Social Studies Curriculum

History/Social Sciences Electives

« Return to History/Social Studies Electives Framework home page

Adopted January 1999

Women’s History

Course Description:

Women’s History is a course where students explore current issues of women, their major achievements, and the historical impact women have had on humanity. Have you ever wondered if there is there a history of women? What is the role of men in women’s history?

Sample topics in Women’s History are:

• The changing roles of women and their social, marital, economic, and legal-political status
• The roles of men
• The agendas and accomplishments of selected women leaders
• Issues that affect women (e.g. violence, poverty, education, equal opportunity
• Challenges and legacies of women throughout history

The course title and description have been approved by the Anchorage School Board. This course outline is meant to serve as an example of one possibility for organizing this class. It does not represent the only way the course may be organized. Each course outline has been written by a different teacher so there will be differences in the approach used from one course to another.

Course Goals:

Through this course students will:

• Explain major changes in history which have affected women.
• Recognize why traditionally women’s roles have been limited to the domestic sphere.
• Identify key historical figures and explain their accomplishments.
• Identify various roles women have played throughout history and in current day society.
• Communicate in both written and oral form an understanding of women’s contributions in history.
• Analyze opposing viewpoints in regards to issues which affect women.
• Identify and describe the advancements women have made in the areas of law and equal rights.

Course Objectives:

The student will:

• Explain the relationship between women as property and the historic limitations put on women as a result of this legal issue.
• Identify and describe the vast contributions that women have made throughout history.
• Identify and describe the contributions of women during early national development.
• Read and interpret historic documents, poetry, and literature relating to women in history.
• Explain the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the lives and roles of women.
• Identify and describe the contributions of women related to development of their nation (e.g. the United States, including exploring the Westward Movement)
• Identify and describe both the causes and results of the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York.
• Explain the history of the Suffrage Movement.
• Analyze and describe changes in women’s roles as they gained the right to vote.
• Identify and describe the issues women addressed as part of the Women’s Right’s Movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
• Explain the impact of violence against women, rape, and domestic violence on women, families, and society.
• Identify and explore current issues which affect women such as women’s roles in society, the family, the workplace, or the military.
• Investigate a variety of topics of interests such as, but not limited to; women in sports, women in entertainment, women in the media, in politics, in the arts, in science, and in the military.

Course Outline

1. Overview of Women in History
   1. Definitions
      1. Patriarchy, matriarchy, matrilineal, matrilineal, equalitarian, feminine, masculine, traditional male and female roles
   2. Concepts
      1. Women as property
      2. Women as individuals
   3. Limitations/ oppression
2. Significant Historical Figures
   1. Women as rulers
   2. Women as change Agents/ Activists/Reformers
   3. Women as Politicians
3. Women and Society
   1. Women’s Roles- Past and Present
   2. Images of Women (Positive and Negative Images of women in the media and society)
4. Women and Work
   1. “Women’s Work”- Contributions throughout history
   2. Industrial Revolution - Effects on women
   3. “Women’s Firsts” expansion into traditional male careers
   4. Social change as a result of an increase of women in the work force
5. Women and Revolution
   1. Major movements in history, women’s
   2. Contributions and experiences, social reform ,i.e., Abolition, Temperance, Suffrage, Equality
6. Women and Law
   1. Legal issues in History
   2. Suffrage Movement
      1. England
      2. USA
      3. World
   3. Women’s Rights
      1. Equal opportunity
      2. Equal pay for equal work
      3. Access to all realms of society
7. Issues that affect women
   1. Violence against women
   2. Education
   3. Poverty
   4. Children/ Child care
   5. Health issues
8. Special Interests (Possibilities may include but not limited to)
   1. Women in specific cultures and/or countries
   2. Women in sports
   3. Women in Literature
   4. Women in entertainment
   5. Women in the military
   6. Women during a certain time period , i.e. women in the 1950’s