Amy Denniston and Women’s Progress Work in Interwar Panama

In 1929 the Panamanian newsweekly, the Panama Tribune, inaugurated its "Of Interest to Women" section. Through an examination of the work of the first editor of this section, Amy Denniston, this paper examines the gendered nature of progress work in interwar Panama, and the double standard placed on women to brilliantly serve while also remaining at the background of communal change. The paper likewise explores how women like Denniston attempted to go beyond confining definitions of womanhood, and instead presented women as full actors in the intellectual and visionary work required in promoting a vibrant isthmian community. In all, my paper assesses the difficulty of advancing female-led intellectual work, even in mediums created to promote communal solidarity, and looks to the writings of women like Denniston for insights on how early twentieth century women affirmed the centrality of their role in envisioning communal progress and change.