Ordinary equality : the fearless women and queer people who shaped the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Rights Amendment

Title:

Author:

Kelly, Kate, 1980- author.

ISBN:

9781423658726

Personal Author:

Kelly, Kate, 1980- author.

Edition:

First edition.

Publication Information:

Layton, Utah : Gibbs Smith, [2022]

Physical Description:

xxiii, 231 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Contents:

A note from the author -- Introduction: Centering women in history -- Molly Brant, Koñwatsi-tsiaiéñni, or Dagonwadonti: a better blueprint -- Abigail Adams: Mrs. President -- Phillis Wheatley: a genius in bondage -- Matilda Joslyn Gage: that word is liberty -- Crystal Eastman: the most dangerous woman in America -- Mary Church Terrell: lifting as we climb -- Alice Paul: ordinary equality -- Pauli Murray: Jane Crow -- Martha Wright Griffiths: mother of the ERA -- Patsy Takemoto Mink: first, but not last -- Barbara Jordan: we the people -- Pat Spearman: resurrection -- Conclusion: Future framers.

Abstract:

"We are all living through modern constitutional history in the making, and Ordinary Equality helps teach about the past, present, and future of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) through the lives of bold fearless women. Based on author Kate Kelly's acclaimed podcast of the same name, Ordinary Equality recounts a story a century in the making-about how constitutional equality for women and Americans of all marginalized genders has been systematically undermined for the past 100-plus years, and the current movement to put it back on the table and get it across the finish line"-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Women -- United States -- Biography.

Political activists -- United States -- Biography.

Feminists -- United States -- Biography.

Women's rights.

Genre:

Biographies.

Added Author:

LaRue, Nicole,

Document ID:

SD_ILS:2395784

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Library	Collection	Collection	Call Number	Status
Searching... Betty Rodriguez Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-fiction Area	920.72 KEL	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Fresno Central Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-fiction Area	920.72 KEL	Searching... Unknown
Searching... North Fork Branch (Madera Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Adult Non-fiction	920.72 KEL	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Selma Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-fiction Area	920.72 KEL	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

We are all living through modern constitutional history in the making, and Ordinary Equality helps teach about the past, present, and future of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) through the lives of the bold, fearless women and queer people who have helped shape the U.S. Constitution.

2022 GOLD Winner for Women's Studies, Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards

2023 PubWest Design Awards, Adult Illustrated Book and Cover Design

Ordinary Equality digs into the fascinating and little-known history of the ERA and the lives of the incredible--and often overlooked--women and queer people who have helped shape the U.S. Constitution for more than 200 years. Based on author Kate Kelly's acclaimed podcast of the same name, Ordinary Equality recounts a story centuries in the making. From before the Constitution was even drafted to the modern day, she examines how and why constitutional equality for women and Americans of all marginalized genders has been systematically undermined for the past 100-plus years, and then calls us all to join the current movement to put it back on the table and get it across the finish line.

Kate Kelly provides a much-needed fresh perspective on the ERA for feminists of all ages, and this engaging, illustrated look at history, law, and activism is sure to inspire many to continue the fight.

Individual chapters tell the stories of Molly Brant (Koñwatsi-tsiaiéñni / Degonwadonti), Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Alice Paul, Mary Church Terrell, Pauli Murray, Martha Wright Griffiths, Patsy Takemoto Mink, Barbara Jordan, and Pat Spearman, and features other key players and concepts, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Title IX, Danica Roem, and many more.

Author Notes

Kate Kelly is a feminist, activist, and human rights lawyer. She holds a JD degree from American University Washington College of Law, the only law school in the country founded by and for women. She's a nationally known advocate for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and host and creator of the podcast Ordinary Equality . Kate lives in Washington, DC, with her partner, Jamie Manson. You can follow her on Twitter at @kate_kelly_esq. To learn more about the Equal Rights Amendment and for an up-to-date list of news and articles about its current progress, visit www.ordinaryequality.com.

