RC | Recent feminist scholarship concerning the United State

[750plus]

Recent feminist scholarship concerning the United States in the 1920’s challenges earlier interpretations that assessed the twenties in terms of the unkept “promises” of the women’s suffrage movement. This new scholarship disputes the long-held view that because a women’s voting bloc did not materialize after women gained the right to vote in 1920, suffrage failed to produce long-term political gains for women. These feminist scholars also challenge the old view that pronounced suffrage a failure for not delivering on the promise that the women’s vote would bring about moral, corruption-free governance. Asked whether women’s suffrage was a failure, these scholars cite the words of turn-of-the-century social reformer Jane Addams, “Why don’t you ask if suffrage in general is failing?”

In some ways, however, these scholars still present the 1920’s as a period of decline. After suffrage, they argue, the feminist movement lost its cohesiveness, and gender consciousness waned. After the mid-1920’s, few successes could be claimed by feminist reformers: little could be seen in the way of legislative victories.

During this decade, however, there was intense activism aimed at achieving increased autonomy for women, broadening the spheres within which they lived their daily lives. Women’s organizations worked to establish opportunities for women: they strove to secure for women the full entitlements of citizenship, including the right to hold office and the right to serve on juries.

_______________________

Dear Team at Manhattan,

I have a question regarding the bold part in Paragraph 2. But before that I'd like to give you my reasoning for Para 2

The second paragraph starts with the line - ' In some ways, however, these scholars still present the 1920’s as a period of decline '

From this line, I can understand that the author is trying to say that these scholars have treated 1920's as a period of decline. The author mentions that despite the feminists’ presentation of the women’s suffrage in the 1920's in a positive light the feminists end up portraying an overall negative picture. But, the author disagrees with the extent to which the feminists represent the overall negative picture of the suffrage in the 1920s. This is inferable from this line.

Now the bold part, After the mid-1920’s, few successes could be claimed by feminist reformers: little could be seen in the way of legislative victories.

With this line, my understanding is that he is supporting his point by saying that yes, there were few successes which can be claimed. So, he is trying to be positive here and supporting his point in the first line of Para 2

Am I right in my thinking ?

Please help.

Warm Regards

[urfrnd.niks]

Mr. Purewal,

I have exactly the same doubt. Can you please shed some light.

Thanking in anticipation.

[RonPurewal]

as per forum rules, we need a citation of the original source.

also, you've left out something else rather important—the actual problem you're asking about!
what is the question?
what are the answer choices?
clearly that needs to be included, too (along with all answer choices as per forum rules).

thanks.

[750plus]

as per forum rules, we need a citation of the original source.

also, you've left out something else rather important—the actual problem you're asking about!
what is the question?
what are the answer choices?
clearly that needs to be included, too (along with all answer choices as per forum rules).

thanks.

Mr. Purewal,

I don't know the exact source. But I have got this RC Passage from a document that is a collection of GMAT Prep Questions. Also, I have no doubt regarding any question. I just want to understand how the bold part is written in relation to the first line of Paragraph 2 - "In some ways, however, these scholars still present the 1920’s as a period of decline"

Please if you can just explain that.

Thank You

[tim]

Sorry, we cannot address questions on our forums that do not have verifiable sources.