How to write history as a non-historian

Writing a non-fiction book isn’t a specific skill that we’re taught. It’s not an innate talent. How does one learn to write a book? In my case, by doing. I spent most of my career as a journalist, and those skills gave me a strong foundation to begin. But there are pitfalls to beware of when tackling something new that may require different skills. Uppity Women, my second non-fiction book, is something new to me – narrative history, not just journalism. Professional historians get specialized training that I don’t have. How, then, do I make sure that I get it right? A […]

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It’s a deal! The New Press signs for Uppity Women

Uppity Women has found a home. The New Press will publish my forthcoming book on the history of Title IX and today’s movement against sex discrimination in education. I’m honored to be in the company of authors like Tressie McMillan Cottom, Arlie Russell Hochschild, Martin Duberman, Studs Terkel, and Howard Zinn at The New Press. I’m delighted that Uppity Women will be in the same catalogue as Strangers in Their Own Land, What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape, and “People’s History” books on numerous topics (like poverty, LGBT history, the American revolution, art history, and so many […]

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Djerassi residency, LitCamp ahead

It’s time to get down to the nitty gritty of writing my book-in-progress, tentatively titled Uppity Women and the Ongoing Fight for a Fair Education. I’m still doing some interviews to fill in gaps in the amazing story of Title IX from its inception to today. But I’ll be taking more time to focus on writing, seeking reader feedback, and rewriting. Starting Wednesday, March 27, 2019 I’ll be spending a month at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Calif. I’m so excited to be invited to join other writers and artists there for four weeks of […]

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Ross Yoon Agency represents Uppity Women

I’m pleased to announce that Gail Ross of the Ross Yoon Agency is representing me and my book, a narrative history of Title IX. I’m working with Ross and her colleagues in the Washington, D.C.-based agency to finalize the book proposal for presentation to publishers. Everything is on track for me to finish writing the book and have it published well before the 50th anniversary of Title IX in 2022. The tentative title: Uppity Women and the Ongoing Fight for a Fair Education. In the four years that I’ve been conducting research and interviews for the book, I’ve mostly blogged about Title IX news and historical context here on […]

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Too [fill in the blank] for a woman

Whatever you think of the outcome of the lawsuit by Ellen Pao claiming sex discrimination at the famed Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, a tactic used by the company’s defense team could make one cringe — character assassination. (Video: Bernice Sandler, who was “too strong for a woman.”) Telling a woman that she is too exacting, too condescending, too abrasive, too strong, too weak,  too whatever to be hired, promoted, etc. is an age-old excuse used countless times to deny women opportunities that might be offered to a man who has the same qualities. (Speaking generally now, not specifically about […]

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Video history from women behind Title IX

Eleven of the women most closely involved in the struggle to implement Title IX gathered on January 26, 2015 to give a living history of this most important legislation for U.S. women since the right to vote. Focusing mainly on the early years after its passage in 1972, they also shared their fears that Title IX’s hard-won gains could be lost if people don’t remain vigilant in supporting it. I’m thankful to Margaret Dunkle for organizing the luncheon at the Woman’s National Democratic Club and for including me as I research my book on the people behind Title IX.

Uppity women star in new film

“She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry” opens today in a San Francisco movie theater, and I can’t wait to see it. The headline on San Francisco Chronicle film critic Mick LaSalle’s review calls it “How women got started getting uppity,” which of course reminds me of the uppity women I’ve been interviewing for my book on the people behind Title IX. Some of the Title IX foremothers never would have joined the street protests or other public demonstrations depicted in the film. They weren’t those kind of women. Much too radical for them. Yet, uppity they were, too. And all the […]

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