COURSE DESCRIPTION AND CURRICULAR ROLE:
Human Traditions courses introduce students to the broad range of human cultures from prehistory to the present, taking a thematic approach rather than a strictly chronological one. In this section, we will focus on how gender structures, defines, and challenges the lives of women in diverse societies from roughly 1500 to the present day (and beyond). How are women captured in the historical record? Where are they absent and what factors make women’s lives invisible? What strategies can we employ to
understand the place of women in world history when so much of women’s perspective has been obscured? We will examine the rise of women’s rights movements around the world and conclude with a look into the future place of women in the world and in narratives of world history.
Student Description:
This Human Traditions course examines women in the modern world (1500-present) in relation to themes. “Pens” focuses on literacy and how it (or the lack of it) impacts women’s lives. “Pockets” identifies the resources women have access to and financial matters. “The Pill” focuses on women’s health and healthcare. Each of these themes highlights a vital aspect of women’s lives across cultures and time periods. By sampling key moments, students explore how women are depicted or obscured across time and how we can discover and reinvigorate the voices and perspectives of women.
