Well-behaved women, it is said, seldom make history. This class will examine the rhetoric of diverse women activists, reformers, and artists who did not “behave”—indeed, who were often seen as a danger to the social order. We’ll consider their efforts in the name of economic and social justice, peace, racial equality, reproductive freedom, and voting rights, as well as opposition to these movements. The Progressive era (c. 1890-1920) was an intense period of women’s activism—including women of color—with inspirational and cautionary lessons for today. How did these rhetors use language to effect social change? How did they challenge commonplace beliefs about how women’s rights and roles? What makes public women seem so dangerous to begin with? This class welcomes students from a variety of disciplines and requires no prerequisite study, just a desire to learn more about women’s rhetorical practices in a discussion-based classroom. For more info, contact Dr. Gold at dpg@umich.edu.

Course Requirements:

In addition to weekly reading and writing assignments, we’ll write and revise a major research project at the end of the semester, with plenty of time and guidance.