Why We Lost the ERA (Equal Rights Movement)

Why We Lost the ERA (Equal Rights Movement)

In this work, Jane Mansbridge's fresh insights uncover a significant democratic irony - the development of self-defeating, contradictory forces within a democratic movement in the course of its struggle to promote its version of the common good. Mansbridge's book is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in democratic theory and practice. “Jane Mansbridge has brought the cool eye of a true scholar to one of the most painful subjects in recent feminist history, and the result is a work of enormous importance. Her analysis is painstaking, original, and always eye-opening. At the risk of sounding authoritarian, I am going to insist that anyone of my acquaintance who considers him- or herself an advocate of women’s rights, read this book and be prepared to discuss it, word for lucid word.” -- Barbara Ehrenreich “Jane Mansbridge’s account of the failure to ratify the ERA is a sad, ironic, and fascinating story. But it is much more. It is a major work on the nature of gender politics and social movements. I know of few books that are as faithful to the reality of a particular set of events while contributing as much to our general understanding of political conflict.” -- Sidney Verba, coauthor of Equality in America “I am so grateful to Jane Mansbridge for writing this book. It answers all the questions that have haunted me since the ERA failed the last day of June 1982. When I finished Why We Lost the ERA , I understood at last the politics, the mistakes and the courageous choices of the fight I could only try to understand as I reported on it during those long years.” -- Jane O'Reilly, author of The Girl I Left Behind “In this work, Jane Mansbridge’s fresh insights uncover a significant democratic irony—the development of self-defeating, contradictory forces within a democratic movement in the course of its struggle to promote its version of the common good. Mansbridge’s book is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in democratic theory and practice.” -- Peter Bachrach, author of The Theory of Democratic Elitism “An absolutely first-rate book. Not only did I learn a lot, but it was a good read. It’s not often that a professional book turns out to be a page turner.” -- Kay L. Scholozman, author of Organized Interests and American Democracy In this work, Jane Mansbridge's fresh insights uncover a significant democratic irony - the development of self-defeating, contradictory forces within a democratic movement in the course of its struggle to promote its version of the common good. Mansbridge's book is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in democratic theory and practice. Jane Mansbridge is the Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and the editor of Beyond Self-Interest .