Nicole LaRue is a graphic designer, illustrator, and author. She believes every person, no matter their age or status, can help create positive social change. Called upon at the eleventh hour to create the official logo for the 2017 Women's March on Washington, Nicole is no stranger to mighty work. Her clients include Chronicle Books, Abrams Books, Oxford University Press, Compendium, Inc., Madison Park Greetings, Johnson & Johnson, Chatbooks, Tiny Prints, DC Shoes, Spumoni Studio, American Eagle, and more. See her work at SmallMadeGoods.com. Nicole resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Lawyer and podcaster Kelly focuses this breezy and inspiring history of the fight against gender and sex discrimination on 12 women who pushed for "constitutional equality" for women and other marginalized groups. These historical figures include Molly Brant, or Dagonwadonti (1736--1796), a Haudenosaunee leader whose example of a "strong woman who yielded great political power and authority" was ignored by the framers of the U.S. Constitution, according to Kelly, and first lady Abigail Adams (1744--1818), who famously appealed to her husband, John Adams, to "Remember the Ladies" at the Continental Congress in 1776. Other profile subjects include Patsy Takemoto Mink (1927--2002), the first woman of color elected to Congress and a major contributor to Title IX legislation, and Pat Spearman, a Black state senator from Nevada who spearheaded the state's ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in 2017, the first such legislative victory since the 1970s. Throughout, Kelly details her own activism on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment and enlivens the proceedings with a dash of irreverence (on Abigail Adams: "She immediately rage-texted her BFF Mercy Otis Warren (via letter)") that complements the book's bold graphic design. This spirited introduction to the battle for gender equality will appeal especially to young adults. (Feb.)

Kirkus Review

Twelve profiles of courageous American women, pre-Revolution to the present. "We often say that America was founded on July 4, 1776--but, really, 1776 was just the year a bunch of rich white guys wrote a breakup letter to King George, saying his American colonies were tired of being England's side hustle (the Declaration of Independence)," writes Kelly near the beginning of this book, based on her podcast of the same name. The author collaborates with graphic designer and illustrator LaRue to recount the stories of little-known figures like Molly Brant, a Mohawk leader in British New York; playwright Mercy Otis Warren; and Belinda Sutton, an enslaved woman who successfully petitioned for her own emancipation; as well as more familiar names like Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Kelly has an eye for interesting details and a gift for phrasemaking. Who knew that the Fugitive Slave Act has the distinction of being "the first and only time the Founders used the pronoun 'she' in the Constitution"? Or that the contribution to women's suffrage of Matilda Joslyn Gage, who began as a teenage abolitionist, was erased by "Mean Girl" Susan B. Anthony? Kelly also introduces us to Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray, likely the first trans activist, referred to here with they/them pronouns, "an attempt to avoid misgendering a person who contributed so much to the cause of gender equality." Sidebars cover key concepts and historical figures, including Gandhi, Title IX, and that ignominious "foot soldier of the patriarchy" Phyllis Schlafly. "Even after all her extensive groundwork building a political network of conservative women and helping to shape the new religious right as a political force," writes Kelly, "Phyllis was still denied the Cabinet position she expected in the Ronald Reagan Administration." What a shame. A fun, vibrant work perfectly suited to its intended audience: a potential new generation of ERA activists. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Ninety-eight years of relentless effort finally saw the Equal Rights Amendment ratified in 2020, setting it up for the Senate's vote. The lives of 12 women and queer people are presented in this collection, all of whom had tremendous impact on the forming of the Constitution, the fight for women's suffrage, and the long struggle to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. The lives of these diverse individuals--Dagonwadonti, Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Crystal Eastman, Mary Church Terrell, Alice Paul, Pauli Murray, Martha Wright Griffiths, Patsy Takemoto Mink, Barbara Jordan, and Pat Spearman--span from the American Revolution to today, representing all manner of backgrounds, social classes, religions, and races. Kelly, human-rights lawyer and host of the podcast Ordinary Equality, brings this fantastic introduction to the women and queer people who pioneered the ERA to life. The language is colloquial and showcases her storytelling talents, not at all the fare of academic biographies. Nicole LaRue's graphics and illustrations combined with Kelly's storytelling techniques and accessible language make this something teens will also find a fun, engaging read.

A Note from the Author	p. ix
Introduction: Centering Women in History	p. xi
Chapter 1 Molly Brant, Koñwatsi-tsiaiéñni, or Dagonwadonti: A Better Blueprint	p. 1
Chapter 2 Abigail Adams: Mrs. President	p. 13
Chapter 3 Phillis Wheatley: A Genius in Bondage	p. 25
Chapter 4 Matilda Joslyn Gage: That Word Is Liberty	p. 39
Chapter 5 Crystal Eastman: The Most Dangerous Woman in America	p. 57
Chapter 6 Mary Church Terrell: Lifting as We Climb	p. 79
Chapter 7 Alice Paul: Ordinary Equality	p. 97
Chapter 8 Pauli Murray: Jane Crow	p. 119
Chapter 9 Martha Wright Griffiths: Mother of the ERA	p. 139
Chapter 10 Patsy Takemoto Mink: First, But Not Last	p. 155
Chapter 11 Barbara Jordan: We the People	p. 171
Chapter 12 Pat Spearman: Resurrection	p. 188
Conclusion: Future Framers	p. 205
Acknowledgments	p. 212
Endnotes	p. 214

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Kirkus Review

Booklist Review

Table of Contents