"A delightful contribution. . . . A careful study of women's work, sexuality, marriage, child rearing, education, artistic expression, and politics in the context of these diverse experimental communities."—Library Journal
Description
Although the American communitarian movement has long offered critiques of mainstream society and has often claimed to liberate its members from traditional gendered behaviors and institutions, the social experiences of women in communal societies are just beginning to attract scholarly attention. This interdisciplinary collection surveys women’s roles and social experience in these societies from the eighteenth century to the present.
Combining both scholarly views and autobiographical material, the authors reveal the complexity and multiplicity of women’s experiences in a wide range of religious, secular, and modem interactive-psychology communities. The authors assess women as spiritual seekers; as feminists; as artists and craftswomen; as daughters, lovers, wives, and mothers; as workers; and as economic and political decision makers in their communities. Issues of autonomy, leadership, creativity, sexuality and marriage, gender equality, and the degree of experimentation with women’s roles in communities are among the prominent themes of the essays.
Scholars and students of American history, religion, sociology, utopian studies, and women’s studies will find that
this book greatly enriches our understanding of women’s experience in spiritual and communitarian societies.
Table of Contents
PART ONE—Women’s Search for Community: Religious, Secular, Feminist
1. Sojourner Truth: Utopian Vision and Search for Community, 1797-1883, Wendy E. Chmielewskj
2. Women’s Experiences in the American Owenite Communities, Carol A. Kolmerten
3. Heaven on Earth: The Woman’s Commonwealth, 1867-1983, Wendy E. Chmielewskj
PART TWO—Women’s Creativity in Community
4. Creative Women of Brook Farm, Lucy M. Freibert
5. Shaker Fancy Goods: Women’s Work and Presentation of Self in the Community Context in the Victorian Era, Beverly Gordon
6. “In the Bonds of True Love and Friendship”: Some Meanings of “Gospel Affection” and “Gospel Union” in Shaker Sisters’ Letters and Poems, Rosemary D. Gooden
PART THREE—Women and Structures of Leadership in Community
7. Sexual Equality and Economic Authority: The Shaker Experience, 1784-1900, Karen K. Nickless and Pamela J. Nickless
8. “Tho’ of the Weaker Sex”: A Reassessment of Gender Equality among the Shakers, Priscilla J. Brewer
9. Organizing for Service: Challenges to Community Life and Work Decisions in Catholic Sisterhoods, 18S0-1940, Mary J. Oates
PART FOUR—Women’s Status and Male Power in Community
10. “Diamond Cut Diamond”: The Mormon Wife vs. the True Woman, 1840-1890, Kathy Marquis
11. Family Love, True Womanliness, Motherhood, and the Socialization of Girls in the Oneida Community, 1848-1880, Marlyn Klee-Hartzell
12. Pronatalism, Midwifery, and Synergistic Marriage: Spiritual Enlightenment and Sexual Ideology on The Farm (Tennessee), Louis J. Kern
13. Female Education in the Lubavitcher Community: The Beth Rivkah and Machon Chana Schools, Bonnie Morris
PART FIVE—Women’s Voices Personal Experiences of Community
14. Colony Girl: A Hutterite Childhood, Ruth Baer Lambach
15. The Power of Feminism at Twin Oaks Community, Zena Goldenberg
About the Author
Wendy E. Chmielewski is curator of the Swarthmore College Peace Collection.
Louis J. Kern teaches history at Hofstra University.
Marlyn Klee-Hartzell teaches political science at Adelphi University.
February 1993