She Leads: Trailblazers Of The Past, Present & Future
Celebrate change-making women like Toni Morrison (pictured in 1977) who have passed the baton from the early Women’s Rights Movements to the leaders of our modern day society.
Novelist Toni Morrison.
Novelist Toni Morrison. She has a new novel "Jazz," (published by Knopf) and a new book of essays, "Playing in the Dark," (by Harvard). Her novel, "Beloved," won a Pulitzer prize. She's written six novels in all.
The Truth of a Woman Abolitionist
Historian and author Nell Irvin Painter is a Professor of American History at Princeton University. She's written a biography of the ex-slave and fiery abolitionist who was born Isabella Van Wagenen and rechristened herself Sojourner Truth, called "Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol."
How Battles Over Sex, Gender And Sexual Orientation 'Fractured American Politics'
Moral Combat author R. Marie Griffith says the fight for women's suffrage and legal birth control in the early 20th century helped create a political divide in the U.S. that still exists today.
Betty Friedan on Feminism's Future
The iconic author of The Feminine Mystique believes that the women's movement needs to move toward what she calls "the second stage," which focuses on cultural and policy changes which foster a greater balance of work and home life.
One of Hollywood's Earliest Sex Symbols.
Emily Wortis Leider has written a new biography of Mae West, "Becoming Mae West" (Farrar, Straus, Giroux). Leider’s book examines the early, formative years of West who was famous for witty one-liners, promiscuity, and being censored. Mae West started out as a vaudeville performer before launching a successful career in film. In the 1930’s she starred in "She Done Him Wrong," based on her play "Diamond Lil" and "I'm No Angel," two of her biggest films.
The Man Behind Wonder Woman Was Inspired By Both Suffragists And Centerfolds.
Wonder Woman's creator, William Moulton Marston, had a secret life: He had a wife and a mistress and fathered children with both of them. Jill Lepore explains in The Secret History of Wonder Woman.
The First Second-Generation Feminist.
Historian Ellen Carol Dubois teaches at the University of California, Los Angeles. She's the author of the new biography: "Harriot Stanton Blatch and the Winning of Woman Suffrage" (Yale University Press). Blatch was the daughter of the famous suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. When her mother died, Blatch carried on her mother's work, encouraging women of all classes to participate. Dubois also edited "The Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Susan B. Anthony Reader" (Northeastern University Press)
The Future of Feminism and the ERA
Ms. Magazine co-founders Gloria Steinem and Pat Carbine discuss renewed efforts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. They see coalition-building among politicians, men, and gay and straight women as crucial to the passage of more protective legislation and further progress for the women's movement.
Short Story Master Grace Paley.
Writer Grace Paley is a master of the short story form. Paley's work is interested in the stories of women, and Paley has been involved in the peace and feminist movements. Paley's latest collection is "Later the Same Day."
Lizzo On Feminism, Self-Love And Bringing 'Hallelujah Moments' To Stage
Lizzo is rapper and singer and her new album is her star-making break-thru. She also plays flute, is a self-proclaimed big girl, a feminist, and a lot of fun to talk to.
The "Gender Gap" in Contemporary Politics.
Activist Eleanor Smeal was the president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) from 1977-1982. She is also the author of "Why and How Women Will Elect the Next President." Smeal's book examines the political "gender gap," women's political issues, organizing women, getting out the vote, and women running for election. Smeal joins the show to discuss the women's movement and the upcoming election in which Smeal endorses Walter Mondale.
Writer Alice Walker.
Writer Alice Walker. Her new book, "Possessing The Secret of Joy," is about Tashi, an African woman who lives most of her life in North America, and yet submits to the tribal custom of female circumcision. Walker's other books include "The Color Purple," which was made into a film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, and "The Temple of My Familiar." The character Tashi has made peripheral appearances in those books. ("Possessing The Secret of Joy" is published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.)
'Americanah' Author Explains 'Learning' To Be Black In The U.S.
When the novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Aichie moved from Nigeria to the United States for college, she was suddenly confronted with the idea of what it meant to be a person of color in America. Her new novel explores issues of race in contemporary America.
Poet, Essayist and Activist Audre Lorde
Lorde is open about her identity as a black lesbian feminist; she hopes her visibility will help other women like her feel less alone. She joins Fresh Air to talk about her romantic relationships with men and women, and the tensions between African American and feminist communities. Her new collection of essays, A Burst of Light, deals with her experience with breast cancer.
Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Ms. Magazine
Gloria Steinem returns to Fresh Air to discuss the history and workplace culture of the feminist magazine she cofounded, as well as the state of the women's movement today.
Ava DuVernay: A New Director, After Changing Course
In January, DuVernay became the first African-American woman to win Sundance's best directing award for her second feature-length film, Middle of Nowhere. It's about a young woman who puts her life and dreams of going to medical school on hold while her husband is in prison.
'This Changes Everything': Geena Davis On Empowering Women In Hollywood
A new documentary explores how women in Hollywood are pushing for more representation in front of and behind the camera. Davis and director Maria Giese discuss the dramatic disparities on screen.
How Notions Of Sex, Power And Consent Are Changing On College Campuses
Blurred Lines author Vanessa Grigoriadis says female college students were once told to protect themselves from sexual assault by learning self defense. Now, the focus is on changing men's behavior.
For Years, Anita Hill Was A 'Canary In The Coal Mine' For Women Speaking Out
As more women come forward with charges of sexual harassment, and more high profile men are brought down, a talk with Jane Mayer and Rebecca Traister about some of the tough questions being raised, and a look back at another earlier turning point when Anita Hill testified against Clarence thomas during his confirmation hearings.
Feminist Gloria Steinem Finds Herself Free Of The 'Demands Of Gender'
As she approached 60, the co-founder of Ms. magazine says, she entered a new phase in life, one in which "you can do what you want." Originally broadcast Oct. 26, 2015.