Instructor: Prof. Karen Anderson Teaching Assistant: Cathleen Dooley
Office: 133 Social Science Office: 124 Social Science
Office Hours: 1:00-1:50, TTh, and by appointment
Office Hours: W, 10:00-11:00;Th, 9:30-10:30,
and by appointment
Phone Number: 621-5486, 621-1586 (messages)
Phone Number: 621-3247
E-mail address: karena@u.arizona.edu E-mail address: cloucks@u.arizona.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS
This course examines women’s history in the United States since 1890. It focuses on the connections among cultural meanings attached to gender; various social inequalities in access to institutions, activities, and resources; and women’s status, well-being, and power in American society. The course examines the lives of women from various social groups, analyzing the ways that they affected one another. Although the course emphasizes sexuality, reproduction, and maternity, it will also cover politics, law, work, education, and other related issues in women’s lives.
Each student is required to attend class regularly, participate in class discussions, read the assigned readings by the dates indicated in the class schedule, complete all the ungraded writing assignments, and take two midterm examinations and a final examination. In addition, each student is required to write one paper (4-6 pages long, double spaced), comparing the images of women in advertisements from the 1910s and the 1940s. The paper is due on April 27. All students, including any who are taking the course on a pass-fail basis, are required to take all examinations and to turn in the paper and the ungraded writing assignments.
Grades will be calculated as follows: ungraded writing assignments, 10%; paper, 25%; first midterm, 20%; second midterm, 25%; and final examination, 20%. Each student is allowed one missed ungraded writing assignment in the semester. After one, one point will be subtracted from the total of 10 points for each missed assignment. Ungraded writing assignments will be given a +, check, or -. Those receiving a - will not receive credit for that assignment. Any student who misses either the first or second midterm examination will make it up on "dead day," May 6 at a time and place that will be announced later. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY: Any student caught cheating on an exam or plagiarizing on the paper will receive a failing grade in the course. Students are responsible for informing themselves regarding the university’s academic integrity definitions and policies.
COURSE READINGS
Linda Kerber and Jane DeHart, eds., Women’s America: Refocusing the Past, 4th ed. (K&D)
Rima D. Apple and Janet Golden, eds., Mothers and Motherhood: Readings in American History (M&M)
Beth Bailey, From Front Porch to Back Seat: Courtship in Twentieth-Century America
Selected readings on reserve in the Main Library.
Books are available for purchase at Antigone Books, 411 N. 4th Ave., 792-3715.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Jan. 14—Introduction to course
19—Historical Legacies: American Women in 1900 (guest lecture)
21—Industrialization and Immigration: Immigrant and working class women (read K&D, pp. 240-244, 268-272, 285-294; M&M, pp. 319-333, 475-494)
26—Gender and Sexuality: the New Woman (read K&D, pp. 257-264, 374-382) (guest lecture)
28—Consumer culture and the New Woman (bring three copies of 1910s ads to class)
Feb. 2—Maternalism and Progressive Reform (read K&D, pp. 273-275, 295-298, 303-320, 576-580; M&M, pp. 444-474)
Feb. 4—Woman Suffrage (read K&D, pp. 298-303, 320-334, 580-582)
9—Maternity and Reproduction (read Reagan, on reserve, and K&D, pp. 335-343; M&M, pp. 90-110, 242-258, 423-443)
11—Indian reform (read K&D, pp. 265-267)
16—Women and Consumer Culture (read K&D, pp. 383-393; M&M, pp. 495-516)
18—Flappers and the Politics of Morality (read Bailey, pp. 1-24; Blumberg, on reserve, pp. 141-160)
23—Politics After Suffrage (read K&D, pp. 582-583)
25—Review and Summary: The Politics of Maternity
March 2—First Midterm Examination
4—Women in the Great Depression (read K&D, pp. 407-410, 425-431, 441-446)
9—Women, the New Deal, and the Welfare State (read K&D, pp. 411-425; M&M, pp. 517-538)
11—World War II, Film: "The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter"
13-21—Spring Break
23—World War II (read K&D, pp. 441-456, 478-485; bring three copies of 1940s ads to class)
25—The Feminine Mystique (read M&M, pp. 362-388; Bailey, pp. 25-76)
30—The Feminine Mystique (read; K&D, pp. 468-477; Bailey, pp. 77-143)
April 1— Activism in the 1950s (read M&M, pp. 131-170)
6—Activism in the 1950s (read K&D, pp. 493-506)
8—Race, Women, and Welfare Politics (read M&M, pp. 539-564; Solinger, on reserve)
13—Second Midterm Examination
15—Women in 1960s Social Movements (read K&D, pp. 486-493)
20—Rise of Modern Feminism (read M&M, pp. 389-416; K&D, pp. 507-518, 539-560)
22—Sexuality, Abortion, and Antifeminism (read M&M, pp. 259-277; K&D, pp. 523-537, 592-598; Blumberg, on reserve, pp. 160-192)
27—Work, Gender, and Law (read K&D, pp. 583-592, 598-603; papers due)
29—Women in the 1980s and 1990s (read Douglas, on reserve)
May 4— Review and Summary
Final Examination: Tuesday, May 11, 11:00-1:00