Reviews
"[An] engaging and readable history. . . . Browder adeptly weaves the complex and multilayered viewpoints that plague both the status of women and of guns in this country."-- BUST, [ Her Best Shot ] explores the social meanings of armed womanhood in a culture where violence is associated with masculinity. Browder traces the phenomenon from Civil War cross-dressing spies to the present-day National Rifle Association's female-or|9780807858899|, "Browder's book is far-ranging. It is filled with provocative observations on class dynamics and on the biological essentialism that is--and long has been--used to define women with guns."-- Journal of Southern History, "There is a lot of fascinating historical information in Her Best Shot , but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. . . . It deserves to . . . make the best seller list and would add to both the understanding of, and the continuing debate about, women gunowners."-- Women & Guns, "Deftly explores one facet of the relationship between women and guns in American history: that most manifest in literary expression and advertising."-- Pacific Northwest Quarterly, There is a lot of fascinating historical information inHer Best Shot, but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. -Women & Guns, Her Best Shot has a terrific premise, a why-hasn't-it-been-done-before exploration of gun-toting women in American history, society's attempts to either quash or domesticate them, and the various ways such women have challenged and . . . shot down traditional gender roles along the way.-- Bitch, Deftly analyzes the figure of the armed woman as both cultural hero and villain.-- American Historical Review, "Browder's book is far-ranging. It is filled with provocative observations on class dynamics and on the biological essentialism that is--and long has been--used to define women with guns." -- The Journal of Southern History, There is a lot of fascinating historical information in Her Best Shot , but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. . . . It deserves to . . . make the best seller list and would add to both the understanding of, and the continui|9780807858899|, "Provides fascinating insights into a feminized gun culture perhaps little known to academic readers. . . . An impressive account of women and guns in America." —Journal of American History, "Deftly explores one facet of the relationship between women and guns in American history: that most manifest in literary expression and advertising." -Pacific Northwest Quarterly, "Filled with fascinating history that has largely been lost or ignored--until now." -- Field and Stream, There is a lot of fascinating historical information in ###Her Best Shot#, but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. "Women & Guns", Filled with fascinating history that has largely been lost or ignored—until now.” —Field and Stream|9780807858899|, An enjoyable book. A well-written, thought-provoking history of images of women with guns. . . . A fascinating tour through American history.-- Winterthur Portfolio, Her Best Shot explores the social meanings of armed womanhood in a culture where violence is associated with masculinity. Browder traces the phenomenon from Civil War cross-dressing spies to the present-day National Rifle Association's female-oriented marketing strategies, demonstrating how public discussions of gun-toting women find each successive era revealing its particular anxieties about women's sexuality and role as citizens."-- Publishers Weekly, "Deftly analyzes the figure of the armed woman as both cultural hero and villain."-- American Historical Review, [An] engaging and readable history. . . . Browder adeptly weaves the complex and multilayered viewpoints that plague both the status of women and of guns in this country."-- BUST, "[ Her Best Shot ] explores the social meanings of armed womanhood in a culture where violence is associated with masculinity. Browder traces the phenomenon from Civil War cross-dressing spies to the present-day National Rifle Association's female-oriented marketing strategies, demonstrating how public discussions of gun-toting women find each successive era revealing its particular anxieties about women's sexuality and role as citizens."-- Publishers Weekly, Her Best Shot has a terrific premise, a why-hasn't-it-been-done-before exploration of gun-toting women in American history, society's attempts to either quash or domesticate them, and the various ways such women have challenged and . . . shot down traditional gender roles along the way."-- Bitch, Filled with fascinating history that has largely been lost or ignored--until now."-- Field and Stream, Deftly explores one facet of the relationship between women and guns in American history: that most manifest in literary expression and advertising."-- Pacific Northwest Quarterly, There is a lot of fascinating historical information inHer Best Shot, but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. —Women & Guns, There is a lot of fascinating historical information inHer Best Shot, but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. --Women & Guns, Browder's study makes clear that the portrayal of a woman with a gun has many shades of meaning bound up with race and class as well as gender."-- Roanoke Times, [ Her Best Shot ] explores the social meanings of armed womanhood in a culture where violence is associated with masculinity. Browder traces the phenomenon from Civil War cross-dressing spies to the present-day National Rifle Association's female-oriented marketing strategies, demonstrating how public discussions of gun-toting women find each successive era revealing its particular anxieties about women's sexuality and role as citizens.