Reviews
"Forman-Brunell does a service by documenting one of the few remaining common denominators of American life-though this one, too, is disappearing." - Wall Street Journal ,, "Considers the history of the babysitter in American culture, and why she has so frequently been perceived as a dangerous figure." - The New Yorker, "In this intriguing social and cultural history, Forman-Brunell (Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City) uses a wide array of sources to argue that the 20th-century creation of the babysitter can tell much about the changing views of girlhood over time, both from the perspective of adults and of girls themselves." "Highly recommended."-CHOICE,, "In this informative and entertaining book, Miriam Forman-Brunell has creatively mined popular culture sources and personal reminiscences to provide the first history of babysitting." The Journal of American History "Forman-Brunell is one of those rare academics who easily bridges disciplines, using the methods of the traditional historian, the literary critic, and the popular-culture commentator to present a well-researched and highly readable narrative about babysitters--who are among the most visible, yet invisible, figures in American culture." The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth "Forman-Brunell does a service by documenting one of the few remaining common denominators of American life--though this one, too, is disappearing." Wall Street Journal, In this first-ever history of babysitting, Miriam Forman-Brunell has written an enjoyable account of class employees who, she argues, does an extraordinary amount of cultural work in addition to its assigned childcare chores., "Miriam Forman-Brunell has written an enjoyable account of a class of employees who, she argues, does an extraordinary amount of cultural working addition to its assigned childcare chores." - Oxford Journals, "Forman-Brunell does a service by documenting one of the few remaining common denominators of American lifethough this one, too, is disappearing." - Wall Street Journal, "Is there a parent who hasn't fretted about getting a baby sitter for the night? Is there a baby sitter who hasn't felt put upon, underpaid, distrusted? For more than eight decades, baby-sitting has been part of our social and cultural history. Now, Forman-Brunell has analyzed its origins, evolution and inner workings." - Kansas City Star, "For more than eight decades, baby-sitting has been part of our social and cultural history. Now, Miriam Forman-Brunell, history professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has analyzed its origins, evolution, and inner workings." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In this intriguing social and cultural history, Forman-Brunell (Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City) uses a wide array of sources to argue that the 20th-century creation of the babysitter can tell much about the changing views of girlhood over time, both from the perspective of adults and of girls themselves." - Choice, It is remarkable that babysitting has lacked a history. Meticulously researched, written with humor and acute insight, this book not only chronicles the actual experience of babysitting over nearly a century, but shows how the babysitter served as a cultural lightning rod for anxieties over shifting womens liberation, the waning of masculine authority, teen sexuality, and the decline of the nuclear family. Powerful, provocative, persuasive., Powerfully reclaiming the marginalized history of girls domestic labor, Forman-Brunell deftly examines a broad range of cultural artifacts to help us understand how different generations used the figure of the babysitter to negotiate shifting norms for gender, age, work, and sexuality., In this well-documented, illustrated discussion of our cultures perceptions of babysitters through the years, the author skillfully demonstrates how changing social mores and attitudes toward girls and women were responsible for the astonishing range of notions about babysitters, running the gamut from child-care provider to home wrecker. . . . Forman-Brunell makes excellent use of the various babysitting handbooks published over the years, and, particularly, of the commercial novels (e.g., The Baby-Sitters Club series) and movies that came out, from domestic comedies to horror films reflecting parents (and babysitters) worst nightmares., ("In this intriguing social and cultural history, Forman-Brunell (Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City) uses a wide array of sources to argue that the 20th-century creation of the babysitter can tell much about the changing views of girlhood over time, both from the perspective of adults and of girls themselves." "Highly recommended.")-(CHOICE),(), " Babysitter is an exemplary work of cultural history, using widely disparate sources to correct popular but misguided myths about teens' labor history, girls' cultural practices, and "the family" as an ideological construct. Written concisely and accessibly with ample illustrations, Babysitter is ideal for undergraduates and professional scholars alike."-Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth,, Babysitter ...is a welcome addition to the histories of adolescence and girlhood which have increasingly emerged over the last dozen years. Forman-Brunell is one of those rare academics who easily bridges disciplines, using the methods of the traditional historian, the literary critic, and the popular-culture commentator to present a well-researched and highly readable narrative about babysitters-who are among the most visible, yet invisible, figures in American culture., A gem of a book. In its ingenious use of sources, its interpretive reach, its marvelous prose style, its wisdom and wit, Babysitter is a model of cultural history. It is also the best work I have read in years on twentieth-century gender politics, youth culture, sexuality, and family history. I cannot recommend it highly enough to scholars, students, and the general public., ( "Miriam Forman-Brunell has written an enjoyable account of a class of employees who, she argues, does an extraordinary amount of cultural working addition to its assigned childcare chores." )-( Oxford Journals ),(), "Why and how the baby sitter rose to pop culture prominence is one of the topics explored by Miriam Forman-Brunell in her book Babysitter: An American History." - The Los Angeles Times, "Meticulously researched and cleverly written, Babysitter is a must-read for anyone interested in the important yet oft-overlooked history of babysitting and the gendered politics of representation in U.S. popular culture. It's a delightful book that I encourage you to recommend--not only to your students and colleagues in the academy, but also to your friends, family members, and former babysitting employers."-Kirsten Pike,Jump Cut, What might have just been an amusing collection of related relics is instead a sophisticated and smooth history of girl culture and shifting family values in Forman-Brunells capable hands. . . . Its a thorough investigation of our cultural anxieties about childcare and an intriguing look at what happens when a teenage girl rules the roost., " Babysitter ...is a welcome addition to the histories of adolescence and girlhood which have increasingly emerged over the last dozen years. Forman-Brunell is one of those rare academics who easily bridges disciplines, using the methods of the traditional historian, the literary critic, and the popular-culture commentator to present a well-researched and highly readable narrative about babysitters-who are among the most visible, yet invisible, figures in American culture." - The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth ,, Considers the history of the babysitter in American culture, and why she has so frequently been perceived as a dangerous figure., ( " Babysitter ...is a welcome addition to the histories of adolescence and girlhood which have increasingly emerged over the last dozen years. Forman-Brunell is one of those rare academics who easily bridges disciplines, using the methods of the traditional historian, the literary critic, and the popular-culture commentator to present a well-researched and highly readable narrative about babysitters-who are among the most visible, yet invisible, figures in American culture." )-( The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth ),(), Meticulously researched and cleverly written, Babysitter is a must-read for anyone interested in the important yet oft-overlooked history of babysitting and the gendered politics of representation in U.S. popular culture. It's a delightful book that I encourage you to recommendnot only to your students and colleagues in the academy, but also to your friends, family members, and former babysitting employers., "Forman-Brunell sets out to examine the relationship between teenage sitters and their employers over the past century." - The Washington Post, "Miriam Forman-Brunell has written an enjoyable account of a class of employees who, she argues, does an extraordinary amount of cultural working addition to its assigned childcare chores." - Oxford Journals ,, "In this intriguing social and cultural history, Forman-Brunell (Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City) uses a wide array of sources to argue that the 20th-century creation of the babysitter can tell much about the changing views of girlhood over time, both from the perspective of adults and of girls themselves." "Highly recommended.", "What might have just been an amusing collection of related relics is instead a sophisticated and smooth history of girl culture and shifting family values in Forman-Brunell's capable hands. . . . It's a thorough investigation of our cultural anxieties about childcare and an intriguing look at what happens when a teenage girl rules the roost." - Bust Magazine, As historian Forman-Brunells research reveals, the archetype of the bad baby sitter has more to do with adults fears about the changing nature of girlhood today . . . than it does with the reality of girls caring for younger kids for pay., Babysitter is an exemplary work of cultural history, using widely disparate sources to correct popular but misguided myths about teens labor history, girls cultural practices, and the family as an ideological construct. Written concisely and accessibly with ample illustrations, Babysitter is ideal for undergraduates and professional scholars alike., "Stunning...Babysitter represents a real cultural triumph. The new paperback edition of [the book] belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in women's history and cultural studies. Academics who teach these topics should get it into the hands of their students."- Pop Matters, In this informative and entertaining book, Miriam Forman-Brunell, the author of (1993) and other works on the history of girls, has creatively mined popular culture sources and personal reminiscences to provide the first history of baby-sitting., "In this well-documented, illustrated discussion of our culture's perceptions of babysitters through the years, the author skillfully demonstrates how changing social mores and attitudes toward girls and women were responsible for the astonishing range of notions about babysitters, running the gamut from child-care provider to home wrecker. . . . Forman-Brunell makes excellent use of the various babysitting handbooks published over the years, and, particularly, of the commercial novels (e.g., The Baby-Sitters Club series) and movies that came out, from domestic comedies to horror films reflecting parents' (and babysitters') worst nightmares." - Library Journal ,, "Miriam Forman-Brunell's Babysitter: An American History takes on the trope of the teen sitter." - Jezebel.com, "Powerfully reclaiming the marginalized history of girls' domestic labor, Forman-Brunell deftly