Mysteries of Sex

“Mysteries of Sex is an engaging and sure-footed account of American women’s history. Filled with interesting interventions, observations, and formulations, it helps make sense of what is now an overwhelming body of work. Ryan’s strong and intelligent narrative voice provides just the sharp perspective we need at this juncture.” — Stephanie McCurry, University of Pennsylvania

“This is a wonderful book that captures and helps crystallize transformations in American and women’s history scholarship over the past two decades. It makes a major intellectual contribution to the development of both fields.” — Nancy A. Hewitt, Rutgers University

“Mysteries of Sex is a daring, ambitious enterprise, creatively imagined and conceived. Based in a deep reading of both American history and gender theory and informed by years of teaching, it explores the conundrums created by the sex/gender divide across the broad expanse of the American historical experience.” — Elisabeth Israels Perry, St. Louis University

“Mary Ryan proves herself a sage gender detective as she guides us through the mysteries of sex in this compelling book. Her bold synthesis of the real and constructed relationships between men and women across time, space, and social categories not only builds on thirty-five years of scholarship but also offers an original take on the subject. By structuring her story around a series of intriguing questions — such as 'Who Baked That Apple Pie and When?,' 'How Did Race Get Colored?,' and 'What Is the Sex of Citizenship?' — she enables both specialist and lay readers to delve deeply even as they move across more than 500 years of American history. Ryan has done herself — and the field — proud.” — Barbara Sicherman, Trinity College

“An original interpretation of the complexities of gender in private and public life.” — CHOICE

“A remarkable synthesis that covers vast chronological, geographical, and topical terrain. . . . Intriguing. . . . Likely to remain the most compelling and definitive interpretation of its subject for decades to come.” — Indiana Magazine of History

“A lively gallop through the history of women and gender in America from the Native Americans to the twenty-first century. . . . An excellent synthesis of massive amounts of material.” — Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

“Ryan has . . . written a history of the oppression of women. It’s a solid review of how 'gender asymmetry' evolved.” — BUST

“From the book’s very title . . . to its very last pages, Ryan presents her readers with a most generous abundance of information, ideas, and inquiries to reflect upon, impart to our students, incorporate into our scholarship, and argue about.” — American Historical Review

“A beautifully written and engaging study of how sexual differentiation has driven American history.” — History News Network