Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Kempker's deeply researched
Big Sister: Feminism, Conservation, and Conspiracy in the Heartland is a riveting history of how opposing movements shape one another." --
Indiana Magazine of History "Kempker illustrates how, even within groups of women such as liberal and conservative, fissures and factions often prevent a solid coalition. She demonstrates the diversity of opinion within feminist and antifeminist groups in a concise, accessible fashion." --
Middle West Review"Kempker provides a fascinating look into the history of conservative women, feminist women, and the relationship between the two groups in the post-WW II US. Highly recommended." --
Choice"This book is useful for understanding why so many Americans found conspiracy theories appealing in the postwar period. . . .
Big Sister opens the door for scholars to investigate understudies topics." --
The Annals of Iowa"Kempker illustrates how, even within groups of women such as liberal and conservative, fissures and factions often prevent a solid coalition. She demonstrates the diversity of opinion within feminist and antifeminist groups in a concise, accessible fashion." --
Middle West Review"This book does an excellent job of showing how groups on the far right, at least since the early Cold War, have been linked by a common countersubversive ideology. This is really creative and original work."--Kathryn S. Olmsted, author of
Real Enemies: Conspiracy Theories and American Democracy, World War I to 9/11"
Big Sister is a compelling history of feminism and anti-feminism in the American Midwest that delves into the curious realm of conspiracy theories, demonstrating their significant and relentless impact on Heartland conservatism. Erin Kempker's book does the important work of linking Cold War era and New Right conservatism, showing how the steady drumbeat of anti-internationalism, conspiricism, and anti-elitism ignited right-wing activists from the early 1950s through the 1980s.
Big Sister also documents the 'low-key' Hoosier feminism that developed amidst the challenges posed by conservative backlash and Midwestern reserve, where feminists deliberately abstained from radical, audacious political actions that would work against their interests in promoting the Equal Rights Amendment."--Michelle Nickerson, author of
Mothers of Conservatism: Women and the Postwar Right
