Women’s Changing place Through History
It isn’t likely that the characters in The Taming of the Shrew would have thought of themselves as being affected by sexism. In fact the word did not exist until quite recently. The way that women have been seen has changed dramatically thoughout history. Your small group will research the treatment of women during a specific period in history. We are focusing on Europe and the United States for this study but if you find relevant information about another part of the world you may check with me to see if you should use it in your presentation.
Research Questions:
1. What were the customs regarding marriage, divorce, dating, property ownership, etc.
2. What were the customs regarding education and employment for women.
3. What did women wear. What rules were there regarding clothing for women.
What does this say about a woman’s place in society.
4. What did the women who lived then think of their own place in society.
5. How many women were writing about their lives and experiences. What did they say.
Time Period Groups
Medieval
Renaissance
Victorian Age
1920’s
1950’s
1960’s & 1970’s
1980’s to the present
Project Requirements
a. Discuss and write down what you know about the time period you are assigned to study. Use the internet and Information Center resources to check your facts.
b. Find at least three relevant sources of information about the time period you are assigned and women’s rights. Make an accurate list of the resources you find and their location. (websites, online databases, books).
c. Check your resources for reliability and perspective. Does the site have a point of view or bias. How trustworthy is it.
d. Fill out your own note chart about your groups time period.
e. Write a one page paper that synthesizes the information you gathered and explains what it was like to be a woman at that time in history. This is a group writing assignment.
f. Organize a five minute presentation to the class about your research.
c. Check your resources for reliability and perspective. Does the site have a point of view or bias. How trustworthy is it.
d. Fill out your own note chart about your groups time period.
e. Write a one page paper that synthesizes the information you gathered and explains what it was like to be a woman at that time in history. This is a group writing assignment.
f. Organize a five minute presentation to the class about your research.
Library Resources
Online Databases
History Student Center
World Book Online
Student Resource Center
Please consult your WMHS Information Center worksheet for home access passwords
Academic Integrity (cite your sources)
Websites
Print Resources
304.4 MAT, Gellna Matthews, American Women's History: A Student Companion
305.4 HIS, Michelle Perrot, A History of Women in the West
305.4209182 ULR, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History
301.41 GIE, Frances Gies and Joseph Gies, Women in the Middle Ages
305.4 FRA, Irene Franck and David Brownstone, Women's World: A Timeline of Women in History
a book cart is available for student use
