A Woman's Ways and Means

A Woman's Ways & Means by Barbara E. Gray with Debra Regan Cleveland, 312 pages soft cover with photographs.

Battered Wive's Syndrome Defense, Gay Right's/Women's Rights, No-Fault Divorce, Sexual Harassment, Breast Cancer Insurance, Prevention of Elder Abuse, the wearing bicycle helmets, The Good Samaritan Law...all causes and legislation championed by Barbara Gray ahead of the curve.

This is the compelling story of how a mother of four entered politics and rose to leadership in a Massachusetts State House dominated by males. Barbara Gray spent 24 years in the State House, but in 1972, she was one of only eight women among the 240-member body.

It took guts and humor and stamina to work with mostly male colleagues and threats when advocating for legislation requiring motorcycle helmets and a 10-year campaign to get a seat belt bill passed and re-passed on a referendum.

Snapshots of what Massachusetts politics looked like 1972 - 1992.

"We met in the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1972, a bastion of white male* Irish and Italian politicians. Every one of us had our consciousness raised like an elevator by Barbara Gray, and we are better men for it!" - Senator Ed Markey

*Including Former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn and Congressman Barney Frank

Signed by author and co-author

Limited Edition and Limited Quantity Available