The American Country Girl

"The American Country Girl" by Martha Foote Crow is a study about the lives of young women in the countryside in the early 1900s. It looks at what country girls did for their families and communities, talking about the problems they had as rural areas changed. The author shines a light on how important these girls were, discusses how they could help shape the country in the future, and argues they should be both recognized and helped. The story starts by describing the Country Life Movement, a project that had the goal of improving life for people living in the country. Crow points out that not much attention was paid to country girls in books or in society. She explains that while there has been a focus on farmers and their families, the girls on those farms were largely ignored. She questions how happy these girls were with their lives, with the aim of showing what they went through, what they wanted, and what problems they faced. The author combines stories and opinions to explore whether country girls were allowed to grow and be happy in the country, and the key roles they played in their families.