When Women Spoke Up, They Changed History.
Author: Lois Phillips, Ph. D | Book Review by: Marlene Caraballo.
There was a time in the not-so-distant past when women were subordinate to men and considered intellectually inferior.
The History of Women as Speakers, by Lois Phillips, illustrates the shifting roles of women throughout history, from the limiting beliefs of famous early philosophers like Aristotle and Plato to the impressive accomplishments of modern-day female thought leaders and speakers.
Phillips explains that speaking in public has always been viewed as the action of leaders and as a demonstration of assertiveness.
Her book illustrates the societal, political, and legislative changes over the years that demonstrate how women went from barely having the permission to speak their minds within the walls of their homes to contemporary women confidently standing in the spotlight and impacting the world.
It’s hard to imagine a time in this country when women were to be seen and not heard, but this book is a powerful reminder of how real those societal beliefs were. Phillips highlights how women have progressed historically as they share their voices.
Reading this book is a refreshing reminder of just how far we’ve come and how much we have accomplished.
Women in this country can now speak their minds, embracing their visibility and self-assurance as they make important contributions as individuals, in their role within the family, in politics and in business, and as women speaking on the local as well as the global stage.
Phillips’s extensive knowledge and experience as a public speaker, media producer, and academic is evident in her writing. This work is a comprehensive history course on the evolution of women as speakers packed into a compact little book.
It’s a must-read for all genders.
