Essential Question:
How were the ever-changing roles of women in American
society chronicled?
Background
Joseph Heller writes in his book, The Feminization of
Quest-Romance that “American Literature equates
the very essence of what it means to be American with
the essence of what it means to be male. [Thus] women’s
roles are identified only in relation to the male heroes
whose identities they strengthen.” It can be argued
that throughout much of American history, American women
had few rights or opportunities to invent themselves at
all. Their roles in society were virtually dictated to
them, and legal and cultural forces limited the scope
women had to “reinvent” themselves.
Typically deprived of the advantages of education,
role models, equal rights under the law, or social freedoms,
American women still managed to explore their identities
and to express themselves. While historical documents
chronicle their struggle for freedom and self-identity,
literature and art reflect the emerging and ever-changing
roles of women in American society.
Objectives
- Students will examine primary documents in order
to understand the timeline of events associated with
the women’s suffrage movement.
- Students will use a variety of technological and
informational resources such as libraries, databases,
computer networks, and videos to gather and synthesize
information and to create and communicate knowledge.
- Students will comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and
appreciate texts.
- Students will read a wide range of print and non-print
texts, including fiction and nonfiction and both classic
and contemporary works, to build an understanding
of the many dimensions of women’s experience
in America.
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