Days of discontent : American women and right-wing politics, 1933-1945 / June Melby Benowitz.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benowitz, June Melby.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women--Political activity--United States--History--20th century.

Women.

Women--Political activity.

Right-wing extremists.

History.

Women radicals.

United States.

Women radicals--United States--History--20th century.

Right-wing extremists--United States--History--20th century.

Physical Description:

230 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

DeKalb : Northern Illinois University Press, [2002]

Summary:

Holding fast to traditional values in the face of unprecedented economic hardship, nearly a million American women joined right-wing organizations during the Great Depression and World War II. Days of Discontent provides a new perspective for understanding why the far right appealed to these women, whose political self-awareness grew with the tumultuous times. Influenced by the conventional image of women as mothers and nurturers, many women viewed the right-wing movement as a way to protect and maintain American morality. The radical right leaders, such as Elizabeth Dilling and Grace Wick, held ideas in common with European fascists but based their politics on a uniquely American mixture of nativism, anticommunism, anti-Semitism, and racism. Benowitz's insight into their motivations sheds new light on the interaction between women's daily lives and national politics.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [185]-224) and index.

ISBN:

087580294X

OCLC:

48092235