughly enjoyed the forward. It offers an earnest plea for a fair observation of my generation.
350 pages later, I feel none-too-enlightened. I read the whole thing, cursing as I went. No one understands youth but the youth themselves. Don't waste your time with this book.
Book Description
Globalization defines our era. While it has created a great deal of debate in economic, policy, and grassroots circles, many aspects of the phenomenon remain virtual terra incognita. Education is at the heart of this continent of the unknown. This pathbreaking book examines how globalization and large-scale immigration are affecting children and youth, both in and out of schools. Taking into consideration broad historical, cultural, technological, and demographic changes, the contributors--all leading social scientists in their fields--suggest that these global transformations will require youth to develop new skills, sensibilities, and habits of mind that are far ahead of what most educational systems can now deliver.
Drawing from comparative and interdisciplinary materials, the authors examine the complex psychological, sociocultural, and historical implications of globalization for children and youth growing up today. The book explores why new and broader global visions are needed to educate children and youth to be informed, engaged, and critical citizens in the new millennium.
Customer Reviews:
No Sense of Fun.......2006-11-08
"From Mouse to Mermaid" is a delightful collection of essays analyzing a variety of aspects of Disney media. Most of the essays are indeed thought-provoking and insightful. However, many of the contributors take themselves far too seriously and draw spurrious conclusions. Simply put, they allow their determination to be scholarly critics to trump their sense of fun. As a Disney historian, I can safely say that several contributors come to conclusions that are simply not substantiated by the evidence. The contributors forget that Disney films, media, and parks are designed primarily to entertain, not to inculcate. The authors appear petty and eager to rip apart Disney (the man and the company), as if such an endeavor legitimized their humorless, pointless criticism.
Accessible Critiques.......2000-11-22
Perhaps the most important contribution to Disney Studies this book offers is an accessibility that, at the same time, offers a serious reconsideration of Disney films. Disney, for these scholars, is not above serious consideration and critique. In considering Disney worthy of study, the authors pay Disney a sincere (if backhanded and misunderstood) compliment. Rather than dismissing Disney as "just for children," they collectively question Disney's products and examine their influence.
In this collection of essays, the editors have managed to compile a broad range of materials that critique Disney in the spirit of critique, meaning a thoughtful and serious investigation. As the title suggests, much of the work here is interested in gender, but questions of race and ethnicity are also asked, as well as issues of power and identity. Although these are fairly heady topics, many of the essays are lively and engaging. For those just beginning to study Disney seriously, the works of Jack Zipes and Henry Giroux are recommended. For work on the animated films, the contributions of the editors (Bell, Haas, and Sells) are thought-provoking as well. All the essays, in fact, offer food for thought, whether one is in agreement with the authors or not.
People who think, "But it's just a cartoon," may not enjoy this challenge to reconsider Disney's films for their cultural impact. Then again, these very same people might be the most rewarded by such a collection. It is recommended for educators wishing to introduce critical thinking into a college classroom using Disney films, scholars working in Disney Studies, and Disney enthusiasts keeping abreast on writings on Disney.
the not-so-wonderful world of disney book.......1999-08-13
Maybe it's about time to change your opinion about Uncle Walt and his gang. This book is a must have for those who consider the walt disney company is not more than just a merchant, selling his merchandises all over the world. And not all of his merchandises are free from hazardous ingredients that can give dangerous impact of the young ones. But the book, and find the sexist, racist and greedy uncle scrooge inside the walt disney company.
The history of one of America's best-loved success stories.......1997-03-22
To say that Walt Disney affected by upbringing is an understatement. I recalled fond memories as I reviewed the histories of such unforgetable characters as Mickey and Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Huey Dewey and Louie and yes, even the Beagle Boys and Uncle Scrooge.
Disney's forays into classic fairy tales and stories , while whitewahsed to some extent, were always pure fun, with just the right touch of fear, sadness, and morality. I am glad to see that his lagacy is carried on and that we can expect even more of the tales we knew or some we didn't, to come to life in the classic Disney style of pure good taste, excelent production values and best of all, happy endings.
