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Modern American Women OVERVIEW:Taking
our cue from Emma Goldman's keen insight, in this class we will explore
together the diverse historical experiences of American women from the
Progressive era to the present. In the process, we will pay particular
attention to racial, economic, sexual, generational, ideological and geographic
differences among women. American women are not a monolithic entity. They
share gender, but many other identity categories and personal values also
shape their histories. While it is impossible to be comprehensive in our
coverage of so rich a topic, we will attempt to gain both a broad and
deep understanding of the role of sex, gender and power in twentieth-century
American society by approaching our subject both chronologically and thematically.
Topics of study include social movements, reform and radicalism; the family,
sexuality and reproduction; economics and labor; images of women in art,
media & popular culture; and women's political organizing and legal
agitation. Throughout, we will ask the question, "How does placing
women at the center of our historical investigations challenge our sense
of the American national democratic narrative and of ourselves as citizens/residents
of this country?" Format:
This course is reading- and writing-intensive, so be prepared to work
hard. As a seminar, it is vital that everyone attends each session and
comes to class ready to discuss critically the issues that arise out of
our assigned readings and our viewing of various videos and films. Enthusiastic
and consistent class participation is vital to the life of this course.
So too is creative and analytical thinking and writing. Over the next
14 weeks, our collective goal is to create a classroom environment that
is engaged with historical and contemporary ideas and energized by each
other's presence. In doing so, I hope that the issues we examine together
will resonate with your lives beyond the classroom. |