Common sense & a little fire
Subtitle: women and working-class politics in the United States, 1900-1965
By: Annelise Orleck.
Series: Gender & American culture
Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Chapel Hill
Language: eng
Number of pages: 384
Subjects: Women in the labor movement -- United States -- History -- 20th century; Working class women -- United States -- Political activity; Jewish women -- United States -- Political activity; Women social reformers -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Other titles: Common sense and a little fire
Description: Common Sense and a Little Fire traces the personal and public lives of four immigrant women activists who left a lasting imprint on American politics. Though they have rarely had more than cameo appearances in previous histories, Rose Schneiderman, Fannia Cohn, Clara Lemlich Shavelson, and Pauline Newman played important roles in the emergence of organized labor, the New Deal welfare state, adult education, and the modern women's movement.

All four rose from the garment shop floor to positions of influence in the American labor movement. They devoted their lives to the empowerment of working-class women, but they disagreed frequently and fervently about the best strategy for doing so.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 359-365) and index.