-- Publishers Weekly, "An enjoyable book. A well-written, thought-provoking history of images of women with guns. . . . A fascinating tour through American history." _ Winterthur Portfolio, "Fascinating. . . . Lucidly written and clearly argued. . . . Illuminat[es] a culture of violence through the study of popular culture, media representations, and political spectacle."-- Journal of Interdisciplinary History, There is a lot of fascinating historical information in Her Best Shot , but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. -- Women & Guns, "Fascinating. . . . Lucidly written and clearly argued. . . . Illuminat[es] a culture of violence through the study of popular culture, media representations, and political spectacle." —Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Provides fascinating insights into a feminized gun culture perhaps little known to academic readers. . . . An impressive account of women and guns in America.-- Journal of American History, Deftly explores one facet of the relationship between women and guns in American history: that most manifest in literary expression and advertising.” —Pacific Northwest Quarterly, "Browder's book is far-ranging. It is filled with provocative observations on class dynamics and on the biological essentialism that is--and long has been--used to define women with guns." -The Journal of Southern History, "Fascinating. . . . Lucidly written and clearly argued. . . . Illuminat[es] a culture of violence through the study of popular culture, media representations, and political spectacle." -Journal of Interdisciplinary History, "Filled with fascinating history that has largely been lost or ignored--until now." --Field and Stream, Deftly analyzes the figure of the armed woman as both cultural hero and villain."-- American Historical Review, "Browder's book is far-ranging. It is filled with provocative observations on class dynamics and on the biological essentialism that is--and long has been--used to define women with guns." --The Journal of Southern History, "Filled with fascinating history that has largely been lost or ignored-until now." -Field and Stream, Fascinating. . . . Lucidly written and clearly argued. . . . Illuminat[es] a culture of violence through the study of popular culture, media representations, and political spectacle.-- Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Deftly explores one facet of the relationship between women and guns in American history: that most manifest in literary expression and advertising.-- Pacific Northwest Quarterly, "Browder's study makes clear that the portrayal of a woman with a gun has many shades of meaning bound up with race and class as well as gender."-- Roanoke Times, "Fascinating. . . . Lucidly written and clearly argued. . . . Illuminat[es] a culture of violence through the study of popular culture, media representations, and political spectacle." -- Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Filled with fascinating history that has largely been lost or ignored--until now.-- Field and Stream, "Deftly analyzes the figure of the armed woman as both cultural hero and villain." _ American Historical Review, [An] engaging and readable history. . . . Browder adeptly weaves the complex and multilayered viewpoints that plague both the status of women and of guns in this country.-- BUST, Browder's study makes clear that the portrayal of a woman with a gun has many shades of meaning bound up with race and class as well as gender.-- Roanoke Times, Browder’s book is far-ranging. It is filled with provocative observations on class dynamics and on the biological essentialism that is--and long has been--used to define women with guns.” —The Journal of Southern History, There is a lot of fascinating historical information in ###Her Best Shot#, but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. -Women & Guns, "Provides fascinating insights into a feminized gun culture perhaps little known to academic readers. . . . An impressive account of women and guns in America."-- Journal of American History, " Her Best Shot has a terrific premise, a why-hasn't-it-been-done-before exploration of gun-toting women in American history, society's attempts to either quash or domesticate them, and the various ways such women have challenged and . . . shot down traditional gender roles along the way."-- Bitch, "Deftly analyzes the figure of the armed woman as both cultural hero and villain." —American Historical Review, "Provides fascinating insights into a feminized gun culture perhaps little known to academic readers. . . . An impressive account of women and guns in America." -Journal of American History, "Deftly explores one facet of the relationship between women and guns in American history: that most manifest in literary expression and advertising." --Pacific Northwest Quarterly, "Deftly explores one facet of the relationship between women and guns in American history: that most manifest in literary expression and advertising." -- Pacific Northwest Quarterly, "Deftly analyzes the figure of the armed woman as both cultural hero and villain." -- American Historical Review, Browder's book is far-ranging. It is filled with provocative observations on class dynamics and on the biological essentialism that is--and long has been--used to define women with guns."-- Journal of Southern History, "An enjoyable book. A well-written, thought-provoking history of images of women with guns. . . . A fascinating tour through American history."-- Winterthur Portfolio, Her Best Shot has a terrific premise, a why-hasn't-it-been-done-before exploration of gun-toting women in American history, society's attempts to either quash or domesticate them, and the various ways such women have challenged and . . . shot down|9780807858899|, There is a lot of fascinating historical information in Her Best Shot , but its most attractive feature is the well-written narrative. . . . It deserves to . . . make the best seller list and would add to both the understanding of, and the continuing debate about, women gunowners.