Women Have Always Worked: The U.S. Experience 1920-2016

Course Description

"Women Have Always Worked: The U.S. Experience 1920-2016" is an engaging and comprehensive exploration of women's history in America, focusing on the period from the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the present day. This intermediate-level course, offered by ColumbiaX, is the third part of a four-part MOOC series that delves into the evolving roles, rights, and contributions of women in American society.

What Students Will Learn

Students will gain a deep understanding of the significant milestones, challenges, and progress in women's history throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries. The course covers crucial topics such as the impact of women's suffrage, the emergence of different feminist ideologies, legal constraints on women's independence, labor movements, the effects of the Great Depression and World War II on women's roles, and the ongoing struggle for equality in various spheres of life.

Pre-requisites

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. However, a basic understanding of American history and an interest in women's studies would be beneficial. The course is designed for intermediate-level learners, so some prior knowledge of historical analysis and critical thinking skills would be helpful.

Course Coverage

• The impact of the 19th Amendment on women's political participation
• The emergence of equality feminists and social feminists
• Legal constraints on women's independence in the early 20th century
• Protective labor legislation and its effects on women's workforce participation
• The Great Depression's impact on gender roles and family dynamics
• Women's involvement in labor strikes and working conditions improvement
• Changing attitudes towards working women from the Great Depression to World War II
• Gender and racial discrimination in military industries and armed forces
• Post-World War II efforts to return women to domestic roles

Target Audience

This course is ideal for students of history, women's studies, sociology, and political science. It's also perfect for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of gender equality, social change, and the evolution of women's roles in American society. Professionals in fields such as law, policy-making, education, and social work would find this course valuable for gaining historical context on gender issues.

Real-World Applications

The knowledge and insights gained from this course can be applied in various real-world contexts:

1. Developing more informed perspectives on current gender equality issues
2. Enhancing critical thinking skills for analyzing social and political trends
3. Improving understanding of workplace dynamics and gender-related challenges
4. Informing policy decisions related to women's rights and opportunities
5. Enriching educational curricula with a more comprehensive view of women's history
6. Fostering empathy and understanding in diverse professional and personal settings

Syllabus Overview

While a detailed syllabus is not provided, the course likely follows a chronological structure, covering:

1. The aftermath of the 19th Amendment (1920s)
2. Women in the Roaring Twenties
3. The Great Depression and its impact on women
4. Women's roles in labor movements
5. World War II and women's contributions
6. Post-war societal changes and expectations
7. The rise of second-wave feminism
8. Contemporary issues in women's rights and equality

This course offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of women's experiences in American history, providing valuable insights that are crucial for understanding and addressing current social issues.