Writing about four centuries of midwestern womenÕs history, including urban, rural, and frontier women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexicanas, as well as European migrants, essayists discuss ways midwestern womenÕs lives resemble those women of other regions and ways in which their lives are distinctive. Midwestern womenÕs experiences are shown to be distinctive in terms of the degree of migration and the ways in which the Midwest has represented a cultural crossroads. Several essays focus on the isolation and the unsettled conditions under which many midwestern women lived. Religion is also a major theme, both for its importance in sustaining women on the frontier and as a path to leadership opportunities. Several authors explore the role of midwestern women as community builders and the importance of their work in womenÕs social, economic, and political advancement. Other authors consider midwestern distinctiveness in the context of work patterns, from Native AmericansÕ relatively gender-balanced economies to the struggles of Euro-American women to combat gender hierarchy.By addressing a broad range of questions about the lives of midwestern women this volume encourages further research of this neglected but important group. The volume also includes a lengthy bibliography.