All the Single Ladies suffered for being neither what I had anticipated (a bit more objective history looking at the women's rights movements, I think, although with, perhaps, some profiles on notable singles such as Susan B. Anthony or historic "near singles" like Amelia Earhart or Hetty Green, either of whom I believe would definitely qualify as an independent woman), not particularly relatable.
In terms of the latter, I was bothered most by the feeling that Rebecca Traister's central argument seemed to be that marriage is generally a raw deal for women. I won't argue about the historical accuracy of that sentiment, but for a book written in 2016, it seemed remarkable un-modern. There was a passing nod to marriages that just might kinda sorta be equal, an ambivalent acknowledgement that some women earn more than their husbands, but I felt it was glossed over as quickly as possible so as not to get into the way of this problematic (for me) central premise.
I felt, too, that Traister concentrated too much on women in big cities - New York, Boston, Atlanta, DC - and not enough time exploring the experiences of those in small towns whose experiences are likely quite different from the hard charging women whose stories began to run together.
On the whole, I was disappointed.
Two stars.
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