Beginning in seventeenth-century British America, this course focuses on the experiences of American women--black and white, native and settler--from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. We will explore family structure, gender expectations, and cultural practices. We will look closely at intersections of gender, race, sexuality, and class and the role they play in the development of self-identity. The changing concepts of equality and difference, as employed by women and men in articulating gender relations, will serve as a theoretical framework for our examination.

Course Requirements:

Two short essays, one research paper

Intended Audience:

Undergraduates in History, American Culture, Women's Studies