Week 6 Discussion - Abolition, Slavery, and Women's Rights 

Womans History Questions

Week 6 Discussion Abolition, Slavery, and Women's Rights 

1. In the past few years, the term "woke" has come to mean an awareness of injustices, particularly those of race and gender. With this meaning in mind, is "woke" helpful in understanding women's abolitionist actions and women's rights beliefs and actions in the 19th century? What evidence do you see of dawning political awareness? (You may also think about these movements in terms of political consciousness or awakening instead of using "woke.") Remember to base your response in historical example and evidence from the abolition and women's rights movement.  Your 'stand' on whether woke applies should be based on the historical documents assigned this week. 

2. How would you explain women's paths to political activism in the 19th century, given the social prescriptions for their gender that would seem to confine them to a 'separate' sphere defined by home and childrearing. How might African American women have responded to notions of a separate sphere? Remember to use evidence and examples from this week's readings in your answer.