She Votes

I have read many books on women's suffrage during this year leading up to the 100th anniversary. I think that this book does a really nice job of laying out the history, warts and all, bringing women of color into the conversation more, and looking at the history of women's rights after the suffrage movement. I think that it would pair really nicely with Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women's Fight for Their Rights. At times the language is a bit too conversational or repetitive, but--especially for teen and tween readers--this book is a good, fun survey of the complicated history of the suffrage movement.

This book is a beautifully illustrated and empowering book of the history of women's right to vote. It is a must- read that is told in fun-to=read prose for all ages and genders to know our history and write the present and future. I recommend this as a gift to any friend-- or a gift for oneself.

Having just graduated college, where I studied politics, history, and women's and gender studies, much of this history I knew or knew of through my studies. What is presented in this book is a well synthesized survey of suffrage and feminism in the United States. Quinn doesn't sugarcoat historical figures or paint them as saints, but rather takes the time to point out their flaws and where they were wrong (see: Alice Paul not wanting black women to march in her suffrage parade). Quinn also does a great job of spotlighting many different voices and women from completely different socioeconomic and professional backgrounds. There were a few times I wondered "oh, I hope she'll mention or discuss X" and it would always be on the next page! Quinn's language is accessible throughout, making this a great read for teens and young adults, but also adult readers wanting to celebrate the successes of women in the US.

In addition to the narrative, the book is also full of gorgeous art by women artists. Each piece was beautiful and it was always exciting to turn the page and wonder what art would be next.

This book concluded wonderfully, and it was exactly what I needed. I imagine it will be what other readers need as well. I'm really looking forward to see others reading this book!

The artwork in this book is fantastic! The subject matter is especially prescient now and the author delves into parts of history that are often ignored (or sometimes deliberately suppressed). The book was particularly engaging and informative!

Author Bridget Quinn is great and her previous book - Broad Strokes - is awesome. This s a book you purchase for your kids to learn about important women and events in the history of US voting. I enjoyed the book but think the book could be enjoyed by children from age 8 and up.

Bridget Quinn writes in a very accessible way speaking directly to readers and using colorful language. So this is not your traditional dry history on a topic. She also makes sure to cover all the not great parts about Women's suffrage-racism being one of the biggest. Quinn dives deeper into the suffrage story that you already know, not just detailing the people we remember today like Susan B. Anthony, but all the other players as well. She also details fascinating facts like Oregon rejected women's right to vote 5 times! (58). The first woman was elected to Congress in 1917, which was before women in the entire US had the right to vote (95). Women were jailed for protesting at the White House, and then during a hunger strike force-feed, which is considered a form of torture (111). Sadly there was also a group of women against the vote, and Quinn points out, "it seems ironic today that there were women so determined not to vote that they protested the possibility, organized, and were in effect politically active in hopes of defeating political engagement by women" (78). The book ends with a look at how women continued to speak out from 1920s to the present day. The illustrations are lovely, and done by 100 female artists. This is a fantastic history of women's suffrage in the US.
I received an advanced uncorrected digital galley from the publisher via Netgalley. Page numbers are from this galley and may not be the same in the final book.

This book was even better than I expected it to be. I loved the layout with the photos of the women that were being discussed. I found it pleasing to the eye. There is so much great information in this book. Despite having taken some women's history classes, I found a vast amount of knowledge in this book that I was not aware of. I wish everyone would read this book. I can't recommend it enough!

History has taught us that rights are hardly served on silver platters. You have to fight for it. The women suffrage in America is also one such right that has been fought for by numerous women. It is the result of innumerable struggles that every woman in America today enjoys the right to franchise.

The author Bridget Quinn has summarized the history of this struggle in her upcoming book- She Votes- How U.S Women Won Suffrage and What Happened Next, a book that will celebrate the 100 years of equality at its release in August.

Quinn has brought to notice and has questioned the racial discrimination that was practiced (most ironically) in equality movements. Bridget Quinn wants to portray that all American women are American and nothing else.

The book is supposed to be about history, but it is more than that. It not only stops at 1920, it extends to the after struggles of women. We have an illustration in the book that tries to encompass major movements like equal pay for equal work and MeToo.