Book Description
Continuing his ongoing social critique, Henry Giroux now looks at the way corporate culture is encroaching on the lives of children by exploring three myths prevalent in our society: that the triumph of democracy is related to the triumph of the market; that children are unaffected by power and politics; that teaching and learning are no longer linked to improving the world. Looking at childhood beauty pageants, school shootings and the omnipresent nihilistic chic of advertising, Giroux paints a disturbing picture of the world surrounding our children. Ultimately, he turns to the work of Antonio Gramsci, Paulo Freire and Stuart Hall for lessons about how we can reinstitute a realistic childhood for our children.
Customer Reviews:
A disturbing yet truthful book.......2000-08-16
Even though we as American parents would be willing to blow the whistle on baby sitters who physically and emotionally harm our children, we have done nothing short of brushing the surface when it comes to pulling the plug on the most dangerous baby sitter of all-popular media. Please read this book, and take the necessary steps to loosen the grip of this menace from your child. Parents have, and always will be, the best influence on our children's reality;they should collaborate with educators on how best to remove this menace and restore childhood to its purity.
Another Winner!.......2000-04-06
Giroux's book furthers his study of the politics of youth culture which has been continuing through Fugitive Cultures and Channel Surfing. This new book also offers one of the most penetrating discussions of the rise of corporate culture that I have seen. The second half engages the work of Antonio Gramsci, Paulo Freire, and Stuart Hall. In my view this book is a major integration of Giroux's important early theoretical work on the politics of schooling with his more recent work on education and cultural studies. I highly recommend it for anyone involved in cultural work or cultural theory as well as teachers and teacher educators.
Average customer rating:
- A welcome book. Not trite or paternalistic. Gets you thinking
- jAn important book
- ALF - your parent's new caregivers
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Assisted Living for Our Parents: A Son's Journey (The Culture and Politics of Health Care Work)
Daniel Jay Baum
Manufacturer: ILR Press
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ASIN: 0801444683 |
Book Description
"It is because I want to help other parents and adult children understand the problems and risks in choosing an assisted living facility--and thus avoid some of the negative experiences my mother and I had--that I decided to write this book."--Daniel Jay Baum
As the population of North America ages, millions of adult children are faced with the challenge of how to help their parents make the transition to their later years of life. For elderly parents in reasonably good health for whom living on their own is no longer possible, assisted living facilities (ALFs) are becoming an increasingly popular option, ideally providing some measure of independence with varying degrees of assistance and support.
The author was sixty-four years old when it became obvious that his eighty-nine-year-old mother, Ida, could no longer live alone. After considering a variety of options, including home health care assistance, he and his mother decided to sell her home, and she moved into an assisted living facility. In Assisted Living for Our Parents, Baum chronicles every step of his and his mother's journey into the world of assisted living, providing guidance for the millions of adults who face these same decisions.
Baum's story is the intensely personal one of a son learning to cope with his evolving relationship with his mother, balancing his own concerns for his mother's health and safety with her desire for independence and a role in decisions about her own life. Readers follow Baum and his mother over six years, from their initial decision to move her into an ALF to discussions about her end-of-life wishes. Complicating all of these issues was the fact that Baum lived hundreds of miles from his mother, a situation he shared with seven million other adult children in North America who live more than three hundred miles away from their parents.
The author's remarkable honesty about his mistakes and misunderstandings on this journey will inform a wide range of readers about questions to be asked and preparations to be made. Baum also discusses the usefulness of informative meetings with facility administrators, staff, and residents. He distinguishes between the various levels of nursing care found at ALFs and advises about the problems of hospitalization for residents. He helps readers understand complicated and emotionally fraught financial matters (from insurance to escalating facility costs). In his final chapter, he considers alternatives to ALFs.
A moving and honest guide to a growing and often confusing phenomenon, Assisted Living for Our Parents provides much-needed help to anyone having to navigate through the questions, problems, and risks involved in choosing an assisted living facility.
