True to Ourselves offers an exceptional portrait of the immense influence and expanding power of women in American public life today. This wonderfully diverse collection includes compelling stories from Ann Bancroft, the first woman to reach both North and South Poles (she did it on skis!); Sarah Brady, who spearheaded the Brady gun control bill; Carol Moseley-Braun, the first African-American woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate; and many other remarkable women, such as journalist Ellen Hume, Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, college President Ruth Simmons, former Congresswoman Bella Abzug, and Second Lady Tipper Gore. The contributors recount important turning points in their lives, revealing the barriers they faced and lessons they learned in overcoming constraints. They share their concerns about a persistent backlash against the women's and civil rights movements, and reveal the personal and professional events that compelled them to get involved. The collective result is a call for all Americans to work toward a diverse, inclusive society in the 21st century that will inspire readers to be true to their own sense of self.