She Votes is an entire package for someone who is willing to know the essence of the American woman suffrage movement. Quinn starts the journey from 1776 and then sketches the way forward to the 2016 US Presidential elections and much forward till the present time. Quinn seems to be passing on the history of women’s movement to the present generation to carry forward the torch of raising voices for inequalities.

She Votes is an inspiration for today’s world; for today’s fight for equality.
It’s a must have book for every feminists’ desk. Because it not only lays bare all that has been achieved, but also imparts loads of inspiration for upcoming struggles for equality.

The review has been cut short because of its length. The link to the full review is shared below:
https://medium.com/@nidhisinha1947/a-century-to-womens-suffrage-in-usa-b4134da8cb2

We need as many representations of the suffrage story as we can get - and all its facets - and this on eis an excellent one.

She Votes by Bridget Quinn
Book Review by Dawn Thomas

235 Pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date August 11, 2020

History, Nonfiction (Adult)

I love the three quotes at the beginning of the book. The forward of the book is written by Nell Irvin Painter. The book is described the book as an intersectional work. She talks about how she felt when the vote returns were coming in for the 2016 presidential election. I can relate to her level of anxiety. She discusses the roots of the Women’s March with a nod to a previous march in 1913. It is inclusive and contains many voices on different topics.

Chapter 1: Seneca
Chapter 2: Voices Carry: Sojourner Truth
Chapter 3: Enter Anthony
Chapter 4: Winning the West: Sacajawea
Chapter 5: Bloomers, Bicycles & Basketball
Chapter 6: The Art of Protest: Mary Cassatt vs. The Antis
Chapter 7: Deeds Not Words
Chapter 8: Early Arrival: Jeannette Rankin
Chapter 9: Law Breaking to Law Making
Chapter 10: War of the Roses
Chapter 11: Women Are People Too: Betty Friedan
Chapter 12: Picture This
Chapter 13: Running Strong: Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink
Chapter 14: Lesbians & Liberation: Audre Lorde
Chapter 15: First Person Female
Chapter 16: Represent: Guerrilla Girls
Chapter 17: Year of the Woman
Chapter 18: Third Wave: Riot Grrrl
Chapter 19: Young Americans

I was impressed with the vast amount of research done to create this book. The author did a wonderful job acknowledging all the women. The writing style was more like listening to a conversation instead of a dull reference book. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about women’s right to vote and the prominent women that pushed for it to pass. Hopefully, we will be celebrating the passing of the ERA in the upcoming years.

This is a well-researched, informative book about women’s suffrage, complete with beautiful illustrations throughout. I knew a bit about the history of women gaining the right to vote and their progress and setbacks in the political world since then, but I loved getting a more thorough overview of the topic highlighting many of the trailblazers over the course of the last century.

Suffragists Past and Feminists Present

The first thing you notice about this book is how colorful it is. We don't normally think about colorful illustrations in a serious book meant for adults, but I think it adds a really nice touch. This book takes a look at the history of the suffragist movement from its earliest days, looking at key people that you have heard of and a few that you might not have associated with the suffragist movement, as well as how we carry on their spirit today. I like that the author added her own little commentary here and there. This is no dry history book. I particularly liked reading the story of Mary Cassatt as I had no idea of some details shared; I had always just been a fan of her artwork, as I am a big fan of the Impressionists in general and liked that she cracked the boys’ club, so to speak. I appreciated learning about not only the movers and shakers of feminism’s distant past but also ones who have lived (and are living) within my lifetime, women who are fully stuck into continuing the work of gender equality through to contemporary times. Given that it is an election year as I write this review, the choice of the title resonates with me. We need to remember how hard our foremothers (and even some forefathers) fought for our right to let our voices be heard in the political world, allowing us to help shape our country’s future. Let's make sure that we honor their struggle and sacrifice, and let our voices be heard, loud and proud, at this and every election.

Couldn't have loved this book more. Quinn's curation of fantastic art pieces really add to the overall book, perfectly complementing the history she offers. Timely and great!