Education

Rethinking American Feminism: 1948-1977
NEH Institute for K-12 Educators at New-York Historical 
In-Person: July 11-22, 2022
Virtual: September 20, October 18, and November 15, 2022, and January 14-15, 2023

Institute Overview

The New-York Historical Society is delighted to announce an exciting new teacher institute that will convene 30 teachers in grades K-12 and 19 guest scholars, filmmakers, and activists to explore the history of feminism in 20th century America. This hybrid institute includes two weeks in person at the New-York Historical Society from July 11-22, 2022, virtual evening sessions on September 20, October 18, and November 15, 2022, and a culminating virtual weekend on January 14-15, 2023.
 
Rethinking American Feminism: 1948-1977 will empower teachers to incorporate the voices of a diverse range of women into their instruction on 20th century US history through interactive pedagogy workshops, conversations with guest faculty, gallery tours, and more. The years between 1948 and 1977 are studied and taught as an era of extensive and overlapping social movements, organized in pursuit of civil rights, power, liberation, peace, and more. The “women’s movement” and “second-wave feminism” appear among these movements in history textbooks and popular discussions, but they are still often taught in limited ways that privilege the words of a few elite, white women in a few short years. Rethinking American feminism, as activists did throughout these years (and as a wealth of scholarship has done since), requires both broadening the scope of study and analyzing the many meanings of this idea. This Institute will emphasize the study of women traditionally left out of the historical narrative, including BIPOC women, LGBTQ+ women, and women of other marginalized groups. By studying and celebrating the contributions of women across many categories, teachers will be better equipped to break down the stereotype of a single narrative of women’s history and help students—particularly female students—see themselves in the past.
 
Through scholar conversations, film screenings, and field trips, participants will build their content knowledge and feel empowered to point out evidence of feminism throughout the 20th century and articulate how the fight for gender equality emerged alongside the many movements (civil rights, labor organizing, anti-war, etc.) that their curricula require.

Depending on public health guidelines related to COVID-19, plans for the residential offering are subject to change.

This institute has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this institute do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
 
COVID-19 Considerations

In accordance with New York City’s Key to NYC program, all visitors to New York City museums age 12 and over are required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. As such, all applicants who receive an invitation to participate in the Institute must provide proof of vaccination when accepting their offer. This will ensure that all participants are able to enter our building and participate fully in our in-person program at N-YHS and our field trip / partner locations. 

Other protocols, including masking and social distancing, will be determined and clearly communicated when offers are made to accepted applicants. All participants will be required to adhere to the safety protocols put in place by New-York Historical Society staff. 
 
Click here to apply!
 

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.