The world split open:

In this "indispensable book" (Sandra Gilbert), Ruth Rosen takes the reader on an unforgettable journey through the last half of the twentieth century, charting the accomplishments and failures of a movement that transformed American families, business, politics, and society.

Weaving together ten years of archival research and interviews, Rosen turns the long and complicated history of the women's movement into a compelling and coherent narrative. The World Split Open provides a "you are there" account of the inner workings of the women's movement, from the publication of The Feminine Mystique in 1963 and the inception of Ms. Magazine to the feud between Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem and the backlash of the nineties. Writing with vigor and grace, Rosen has created the balanced, meticulously documented, and evocative history that we expect from a distinguished scholar and activist. With uncompromising integrity, The World Split Open challenges us to understand how the women's movement has forever altered our lives and why the revolution is far from over.