"Oxford is to be congratulated for so quickly and well translating the newest scholarship into readable and attractive volumes for students."--Patricial M. King, Radcliffe College
"If
Pushing the Limits is what new books for students are like, I'm going back to school! Elaine Tyler May has written a lively and engrossing history of American women's lives in the era of World War II and the Cold War. She respects her young readers enough to offer them serious analyses of complex topics like growth of consumer culture and changes in attitudes toward sexuality. We meet women who work in factories and organize union; women--white and black--who go to college and develop professional careers; women who devote themselves to domesticity. More than 100 remarkable photographs bring the words to life. If you thought the 1950s were dull, this book will convince you that they were a fascinating decade, full of tension, argument, and important choices for both men and women."--Linda K. Kerber, Professor of History, University of Iowa, and author of
Women of the Republic"Especially commendable is the inclusion of women from a variety of racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds."--
VOYA"
Limits brings women into the years of World War II; Rosie the Riveter reigned supreme, only to be pushed back home when the war was over. During the 1950s and 1960s, mom and apple pie were upbeat images, but May does a fine job of chronicling the dark side of this phenomenon, including the mental and emotional price paid by those who didn't follow the rules."--
Booklist"Lively, fascinating, lucid, accessible, balanced--a fine resource that belongs in every library."--
Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This refreshingly different look at history, social trends, and pop culture lends itself beautifully to classroom discussionn, and will also be useful for reports."--
School Library Journal (starred review)