Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77809 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 210 minutes

Amazon.com
Feminism is a problematic word: to some it means the ongoing struggle for the equal rights of women; for others the connotations are derogatory, the word conjuring images of emasculating woman. And for still others, mostly the younger generation who grew up with mothers in the workforce, the term is outdated, referring to a movement whose relevance is diminishing. Postfeminism, antifeminism, the feminist backlash--these terms are wielded with little understanding of the context in which the feminist movement was born. Luckily, Ken Burns and Paul Barnes have created this superb documentary, Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, to remind us of the roots of the women's movement and to show just how far we have come in such a short period of time.

In the 19th century, Susan B. Anthony had few choices for her life: to live with a husband as "a doll or a drudge" (marry a poor man, she explains, and you spend your life doing housework as a drudge; marry a rich man, and you spend your life prettying yourself up and looking like a doll), to work as a schoolteacher, or to live with her family as an "old maid." And while she chose the life of the spinster to retain her independence, she didn't resign herself to a life of leisure. Born into a Quaker family devoted to abolition, Anthony championed the reform movement and dedicated herself to the suffragette life. In contrast, Elizabeth Cady Stanton married and had many children, yet this did not stop her from seeking the vote for women. A friendship with Lucretia Mott sparked a desire in this abolitionist to work for the cause of women, and Stanton and Anthony eventually teamed up to fire up the revolution of women in the United States.

This documentary, in the now-well-known Burns style--actors reading the works of Stanton and Anthony, archival footage and photos, commentary from historians--highlights not just the work of these women, but their friendship and their lives. Stanton and Anthony didn't live long enough to cast votes themselves, but their legacies and their struggles live today. Not for Ourselves Alone is a stunning testimonial to what's been accomplished and brings to life the two women to whom every female in the U.S. owes a tremendous debt. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews

Something for the entire family
Both men and women need to understand where human rights were once and how far they have progressed at the sacrifice of the very few during the past 150 years. This is classic Ken Burns offering his unique kind of perspective. I am giving this to my niece who will soon be leaving home as a young woman. I hope EVERYONE in her family - both male and female - will view this tape since both sexes need to better understand what women have faced and continue to face in making meaningful lives through their own talents and abilities. If nothing else this video exemplifies courage and determination in the finest and yet most human sense.

One of the top 5 best video documentaries I've ever seen...
And I've seen a LOT of video documentaries!

I always thought of myself as somewhat well-informed on the topic of American History, but I knew virtually nothing about these two incredible women.

Their friendship, the beautiful blending of their unique gifts to create one stupendous and powerful whole of a suffrage movement, their dedication and devotion - all these elements combined to make this story perfectly wonderful.

I borrowed the video from our local library, but I think I need to buy it. I've watched it twice and wept tears of joy and gratitude at these womens' sacrifice and unselfish labors for all womankind. It is a delight to watch.

I just had no idea women had to fight so hard and so long to be granted a basic human right like voting.

And Elizabeth's "best" lecture, "The Solitude of Self" was one of the most powerful essays I've ever heard. Very stirring and inspiring. Even the [background] music was superior.

This video will not leave you where it found you. Should be required viewing for everyone. Period.

A story lost to history
I'm a woman in a male-dominated field, engineering. But I always cringed at the "feminist" viewpoints and attitudes of some of my friends. I did my work and didn't really think about being the only female in class. All that changed when I saw this documentary.

For the first time, I understand what a woman's life was like back 150 years ago. I understand how much progress has been made, and how everything that I take for granted every day -- being able to choose my career, have a life separate from my husband, vote, own property -- was gotten only through the incredible struggle of women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott. They faced mockery, disdain, insults, dismissal and a millenium of tradition at every step, but never stopped fighting. They fought not just for themselves, but for me and every generation of women that came after them.

The fact that I graduated from high school and college without knowing the story of these two great women is almost unforgivable.