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Katie Roiphe, Rebecca Walker, and Cherri Moraga, among others. In this, the book differs from other references on the market that tend to emphasize only those names already familiar to the population. All told, the work con- tains a historic overview of each major period, longer entries on forty-two women and short biographies on thirty-two others. Because it is always an easier task to find information on persons of historical interest than it is on those who are current, the majority of third-wave activists are found among the shorter biographies. As mentioned, the work is divided by the parame- ters of the waves of the movement. The major entries are historically organ- ized by their dates of activity within the movement. The short biographies are chronologically ordered by dates of birth. Those selected are rhetoricians, academics, writers, politicians, religious figures, actors, and minor celebrities, diverse in their approaches and their lifestyles but with the common cause of securing a measure of equality and recognition for themselves and their sisters. Regardless of the historical period in the movement, the divisions retained commonalities. The early activists were engaged in organizing activities within their churches, which naturally evolved into the woman’s clubs and woman’s organizations that would guide the second and third wave. The majority of those involved dur- ing each period were educated in some measure and created a network of community through public speaking and writing or both. In the first and sec- ond wave, the issues arose in conjunction with other movements, abolition and civil rights, respectively. The third wave, birthed with the advent of technology, continued to network with grassroots movements, edging toward community through the use of the Internet and other media. This is my second book on women and I am continually amazed by their pluck, their drive, and their indomitable will. In revisiting the period in American history a century and a half ago, I cannot imagine what life would be like without the freedom of choice granted to women in the twenty-first century. It is my hope that this work will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices that were made against great odds, which offer the modern woman the abil- ity to be what she wishes. xx Preface