Customer Reviews:
A welcome book. Not trite or paternalistic. Gets you thinking.......2007-09-29
First off, this is the only book that I have seen about this topic that is not written by an insider with a vested interest in promoting assisted living facilities, care management, Alzheimer's facilities, or the like. Many books point you to resources that you could find in an hour or less on the Internet. This is so much more thoughtful. The author provides a self-reflective account of his own journey with his mother in trying to work out the best individualized arrangements for and with her. It is not one of these simplistic "my mother is your mother -and what you and your mother will face." An added plus is that he gives a lot of thoughtful attention to the promise and limitations of current options and newer models of aging.It is a very nice book that bridges the gap between public/social policies for the aging and personal experience. Books like this are unusual. I tend to shun books that tilt to either narcissistically, personal stories or heavily annotated accounts. Hopefully, this book will help mobilize readers to think that creative, humanistic solutions are possible.
jAn important book.......2007-07-05
Every older person, especially those living alone, and their family members should read this book. Anyone who is considering an assisted living situation for a parent will learn invaluable information.
ALF - your parent's new caregivers.......2007-05-08
This is a very good book for anyone who has to put their parent in an Assisted Living Facility, even if you live close to your parent.
You can tell Dan always had his mother's over-all well-being at the center of his decisions. The future is so uncertain, this is a good book to read as Dan tells of his personal experience with their choice of ALF.
Sharing Ida's experience has helped me when it came time to put my own Mother in an ALF in Dec 2006. My sister, Mom & I visited various ALF's, and Mom chose the one she liked best. My sister and I made sure it will give her the support she will need when her health will require more assistance. Mom has early-stages of Alzheimer's; physically she is fine, but mentally, she cannot remember current events.
Dan covers every aspect of life in an ALF, his experience with the good parts and the bad. All of this knowledge is best found out before-hand, so you are more prepared for what can happen in the future. Due to his insight, I hope to be able to give Mom a comfortable and well-assisted life.
Barbara
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America's Global Influence (Opposing Viewpoints)
Manufacturer: Greenhaven Press
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Binding: Library Binding
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- A cultural history that is revealing and engrossing
- Jazz riff? More like broken record.
- Required reading!
- Incoherent and rambling
- Walley is an electrifying essayist
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Teenage Nervous Breakdown: Music and Politics in the Post-Elvis Age
David Walley
Manufacturer: Plenum Publishing Corporation
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0306458624 |
Book Description
Teenage Nervous Breakdown: Music and Politics in the Post-Elvis Era combines music and cultural history and criticism to examine how rock and the rock lifestyle have been merchandised first to a teenage audience and eventually to a worldwide consumer society. Well-known, iconoclastic writer/ critic David Walley examines the entire rock culture and how it has infused all aspects of American (and world) life, from entertainment to politics to academic education. In a series of what he describes as "word-jazz rock and roll improvisations and variations," Walley examines how adult culture has been "adolescent-ized" and what the ramifications are on our society.
Walley is not an uninvolved observer-his personal story and opinions are right up front, where they belong. Famous for being the first writer to recognize the commercial genius of Frank Zappa (in the landmark book, No Commercial Potential, first published in 1972 and still in print today), Walley is ideally suited to examine how commercialism has invaded rock music, and in turn how this commercialism has invaded rock music, and in turn how this commercial stepchild of rock has become a culture unto itself. He tackles everything from the elevation of youth culture to the mainstream; the fast-food economy; the commercial hijack of the counterculture movement; the "cool" aesthetic; the marketing of politicians; psychotropic drugs from LSD to Prozac; and much, much more. Along the way, he touches on a diverse range of figures. From Ma Rainey to Elvis, from Béla Bartók to Batman; from Timothy Leary to Rush Limbaugh; from The Man From U.N.C.L.E. to Understanding Media.
Customer Reviews:
A cultural history that is revealing and engrossing.......2006-09-09
Written by popular music and culture expert David Walley, who has documented the evolution of rock and roll since the late sixties, Teenage Nervous Breakdown: Music and Politics in the Post-Elvis Age is a close scrutiny of how rock and the rock lifestyle have been commercialized and merchandized, first to a teenage audience, and now to a worldwide consumer society. In particular, Teenage Nervous Breakdown explores how modern culture has been "adolescentized", and what the consequences are. How did the counterculture movement get commercially hijacked, what exactly is the "cool" aesthetic, and why has youth culture been elevated to the mainstream? Teenage Nervous Breakdown offers keenly aware answers to all this questions and more. From the marketing of politicians to the ramifications and cultural views of psychotropic drugs, no issue with a tangible connection to rock-and-roll goes overlooked. A "must-read" for rock-and-roll fans especially, as well as students and even businessmen interested in the dynamics of popular culture.
