Join author Kathleen Stone as she discusses her book, They Called Us Girls: Stories of Female Ambition From Suffrage to Mad Men.  

At the end of World War II, more American women worked outside the home than ever before. Yet the culture, from politicians to corporations to television shows, portrayed the ideal woman as a housewife. Many women happily assumed that role, but a small segment bucked the tide—women who wanted to use their talents differently, especially in jobs that had always been reserved for men. In They Called Us Girls: Stories of Female Ambition from Suffrage to Mad Men, author Kathleen Stone meets seven of these unconventional women, all born before 1935, who broke the mold, defying expectations—as doctor, lawyer, artist, physicist, executive director, and intelligence officer. In insightful, personalized portraits that span a half-century, Stone weaves stories of female ambition, uncovering the families, teachers, mentors, and historical events that led to unexpected paths.