History 3070

At the Crossroads 1880-1920s

Readings:

• Kerber and Dehart essays: Cott, Cowan, Jones
• Women in the 1920s Advertizing images

You might find informative:

• Women of the Century - decade by decade --DiscoverySchool.com
• a slide show about women in the 1920s

Discussion Topics:

• Use the readings to discuss how the women's sphere was transformed from the private, family-oriented world of domesticity into the "male" world of politics and public policy, 1880-1920.
• There is a "New Woman" in the 1880-1890s and a "New Woman" in the 1920s. Use the readings to describe these "new women." What is the shift from homo-sociality to hetero-sociality? What is the shift to women as consumers (and being consumed)?