Jazz riff? More like broken record........2005-10-24
Found this book in a bin outside a dollar store. Thought the title looked promising. Wrong. It's the most pretentious pile of horse wallop I've tried to read in a long time. If it wasn't such a long drive back to that particular dollar store, I'd throw it back in the bin it came out of.
Required reading!.......2003-06-05
This could be one of the most underrated works in modern social history. Walley has managed the astounding feat of combining first-hand insights and observations with a style that is totally unique -- practically free form. "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" should be required reading for students of sociology, music, or, dare I say, cultural anthropology. In an age when culture is very much a recycled and homogenized ghost of past trends and politics, this collection of essays is a rallying cry for anyone searching for a voice in a thunderstorm of corporatized consumerism and apathy.
Incoherent and rambling.......1999-06-29
Do you know that old joke, "If you remember the 1960s you probably weren't there"? Walley thinks he remembers.
Looking for a book to use for a class on "Music and Politics," I was excited to come upon this title. What a disappointment. Walley, whose credentials as a historian escape me, says his book is "basically a series of word-jazz rock and roll improvisations and variations" on how rock created "an attitude as well a (sic) sonic environment for commerce." A few chapters have references, but there is little original research or theory. Chapters with more notes offer little more than the ones where Walley supposedly gives his imagination full range.
Walley uses commas like blunt instruments. Consider: "Really, it's just business, forget that other stuff, said the military-industrial complex, which, when the layers of obfuscation and self-serving rhetoric were peeled away and its corporate reports were scrutinized by peace activist historians and economists, was revealed to be the engine that motored the American ecnomy and had been motoring it since the end of World War II." Is this a jazz riff, or just awful writing?
You've also got to wonder about a music "expert" who is shocked that the Beatles "Revolution" is being used to sell "sneakers" (Does anyone younger than 50 still use this term?) today.
Listen to the words: "Revolution" was anti-revolution.
If you are looking for a book which will deal with the impact of commercial forces on the music industry and politics, keep looking. I was hoping for a book which would explore how commercial culture co-opts cutting-edge culture. This is just sludge.
This book makes a post-modernist Ph.D. dissertation read like a model of clarity.
Walley is an electrifying essayist.......1999-05-15
David Walley is one of the most exciting essayists I've ever read. To say that he's a cultural historian of the highest order is absolutely right and dead wrong. One thinks of historians as dried out hollow men, heads filled with straw. Walley's head is a dynamo generating electric sparks of insight, self-realization, and delight.
Book Description
During World War II, American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers, and many of them relied on federally funded child care programs. At the end of the war, working mothers vigorously protested the termination of child care subsidies. In Citizen, Mother, Worker, Emilie Stoltzfus traces grassroots activism and national and local policy debates concerning public funding of children's day care in the two decades after the end of World War II.
Using events in Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and the state of California, Stoltzfus identifies a prevailing belief among postwar policymakers that women could best serve the nation as homemakers. Although federal funding was briefly extended after the end of the war, grassroots campaigns for subsidized day care in Cleveland and Washington met with only limited success. In California, however, mothers asserted their importance to the state's economy as "productive citizens" and won a permanent, state-funded child care program. In addition, by the 1960s, federal child care funding gained new life as an alternative to cash aid for poor single mothers.
These debates about the public's stake in what many viewed as a private matter help illuminate America's changing social, political, and fiscal priorities, as well as the meaning of female citizenship in the postwar period.
Customer Reviews:
A different time.......2004-06-23
Stoltzfus studies the roughly twenty years after World War 2, and the social attitudes in the United States towards women, in that time. She found that picking the topic of whether a government (federal or state) should offer child care to women in the workforce was a good focal point. It let her study the women's efforts to get this maintained after the war years, when it was introduced as an emergency measure. Plus, the reactions of the lobbied politicians and bureaucrats were typical of the prevailing social attitudes towards working women.
It really has not been that many years ago. Yet the echoes from these pages makes it seem like another era. Probably it was. When any employer could fire a female employee soley because she got married, or pregnant, with any risk of opprobrium.
The book also goes into the intertwining of the child care issue with that of race. How, in this pre-civil rights time, many women who had to work were Negro. Which naturally made harder the lobbying of white legislators.
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