This course introduces students to the historical arguments and theoretical concepts relating to women's lives in modern America, through the collections of the Smithsonian Institution. A range of digital objects provide the focus for in-depth critical analysis; a thematic structure facilitates the contextualisation of these objects within wider scholarship on aspects including activism; sex, intimacy and the body; paid work; and family, care and the home. Interdisciplinary in approach, students will gain familiarity with a range of methodological perspectives, including from material culture studies, museum education, gender history and American studies. The inclusion throughout of those marginalised in traditional narratives, such as indigenous, black, Latin, queer and trans women, ensures the course is fully representative of the diversity of female experience. Assessments centred on museum learning equip students with transferable skills in the presentation of complex gender histories to global scholarly, professional, and public audiences.

Attend ten, weekly online seminars (90 mins per week). These will also be recorded and placed on Moodle for review.

Attend individual online tutorial (30 mins).

HIST5189

None.

Digital museum label (200 words): 20% 

Critical reflection on label (1,000 words): 20%

Public-facing video/audio talk (10 mins): 50%

Annotated bibliography on talk (2,500 words): 10%

This course aims to:

■ Develop students' knowledge and understanding of historical evidence and arguments relating to the lives of diverse women in modern America.

■ Equip students with the skills to analyse digital museum objects from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, including material culture studies, museum education, gender history and American studies.

■ Hone students' transferable skills in presenting complex gender histories to global scholarly, professional, and public audiences.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically analyse and contextualise a range of digital museum objects from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution, in relation to themes which may include activism; sex, intimacy and the body; paid work; and family, care and the home. 

■ Identify and evaluate historical evidence and arguments relating to the lives of diverse women in modern America.

■ Describe and appraise theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches from material culture studies, museum education, gender history and American studies; reflect upon and evaluate their utility to an understanding of modern American women's history.

■ Present research findings in concise and effective prose, incorporating different kinds of substantiating evidence and using a range of formats and media to address scholarly, professional, and public audiences.

■ Engage in lively and well-grounded discussion with fellow students, in seminars and/or discussion forums, including commenting meaningfully on your peers' work.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.