Ordinary Equality - by Kate Kelly (Hardcover)

About the Book

Ordinary Equality digs into the fascinating and little-known history of the ERA and the lives of the incredible--and often overlooked--women and queer people who have helped shape the U.S. Constitution for more than 200 years. Based on author Kate Kelly's acclaimed podcast of the same name, Ordinary Equality recounts a story centuries in the making. From before the Constitution was even drafted to the modern day, she examines how and why constitutional equality for women and Americans of all marginalized genders has been systematically undermined for the past 100-plus years, and then calls us all to join the current movement to put it back on the table and get it across the finish line. Kate Kelly provides a much-needed fresh perspective on the ERA for feminists of all ages, and this engaging, graphically illustrated look at history, law, and activism is sure to inspire many to continue the fight.

Book Synopsis

We are all living through modern constitutional history in the making, and Ordinary Equality helps teach about the past, present, and future of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) through the lives of the bold, fearless women and queer people who have helped shape the U.S. Constitution.

2022 GOLD Winner for Women's Studies, Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards

2023 PubWest Design Awards, Adult Illustrated Book and Cover Design

Ordinary Equality digs into the fascinating and little-known history of the ERA and the lives of the incredible--and often overlooked--women and queer people who have helped shape the U.S. Constitution for more than 200 years. Based on author Kate Kelly's acclaimed podcast of the same name, Ordinary Equality recounts a story centuries in the making. From before the Constitution was even drafted to the modern day, she examines how and why constitutional equality for women and Americans of all marginalized genders has been systematically undermined for the past 100-plus years, and then calls us all to join the current movement to put it back on the table and get it across the finish line.

Kate Kelly provides a much-needed fresh perspective on the ERA for feminists of all ages, and this engaging, illustrated look at history, law, and activism is sure to inspire many to continue the fight.

Individual chapters tell the stories of Molly Brant (Koñwatsi-tsiaiéñni / Degonwadonti), Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Alice Paul, Mary Church Terrell, Pauli Murray, Martha Wright Griffiths, Patsy Takemoto Mink, Barbara Jordan, and Pat Spearman, and features other key players and concepts, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Title IX, Danica Roem, and many more.

Review Quotes

""In such a dystopian time, Kate Kelly's Ordinary Equality serves as a beacon of hope and optimism. Kelly's words inform and ignite readers, and LaRue's illustrations quite literally offer a road map to amending the U.S. Constitution, breaking down the ERA movement and the processes around it so that anyone can read through the legal jargon. It's an ingenious combination of words and art.""--Lauren Perl "Oprah Daily" (7/14/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"[Kelly's] approach not only makes these important trailblazers feel more real, it also puts the reader in the moment - the 1920s can feel far away, but in reality it really was only 100 years ago, and those fighting for equal rights then still face the same roadblocks we do today."--bumblybee "LibraryThing" (4/14/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"This book is a treasure trove. Kate Kelly has created an encyclopedia of women who have altered the history of the United States against all odds. Nicole LaRue has wrapped Ordinary Equality in a beautiful design, making this a truly accessible and beautiful read."--jbealy "LibraryThing" (4/25/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"In this house, the house that is Glamour, we read feminist activist Kate Kelly. In her gorgeous new book, she provides a primer to the struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment, tracing it through her own lineage .... In the energetic, readable book she chronicles the efforts of feminist heroes, from Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American woman poet, to suffragist Alice Paul, to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Gift this book to your mother, your sister, or maybe even (brace yourself!) a man."--Jenny Singer "Glamour" (4/20/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"A fun, vibrant work perfectly suited to its intended audience: a potential new generation of ERA activists. ... Kelly has an eye for interesting details and a gift for phrasemaking."-- "Kirkus" (2/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Kelly, human-rights lawyer and host of the podcast Ordinary Equality, brings this fantastic introduction to the women and queer people who pioneered the ERA to life. The language is colloquial and showcases her storytelling talents, not at all the fare of academic biographies. Nicole LaRue's graphics and illustrations combined with Kelly's storytelling techniques and accessible language make this something teens will also find a fun, engaging read."--Kathleen Townsend "Booklist" (2/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Lawyer and podcaster Kelly focuses this breezy and inspiring history of the fight against gender and sex discrimination on 12 women who pushed for 'constitutional equality' for women and other marginalized groups. Throughout, Kelly details her own activism on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment and enlivens the proceedings with a dash of irreverence (on Abigail Adams: 'She immediately rage-texted her BFF Mercy Otis Warren (via letter)') that complements the book's bold graphic design. This spirited introduction to the battle for gender equality will appeal especially to young adults."-- "Publishers Weekly" (12/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)

"Ordinary Equality is an antithesis to the dry, academic tone most often associated with constitutional law and history texts. This stylized approach, layering Kelly's words with historical graphics and highlighted pull quotes throughout, captures the out-loud spirit of the ERA itself, as well as that of the trailblazers who helped it along the way. Congress met in 2019 to discuss the ERA again for the first time in 36 years, nearly 100 years after the amendment was first drafted in 1923. While the history of the ERA is still a work in progress, Kelly insists that 'we cannot allow one more generation to pass before we get the legal recognition we deserve in our country's blueprint.' In that vein, Ordinary Equality is as much an invitation as it is a celebration, informing new generations of leaders about a past too often overlooked, and what that past can teach us about the future of the ERA--and beyond--as the 'distinguished list' of those helping to frame the United States' legal system continues to expand." --Kerry McHugh "Entomology of a Bookworm" (11/18/2021 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Kate Kelly is a feminist, activist, and human rights lawyer. She holds a JD degree from American University Washington College of Law, the only law school in the country founded by and for women. She's a nationally known advocate for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and host and creator of the podcast Ordinary Equality. Kate lives in Washington, DC, with her partner, Jamie Manson. You can follow her on Twitter at @kate_kelly_esq. To learn more about the Equal Rights Amendment and for an up-to-date list of news and articles about its current progress, visit www.ordinaryequality.com.

Nicole LaRue is a graphic designer, illustrator, and author. She believes every person, no matter their age or status, can help create positive social change. Called upon at the eleventh hour to create the official logo for the 2017 Women's March on Washington, Nicole is no stranger to mighty work. Her clients include Chronicle Books, Abrams Books, Oxford University Press, Compendium, Inc., Madison Park Greetings, Johnson & Johnson, Chatbooks, Tiny Prints, DC Shoes, Spumoni Studio, American Eagle, and more. See her work at SmallMadeGoods.com. Nicole resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.