'From Property to Partner,' a new book prepares us for the moment

The great Chicago philosopher of the 1980's, Ferris Bueller, said: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."  While reading the new book, "From Property to Partner: Women's Progress and Political Resistance," I found myself thinking about Bueller's famous quote. No, the book is not about skipping school, but the value it provides to the largest part of the current political moment America is experiencing is context. The challenges women face in 2023 America should not be viewed in isolation, but as a part of an important journey, we would all be better off understanding. Sheila Suess Kennedy and Morton Marcus are prolific Hoosier writers. I generally read whatever they write. Their differing skill sets and perspectives is what makes this collaboration particularly interesting to me.  Kennedy is an attorney, Emerita Professor of Law and Public Policy at the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Indianapolis, and a former Executive Director of Indiana's ACLU. Her daily blog at www.sheilakennedy.net on policy, culture and politics is one of the city's most read.  Marcus is an economist and former director of the Indiana Business Research Center at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He currently co-hosts a popular podcast, "Who Gets What?", and writes a long-running column on economic issues concerning Indiana and the nation.  I'm a feminist. Sometimes that is uncomfortable or awkward for men to proclaim or even admit. But I have long held the belief that the collective prosperity of any community or culture depends on the liberation and equity of each demographic component in it. This book does an excellent job of explaining the differences between "liberation" and "equity" regarding women, but also providing the context America needs to understand what that means for everyone.   Connect with Michael Leppert Visit michaelleppert.com to read the full post and links to any resources or articles mentioned. Twitter @michaelleppert  Facebook at Michael Leppert