Deborah Siegel

Contrary to clichés about the end of feminism, Deborah Siegel argues that younger women are reliving the battles of its past, and reinventing it – with a vengeance. From feminist blogging to the popularity of the WNBA, girl culture is on the rise. A lively and compelling look back at the framing of one of the most contentious social movements of our time, Sisterhood, Interrupted exposes the key issues still at stake, outlining how a twenty-first century feminist can reconcile the personal with the political and combat long-standing inequalities that continue today.

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"A very good book about how modern feminism has fared across the generational divide. It's a helluva yarn."
- New York Observer

“With a readable, engaging style, Siegel takes feminist history, the good, the bad, and the vicious, and tells us what happened and why we should care. Her very careful, nuanced, play-by-play account of the early years and struggles of the second wave feminist movement, as well as documentation of the third wave's origins and modern incarnations, is vital in an era when women are constantly pitted against each other, whether it's young vs. old, stay at home moms vs. working moms, feminists vs. non-feminists, etc. Siegel doesn't shy away from the truly bitter divides that cropped up in the second wave. . . and in doing so brings needed attention to the causes women were and are fighting for.”
- Rachel Kramer Bussel, Lusty Lady

Advance Praise for Sisterhood, Interrupted

“Sisterhood, Interrupted is a crash course in feminist history. Siegel's refreshing and contemporary approach makes history relevant for our future progress. With wit and what reads like an insider's perspective, Siegel illuminates how past controversies will be future successes.”

"Deborah Siegel’s message is one that all who care about women’s rights, regardless of age, needs to hear. As well as alerting my daughter’s generation that we need to fight the rest of the battles together, my most fervent wish is that Ms. Siegel’s book will teach those of us in the second wave, how to pass the torch in a way that will not extinguish the flame."

"This book gives a primer of the waves of feminism, the major arguments put forth by different theorists, the enormous disagreements that emerged, and the effects (both intended and unintended) of the movements. Deborah Siegel wonders whether feminism is a cultural movement or a political one, and if the former, if that’s a problem. She has her own views of what is going on, too, and what needs to happen to save women from remaking the wheel every twenty years. Ultimately, to me, the book provokes the one real question about feminism: In short: What does feminism mean to you?"

"Read Sisterhood, Interrupted and you will have an inside look at a movement born out of earnestness and hope – one filled with the intrigues of strategizing, contesting, connecting, and questioning. Siegel's well written and researched book draws you into the passions, continuing relevance, and persistent inequalities that drive 21st century feminism. You won't look at the feminist movement in the same way again."

"Sisterhood, Interrupted offers an informed and sympathetic perspective on the second wave that will help younger readers understand what it was like to be part of a movement that planned to change the world. Siegel's framing of contemporary feminism will shape future conversations…I couldn't put the book down."

“Deborah Siegel’s lively, optimistic account of feminism from the 1960s to the present underlines by its own example that the movement is still needed and can even be fun. In addition, as this is a book that shines a bright light on the recent past, readers will learn how their own notions of feminism have been shaped by reading this volume.”

“Sisterhood, Interrupted is a smart, thorough, and extremely readable history of contemporary feminism and its generational tensions. Deborah Siegel presents an evenhanded view of both second- and third-wave feminism, without losing sight of the complexity of either. A must-read for women of any generation who want to better understand feminism in the twenty-first century.”

“Deborah Siegel has her finger on the pulse of one of the main issues concerning women today: generational infighting around the unfinished business of feminism. It’s an issue that concerns everyone—whether or not they use the f-word.”

"Someone should make a t-shirt for Deborah Siegel that says, 'This is what a feminist historian looks like'. . . a thorough and engaging narrative."

"Effectively captures the passion and politics that have shaped contemporary feminism. Siegel shows us that the feminist movement is indeed alive and well, or it would not inspire so much fierce debate."