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The Woman They Could Not Silence

One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear
Jun 16, 2021darladoodles rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Elizabeth Packard is not a household name, but she should be. When her selfish and cruel husband put her away in the asylum in Jacksonville, Illinois, he thought he had taken away her voice. That was just the beginning of Elizabeth's life work and dedication to women's rights. While in the asylum she realized that women like her were not protected from the whims of men who did not want women to use their minds or color outside the lines. She was motivated to get back to her six children and also to free the women she met inside. Her story is inspiring. While in the asylum she was at all times trying to make conditions better for those with her. She also used her gift for writing to document what she saw and experienced at the time. Later she would use that information in court to be declared sane, then to support herself and help pass laws on behalf of women who were victimized by current statutes. It is encouraging to see that there were men who stepped up to assist Elizabeth in her quest. We owe her a great debt and I hope many will read her story and know her name. Kate Moore did extensive research to write her story and if you loved "The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women," you will also want to pick this one up.