Foreign Service Girl Book
United States 1959
The 1959 book "Foreign Service Girl" by Robin McKown details the life of a young woman serving as a secretary abroad. At the end of the novel, she gives up her chance to become a Foreign Service Officer in order to marry instead. Although it is a work of fiction, the book reflects discriminatory attitudes and practices that hindered women who wanted a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. In 1968, Foreign Service Officer Alison Palmer launched a legal battle for women’s equality in the service by filing an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) case alleging gender discrimination, which she won in 1971.
This image is in the public domain and no permission is required to use it. Please credit the National Museum of American Diplomacy as the original source, and provide a link back to the item page where possible.
Most of our items are donations, and we cannot always confirm the copyright or trademark status of photographs, prints, drawings, and other artistic works that may be depicted in these images.
Please contact us at NMAD@state.gov for any permissions or usage questions.
MLA Format
Foreign Service Girl Book. 1959. National Museum of American Diplomacy, https://diplomacy.state.gov/items/foreign-service-girl-book
Chicago Format
Foreign Service Girl Book, 1959, National Museum of American Diplomacy, Washington, DC, https://diplomacy.state.gov/items/foreign-service-girl-book
APA Format
(1959). Foreign Service Girl Book [Object]. National Museum of American Diplomacy, Washington, D.C., United States. https://diplomacy.state.gov/items/foreign-service-girl-book