She Takes a Stand: 16 Fearless Activists Who Have Changed the World

by Michael Elsohn Ross

Overview

A source of inspiration for young women with strong social convictions, She Takes a Stand highlights 16 extraordinary women who have fought for human rights, civil rights, workers’ rights, reproductive/sexual rights, and world peace. Among these are many who have been imprisoned, threatened, or suffered financial hardships for pursuing their missions to change the world for the better. Included are historic heroes such as anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells and suffragist Alice Paul, along with contemporary figures such as girls-education activist Malala Yousafzai; Sampat Pal Devi, who fights violence against Indian women; and SPARK executive director Dana Edell, who works to end the sexualization of women and girls in the media. Taking a multicultural, multinational perspective, She Takes a Stand spotlights brave women around the world with an emphasis on childhood details, motivations, and life turning points—in many cases gleaned from the author’s original interviews—and includes related sidebars, a bibliography, source notes, and a list of organizations young women can explore to get involved in changing their world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641600453
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/05/2019
Series:	Women of Action Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Michael Elsohn Ross is an award-winning author of more than 40 books for children, including A World of Her Own, Salvador Dali and the Surrealists, Sandbox Scientist, and Snug as a Bug. 

Table of Contents

Introduction: Searching for Superheroes ix

Ripening a Yellowberry Megan Grassell xi

Part I Claiming Rights and Respect

"Woman Must Not Accept; She Must Challenge" Margaret Sanger 3

Equal Rights for Women Alice Paul 15

Young and Old Together Maggie Kuhn 26

Founding the Gulabi Gang Sampat Pal Devi 35

Girl Power Dana Edell 44

Speaking Out for Girls3 Education Malala Yousafzai 52

Part II Rising Up Against Greed

The Queen of Agitators Mary Harris "Mother" Jones 65

Food and Forests for the People Vandana Shiva 76

Touched by the Hand of Destiny Rigoberta Menchú Tum 86

Garment Workers in Solidarity Kalpona Akter 97

Part III Rejecting Violence

Weaving the Safety Net, Joining Hands for Peace Jane Addams 109

Shining the Light on Lynching Ida B. Wells 120

It Shines Through Her Buffy Sainte-Marie 131

Walls That Shout Judy Baca 141

Women in White Demand Peace Leymah Gbowee 151

Resources 163

Notes 169

Bibliography 179

Index 183

Editorial Reviews

08/24/2015
This far-ranging collection of brief biographies, part of the Women of Action series, introduces 16 female social and political activists from the 19th century onward. The featured women include Rigoberta Menchu Tum, who fought the genocide of indigenous Guatemalans during that country’s civil war (1960–1996); Sampat Pal Devi, who opened a sewing school in her Indian village and formed the “Gulabi Gang” of empowered women in 2006; and Megan Grassell, a contemporary teenager who founded Yellowberry, a company that makes “young, cute, and realistic bras for girls,” as an alternative to sexualized undergarments. Ross portrays his subjects with honesty, highlighting both their missteps and accomplishments, while emphasizing how anyone can become an activist with enough passion and will. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"An excellent compilation and a notable addition for all library collections to enhance women’s history.” —School Library Journal


“a thoroughly researched book full of inspiring stories that will appeal to young readers…” —VOYA 


“Ross portrays his subjects with honesty, highlighting both their missteps and accomplishments, while emphasizing how anyone can become an activist with enough passion and will.” —Publishers Weekly


“This inspiring new addition to the Women of Action series will get your Mighty Girl thinking about her own ways to change the world.” —A Mighty Girl



“Geared toward a young adult audience but useful for all of us […] These activists are rendered with complexity.” —BITCH magazine


“She Takes a Stand is a stunning and inspiring book that celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of women around the world and will surely inspire the next generation of girls to see that their voices and actions can truly change the world.” —Dana Edell, executive director of SPARK

From the Publisher

07/01/2015
Gr 7–10—The latest in this series profiles 16 women from across the globe who have fought for human rights. Suffering personal injury, imprisonment, and a multitude of hardships, these women never gave up their goals. Divided into three parts—"Claiming Rights and Respect," "Rising Up Against Greed," and "Rejecting Violence"—this well-written and solidly researched book profiles a varied selection of women from the late 1800s through the present day, including Margaret Sanger, who fought for women's reproductive rights; Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for speaking out for women's education; Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, who advocated on behalf of unions; Kalpona Akter, who brought increased awareness to conditions in overseas textile factories; Ida B. Wells, who used the power of her pen to bring attention to the horrors of lynching; and Buffy Sainte-Marie, a Native American known for her social activism and songwriting. Each chapter begins with a quote from the woman profiled and includes several photographs. VERDICT An excellent compilation and a notable addition for all library collections to enhance women's history.—Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at Illinois Eastern Community Colls., Mount Carmel

School Library Journal