When "Feminism" Is Scary: Teaching Premodern Women's and Gender History in Arkansas

Teaching a feminist premodern history at a state university in Arkansas requires both the unpicking of preconceptions and the provision of a foundation largely absent in K12 education. Moreover, the fact that Women’s and Gender Studies is officially among the programs frowned upon by the state government that funds my institution can make decisions about textbooks, assignments, and course structure more challenging. I will discuss strategies I’ve used for incorporating women’s and gender history into the premodern global survey, a core course for social studies students, and upper-level courses.