Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

Feminist historical revision in US history seeks to reexamine and reinterpret past events through a lens that emphasizes women’s experiences, contributions, and struggles. Throughout the 20th century, as feminist movements gained momentum, historians began to question the traditionally male-centered narratives that had long dominated the field. This revisionist approach aimed to challenge patriarchal structures and highlight women’s roles not only as passive participants but also as active agents in shaping history.

One key focus has been on the early-20th-century suffrage movement, which led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote. Historians have broadened the narrative to include the contributions of marginalized groups, such as African American suffragists like Ida B. Wells, who fought for intersectional issues beyond the ballot box. Furthermore, feminist historians have reexamined the world wars, illustrating how women’s labor, both in wartime industries and as primary caregivers, was crucial to the nation’s resilience and economic success.

The second-wave feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s sparked a reevaluation of the postwar era, highlighting systemic issues such as workplace discrimination and the struggle for reproductive rights. This feminist movement coincided with the height of the Kennedy political dynasty. In many cases, the Kennedy women functioned as a contemporary symbol of anti-feminism in that they were subordinate to a patriarchy and celebrated for it. However, the double standard to which the media subjected Kennedy women functioned as a clear example of the need for feminism. Though feminism has progressed significantly, misogyny still shapes political and social discourse in the US, which prompted Callahan to revisit the stories of the often-idealized Kennedy women and point out the cruelty that they endured both personally and in the media.