Reconstructing Womanhood analyzes writings from black women in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as examines the social, political, and historical landscapes in which these works were produced.
Specifying by Susan Willis has been stated to be sort of a continuation of Reconstructing Womanhood due to Specifying covering the second century of black women authors.
[4] Jewelle Gomez wrote in The Nation that Carby's "more formal style makes her book less accessible, but she does offer some important observations about the development of Afro-American women novelists.
"[5] Angelo Costanzo of American Literature that "Carby convinces us that the time was rich with the voices of many women who were unafraid to express themselves in truthful and courageous ways".
[6] Alison Donnell wrote in her book Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture that Reconstructing Womanhood is Carby's "landmark study".