The Politics of Womanhood: From the Progressive Era to Trump World

Since Donald Trump became president of the U.S., the gender gap has grown wider than ever. Even so, women are far from united politically.

Political divisions among women are nothing new, but neither are expectations that women should be united. Indeed, Progressive reformers expressed great faith that “the politics of womanhood” would transform American politics and culture—and also great dismay when women disagreed. Professor Leigh Ann Wheeler will explore these dual histories to begin a conversation about how, why, and with what results many Americans still fantasize about a woman’s voting bloc.

Leigh Ann Wheeler is a professor of History at Binghamton University (SUNY). She specializes in Modern U.S. women, sexuality, and social movements, especially those related to civil rights and civil liberties. She is currently researching and writing the biography of Anne Moody, a popular memoirist and civil rights activist best known as the author of Coming of Age in Mississippi (1968).

This event is open to the public and free to attend. For more event updates and details, visit www.sarahlawrence.edu/news-events/events/detail/7814.