The book opens in 1960 with a secretary, sent to court to pay her boss' speeding fine, not allowed to carry out her mission because she's wearing slacks. From clothing to careers, education to athletics, civil rights movement to anti-war movement, When Everything Changed focuses on the women, famous and not, who worked to advance the cause of gender equality.
Having lived through the time period, I found the stories compelling. I may not have recognized all of the sexist attitudes as such at the time, because they were the norm, but I was delighted when a classmate at SHS challenged the dress code by wearing jeans to school. (Two days later, many of us had jumped on the bandwagon; The female teachers weren't far behind.) I think the book would also be of interest to younger folk who may not often think about a time, not so long ago, when female doctors were scarce and when a woman needed her husband's permission to apply for a credit card.
Author Gail Collins is a New York Times columnist. In 2001 she became the first woman ever appointed editor of the Times' editorial page. When Everything Changed is available on CD at the SPL and in print through interlibrary loan.
Film connection: "Mona Lisa Smile"...Check out the "What Women Wanted in 1953" special feature on the DVD (also available at the SPL.)
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