Monmouth College
History 370
Spring 2010

U.S. Women's History

Dr. Stacy A. Cordery Office Hours:   
Wallace Hall L-6

 M-W-F, 9:00 a.m.--10:00 p.m.;  M & F 12:00- 1:00 p.m., and by appointment, gladly

Office phone:  457-2372 e-mail:  stacy

Course Description and Goals:


Discussion Reminders: 


Required books:


Class attendance:

Class attendance is a course expectation. On the third absence of the semester I will invoke the no-cut policy.  The fourth absence will result in a failing grade for the course. If you must be absent, see me before you miss the class; only then will it be an excused absence. You are responsible for material missed during your absences. Clearly, in a seminar wherein a percentage of your grade is based on discussion, class attendance is crucial.  I'm sorry; I hate this rule, but I have found it to be necessary, and I will enforce it.


Academic Dishonesty Policy:

I follow the Monmouth College academic dishonesty policy strictly.  If you plagiarize in this class it may mean a failing grade for the assignment or for the course.  It may also mean academic dismissal.  Please see me if you have any questions at all.


Class Calendar and Assignments:

Week 1:

What is Women’s History?

13 January

 

15 January

 Discussion:  "Gender and the New Women's History;" text 1-23

Discussion:  "The Ways of Her Household" & Divorce documents; text 45-58

Week 2:

Colonial Women

 

18 January

20 January

22 January
 

No class to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

Discussion: "African American Women in Colonial Society" & Slavery documents; text 59-68

Discussion:  "'Searchers again Assembled" & Hutchinson documents, text 69-82

Week 3:

Revolutionary Era

 

25 January

27 January


29 January

Discussion:  "Taking the Trade;" text 97-113

Discussion:  Revolution documents & "The Republican Mother & the Woman Citizen;" text 114-127

Discussion:  "Abortion in America;" text 183-192

Week 4:

Work and Womanhood

 

1 February

 



3 February

 

5 February

Discussion: Harriet Robinson's story & Lowell Mill Girls The Lowell Offering

  • Please read Harriet Robinson's story, and then read from among the documents in the other two websites until you feel you have a good sense of the subject.  Then, reward yourself.

Discussion:  "The Cult of True Womanhood, 1820-1860"

Discussion:  "The Female World of Love and Ritual;" text 168-183

Week 5:
 

Mary Rogers
 

8 February

10 February

 

12 February
 

Discussion:  "The Pastoralization of Housework;" text 153-164

DiscussionThe Mysterious Death of Mary Rogers

  •  Mary Rogers paper due in class

Discussion:  The Mysterious Death of Mary Rogers

  • Assignment:  Analysis of newspaper coverage of Mary Rogers

Week 6:

Women's Rights

15 February


17 February

19 February

 

Discussion:  Documents & "The Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention;" text 193-219

Discussion:  same as 15 February.  See also the national monument.

Discussion:  "Enemies in Our Households," & Counterfeit Freedom documents; text  220-235

Week 7:

Aftermath of War

22 February


24 February

26
February

Discussion: "Reconstruction and the Meanings of Freedom;" text 235-245 & Documents "After the Civil War;" 247-252

Discussion:   Nancy F. Cott, "Passionlessness"

No class

Week 8:

Social Activism

1 March


3 March


5 March

Discussion:  "Florence Kelley and Women's Activism;" text 327-339 AND "The Women's Centennial Agenda, 1876;" 265-268

Discussion:  "The Next Generation of Suffragists;" 358-364 & Mackenzie v Hare, text 365-366

Discussion: A Volume of Friendship

  8-12 March Spring Break Week

Week 9

A Volume of Friendship

15 March

17  March

 




19 March
 

Discussion: A Volume of Friendship

Discussion:  Women's letters

DiscussionAdkins v Children's Hospital, 1923; text 369-378

Week 10:

the 1940s

22 March

24 March

26 March

Discussion: "Equal Rights and Economic Roles;" text 379-389

Discussion:  "The 'Industrial Revolution' in the Home;" text 399-409

Guest lecture:  MC Science Alumnae

Week 11:

WWII

29 March

31 March

2 April
 

Discussion:  "Gender at Work;" text 466-477 & Enduring What Cannot Be Endured

Discussion: Enduring What Cannot Be Endured
  
No class:  Good Friday

Week 12:

Cold War changes

5 April

7 April

9 April

No class:  Easter Monday

Guest lecture: WWII veteran Pauline Winbigler 

Film:  "The Pill" -- Meet in WH205 for this film

Week 13:

Modern Women's Movement

12 April
 

14 April

16 April

Discussion:  "Betty Friedan and the Origins of Feminism in Cold War America;"479-495    

Discussion:  "Prescribing the Pill" & "When the Shirelles Mattered;" text 560-572

Discussion:  "Second-Wave Feminists and the Dynamics of Social Change;" text 598-623

Week 14:

Classic Feminist Documents

19 April

21 April

23 April

Discussion:  feminism documents 

Discussion:  feminism documents  It's Our Day

Discussion:  feminism documents 

Week 15:

It's Our Day

26 April

28 April


30 April

Discussion:  It's Our Day

Discussion:  It's Our Day

Discussion:  It's Our Day

  •  Wedding interview assignment due in class

Week 16

3 May

5 May

Discussion:  reading be decided upon by by class

In-class written examination

Final

Tuesday, 11 May  at 8:00 a.m.

Women Today


Grading Policy:

1. The opportunities for influencing your grade consist of the following points:

2. Late assignments of any sort will not be accepted without a prior excuse.  Anything late for any unexcused reason will earn a zero.

3. Expect pop quizzes over the reading. The point value of the course will be adjusted upward accordingly.

4.  I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus--but only after discussing the proposed changes with the class first.


Return to Prof. Cordery's home page.