-- Women & Guns, "Provides fascinating insights into a feminized gun culture perhaps little known to academic readers. . . . An impressive account of women and guns in America." -- Journal of American History, Provides fascinating insights into a feminized gun culture perhaps little known to academic readers. . . . An impressive account of women and guns in America."-- Journal of American History, "An enjoyable book. A well-written, thought-provoking history of images of women with guns. . . . A fascinating tour through American history." -- Winterthur Portfolio, Browder's book is far-ranging. It is filled with provocative observations on class dynamics and on the biological essentialism that is--and long has been--used to define women with guns.-- Journal of Southern History, "Filled with fascinating history that has largely been lost or ignored--until now."-- Field and Stream, Fascinating. . . . Lucidly written and clearly argued. . . . Illuminat[es] a culture of violence through the study of popular culture, media representations, and political spectacle."-- Journal of Interdisciplinary History
Synopsis
The gun-toting woman holds enormous symbolic significance in American culture. This title examines the relationship between women and guns in America and the ways in which the figure of the armed woman has served as a lightning rod for cultural issues., The gun-toting woman holds enormous symbolic significance in American culture. For over two centuries, women who pick up guns have disrupted the popular association of guns and masculinity, spurring debates about women's capabilities for violence as well as their capacity for full citizenship. In Her Best Shot , Laura Browder examines the relationship between women and guns and the ways in which the figure of the armed woman has served as a lightning rod for cultural issues.Utilizing autobiographies, advertising, journalism, novels, and political tracts, among other sources, Browder traces appearances of the armed woman across a chronological spectrum from the American Revolution to the present and an ideological spectrum ranging from the Black Panthers to right-wing militias. Among the colorful characters presented here are Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the American Revolution; Pauline Cushman, who posed as a Confederate to spy for Union forces during the Civil War; Wild West sure-shot Annie Oakley; African explorer Osa Johnson; 1930s gangsters Ma Barker and Bonnie Parker; and Patty Hearst, the hostage-turned-revolutionary-turned-victim. With her entertaining and provocative analysis, Browder demonstrates that armed women both challenge and reinforce the easy equation that links guns, manhood, and American identity.The gun-toting woman holds enormous symbolic significance in American culture. Laura Browder examines the relationship between women and guns in America and the ways in which the figure of the armed woman has served as a lightning rod for cultural issues. In an entertaining and provocative analysis, she looks at women including Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the American Revolution; Pauline Cushman, who posed as a Confederate to spy for Union forces during the Civil War; Wild West sure-shot Annie Oakley; African explorer Osa Johnson; 1930s gangsters Ma Barker and Bonnie Parker; and Patty Hearst, the hostage-turned-revolutionary-turned-victim., Over the last 30 years a number of theologians have been using aspects of sociology alongside the more traditional resources of philosophy. In turn, sociologists with an interest in theology have also contributed to an interaction between theology and sociology. The time is right to revisit the dialogue between theologians and sociologists. In his new trilogy on Sociological Theology, Robin Gill makes a renewed contribution to the mapping of three abiding ways of relating theology and sociology, with the three volumes covering: Theology in a Social Context; Theology Shaped by Society; Society Shaped by Theology. Theology in a Social Context argues that a sociological perspective, properly understood, can make an important contribution to theology. Part I looks carefully at various objections raised by both theologians and sociologists, maintaining instead that a proper understanding of social context is a prerequisite for effective theology. Part II suggests that a sociological perspective offers crucial insights into resurgent forms of fundamentalism. Part III offers a fresh account of social context in the modern world, once thought by sociologists and theologians alike to consist simply of increasing secularization., The gun-toting woman holds enormous symbolic significance in American culture. For over two centuries, women who pick up guns have disrupted the popular association of guns and masculinity, spurring debates about women's capabilities for violence as well as their capacity for full citizenship. In Her Best Shot , Laura Browder examines the relationship between women and guns and the ways in which the figure of the armed woman has served as a lightning rod for cultural issues. Utilizing autobiographies, advertising, journalism, novels, and political tracts, among other sources, Browder traces appearances of the armed woman across a chronological spectrum from the American Revolution to the present and an ideological spectrum ranging from the Black Panthers to right-wing militias. Among the colorful characters presented here are Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the American Revolution; Pauline Cushman, who posed as a Confederate to spy for Union forces during the Civil War; Wild West sure-shot Annie Oakley; African explorer Osa Johnson; 1930s gangsters Ma Barker and Bonnie Parker; and Patty Hearst, the hostage-turned-revolutionary-turned-victim. With her entertaining and provocative analysis, Browder demonstrates that armed women both challenge and reinforce the easy equation that links guns, manhood, and American identity.
