First published 2025
Anna Malaika Tubbs examines how American patriarchy has systematically erased women's contributions throughout the nation's history. The author of The Three Mothers applies rigorous analysis to expose the unique gendered hierarchy that has shaped the United States. Tubbs demonstrates how this fabricated system became so embedded in American society that it operates invisibly, tied to both gender binaries and whiteness. She traces this pattern from the founding fathers through current Supreme Court justices, examining the treatment of enslaved women, the exclusion of women from the Constitution, the absence of an Equal Rights Amendment, and the ongoing maternal health crisis. Drawing on academic research, stories of past and present freedom fighters, and personal experience, Tubbs reveals what gets hidden by patriarchal systems. She argues that the tools needed to dismantle these structures remain accessible, including intuition, courage, ancient wisdom, and collective power. The book centers the voices and contributions of those who have been oppressed and marginalized, offering readers a framework for understanding and restoring what has been strategically concealed.
Genres: gender-studies, american, feminism, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, social-justice
Setting: United States
Period: Founding Fathers, Supreme Court
368 pages · Kindle Edition · Flatiron Books
Content warnings: sexism