examines a broad range of cultural artifacts to help us understand how different generations used the figure of the babysitter to negotiate shifting norms for gender, age, work, and sexuality." -Mary Celeste Kearney,author of Girls Make Media, "Miriam Forman-Brunell's Babysitter: An American History explores the multifaceted meaning of the sitter in popular culture." - Bookforum, From horror movies and pornography to the squeaky-clean cast of the Baby-sitter's Club books, our cultural views of babysitters reveal more about our societal hang-ups than they do about the neighborhood teenagers who watch our children., Babysitter offers a sophisticated analysis of the worlds youngest profession that reveals almost a centurys worth of generational and gender-based conflict. The sources are imaginative, the thinking is complex, and the argument is provocativeat times, even startling., Is there a parent who hasn't fretted about getting a baby sitter for the night? Is there a baby sitter who hasnt felt put upon, underpaid, distrusted? For more than eight decades, baby-sitting has been part of our social and cultural history. Now, Forman-Brunell has analyzed its origins, evolution and inner workings., "In this informative and entertaining book, Miriam Forman-Brunell, the author of(1993) and other works on the history of girls, has creatively mined popular culture sources and personal reminiscences to provide the first history of baby-sitting."-The Journal of American History,, Why and how the baby sitter rose to pop culture prominence is one of the topics explored by Miriam Forman-Brunell in her book Babysitter: An American History., "The first tome to analyze the ubiquitous, yet misunderstood teenaged caretaker." -TheGlobeAndMail.com, (" Babysitter is an exemplary work of cultural history, using widely disparate sources to correct popular but misguided myths about teens' labor history, girls' cultural practices, and "the family" as an ideological construct. Written concisely and accessibly with ample illustrations, Babysitter is ideal for undergraduates and professional scholars alike.")-(Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth),(), "Babysitter offers a sophisticated analysis of the world's youngest profession that reveals almost a century's worth of generational and gender-based conflict. The sources are imaginative, the thinking is complex, and the argument is provocative-at times, even startling." -Grace Palladino,author of Teenagers: An American History, "In this well-documented, illustrated discussion of our culture's perceptions of babysitters through the years, the author skillfully demonstrates how changing social mores and attitudes toward girls and women were responsible for the astonishing range of notions about babysitters, running the gamut from child-care provider to home wrecker. . . . Forman-Brunell makes excellent use of the various babysitting handbooks published over the years, and, particularly, of the commercial novels (e.g., The Baby-Sitters Club series) and movies that came out, from domestic comedies to horror films reflecting parents' (and babysitters') worst nightmares." - Library Journal, "Considers the history of the babysitter in American culture, and why she has so frequently been perceived as a dangerous figure." - The New Yorker ,, Miriam Forman-Brunell has written an enjoyable account of a class of employees who, she argues, does an extraordinary amount of cultural working addition to its assigned childcare chores., "As historian Forman-Brunell's research reveals, the archetype of the bad baby sitter has more to do with adults' fears about the changing nature of girlhood today . . . than it does with the reality of girls caring for younger kids for pay." -Salon.com, This chronicle of baby-sitting within the changing landscape of girlhood culture provides a voice for generations of baby-sitters and new insights into the history of rapidly shifting norms for growing up in America., Babysitter: An American History is richly researched, investigative, provocative, and a most unique journey through the past century., "It is remarkable that babysitting has lacked a history. Meticulously researched, written with humor and acute insight, this book not only chronicles the actual experience of babysitting over nearly a century, but shows how the babysitter served as a cultural lightning rod for anxieties over shifting women's liberation, the waning of masculine authority, teen sexuality, and the decline of the nuclear family. Powerful, provocative, persuasive." -Steven Mintz,author of Huck's Raft, "Meticulously researched and cleverly written, Babysitter is a must-read for anyone interested in the important yet oft-overlooked history of babysitting and the gendered politics of representation in U.S. popular culture. It's a delightful book that I encourage you to recommend-not only to your students and colleagues in the academy, but also to your friends, family members, and former babysitting employers."-Kirsten Pike,Jump Cut, "Babysitter: An American History is richly researched, investigative, provocative, and a most unique journey through the past century." - Estes Park News, In this informative and entertaining book, Miriam Forman-Brunell, the author of(1993) and other works on the history of girls, has creatively mined popular culture sources and personal reminiscences to provide the first history of baby-sitting., "In this first-ever history of babysitting, Miriam Forman-Brunell has written an enjoyable account of class employees who, she argues, does an extraordinary amount of cultural work in addition to its assigned childcare chores." -Susan A. Miller,Enterprise and Society, "From horror movies and pornography to the squeaky-clean cast of the Baby-sitter's Club books, our cultural views of babysitters reveal more about our societal hang-ups than they do about the neighborhood teenagers who watch our children." - National Post, "Babysitter is an exemplary work of cultural history, using widely disparate sources to correct popular but misguided myths about teens' labor history, girls' cultural practices, and "the family" as an ideological construct. Written concisely and accessibly with ample illustrations, Babysitter is ideal for undergraduates and professional scholars alike."- Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, Babysitter...is a welcome addition to the histories of adolescence and girlhood which have increasingly emerged over the last dozen years. Forman-Brunell is one of those rare academics who easily bridges disciplines, using the methods of the traditional historian, the literary critic, and the popular-culture commentator to present a well-researched and highly readable narrative about babysitterswho are among the most visible, yet invisible, figures in American culture., "What might have just been an amusing collection of related relics is instead a sophisticated and smooth history of girl culture and shifting family values in Forman-Brunell's capable hands. . . . It's a thorough investigation of our cultural anxieties about childcare and an intriguing look at what happens when a teenage girl rules the roost." - Bust, "From horror movies and pornography to the squeaky-clean cast of the Baby-sitter's Club books, our cultural views of babysitters reveal more about our societal hang-ups than they do about the neighborhood teenagers who watch our children." -CalgaryHerald.com, " Babysitter is an exemplary work of cultural history, using widely disparate sources to correct popular but misguided myths about teens' labor history, girls' cultural practices, and "the family" as an ideological construct. Written concisely and accessibly with ample illustrations, Babysitter is ideal for undergraduates and professional scholars alike.", Forman-Brunell does a service by documenting one of the few remaining common denominators of American lifethough this one, too, is disappearing., Miriam Forman-Brunells Babysitter: An American History explores the multifaceted meaning of the sitter in popular culture., "This chronicle of baby-sitting within the changing landscape of girlhood culture provides a voice for generations of baby-sitters and new insights into the history of rapidly shifting norms for growing up in America." - The Journal of American History, Stunning...Babysitter represents a real cultural triumph. The new paperback edition of [the book]belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in womens history and cultural studies. Academics who teach these topics should get it into the hands of their students., "A gem of a book. In its ingenious use of sources, its interpretive reach, its marvelous prose style, its wisdom and wit, Babysitter is a model of cultural history. It is also the best work I have read in years on twentieth-century gender politics, youth culture, sexuality, and family history. I cannot recommend it highly enough to scholars, students, and the general public." -David Nasaw,author of Children of the City: At Work and at Play, ("In this informative and entertaining book, Miriam Forman-Brunell, the author of(1993) and other works on the history of girls, has creatively mined popular culture sources and personal reminiscences to provide the first history of baby-sitting.")-(The Journal of American History),(), In this intriguing social and cultural history, Forman-Brunell (Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City) uses a wide array of sources to argue that the 20th-century creation of the babysitter can tell much about the changing views of girlhood over time, both from the perspective of adults and of girls themselves., "This cultural and social history captures dominant gender and generational struggles of the twentieth century around girlhood independence, domestic norms, and fragile masculinity. Forman-Brunell takes us on an engaging romp through urban legends, codes of conduct, slasher and pornographic movies, and the teen culture and resistance strategies of girls themselves." -Eileen Boris,author of Home to Work: Motherhood and The Politics of Industrial Homework in the United States, "In this informative and entertaining book, Miriam Forman-Brunell, the author of(1993) and other works on the history of girls, has creatively mined popular culture sources and personal reminiscences to provide the first history of baby-sitting."- Journal of American History, "For more than eight decades, baby-sitting has been part of our social and cultural history. Now, Miriam Forman-Brunell, history professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has analyzed its origins, evolution, and inner workings." -KansasCity.com, Forman-Brunell sets out to examine the relationship between teenage sitters and their employers over the past century., For more than eight decades, baby-sitting has been part of our social and cultural history. Now, Miriam Forman-Brunell, history professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has analyzed its origins, evolution, and inner workings., This cultural and social history captures dominant gender and generational struggles of the twentieth century around girlhood independence, domestic norms, and fragile masculinity. Forman-Brunell takes us on an engaging romp through urban legends, codes of conduct, slasher and pornographic movies, and the teen culture and resistance strategies of girls themselves., " Babysitter ...is a welcome addition to the histories of adolescence and girlhood which have increasingly emerged over the last dozen years. Forman-Brunell is one of those rare academics who easily bridges disciplines, using the methods of the traditional historian, the literary critic, and the popular-culture commentator to present a well-researched and highly readable narrative about babysitters-who are among the most visible, yet invisible, figures in American culture." - The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth
