Reading and Writing Workshop
Women's History in The 1980s and 1990s
Theme: Shifts in Feminism and Gender Politics
Workshop Structure:
This workshop consists of five sessions, each dedicated to a specific theme from the 1980s and 1990s. Each session includes a discussion on historical context, readings from public domain works, and a creative writing exercise.
Session 1: The Rise of Conservative Backlash – Phyllis Schlafly and the ERA Debate
Discussion Topic:
"What’s Wrong with Equal Rights for Women?" by Phyllis Schlafly (1972)
Access at: awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2016/02/02/whats-wrong-with-equal-rights-for-women-1972
Writing Prompt:Write a fictionalized debate between two women—one supporting the ERA and one opposing it—set in the 1980s. Explore their motivations, societal pressures, and personal experiences.
Session 2: Women in the Workplace – Challenges to Gender Roles
Discussion Topic:
"Women in the Workplace: The 1980s and Beyond" – U.S. GAO Report (1985)
Access at: gao.gov/products/ols-85-1
Writing Prompt:
Write a personal essay from the perspective of a woman in the 1980s entering a male-dominated workplace. Include her struggles, victories, and reflections on gender roles.
Session 3: Women in Politics – The Rise of Female Political Leaders
Discussion Topic:
Access at: loc.gov/item/lcwaN0028152
Writing Prompt:Write a campaign speech for a fictional female politician in the 1990s. Address key issues such as women’s rights, healthcare, and family policies.
Session 4: LGBTQ Plus Women and the Expansion of Feminist Activism
Discussion Topic:
"ACT UP Oral Histories" (First-person accounts of activism)
Access at: loc.gov/item/afc2020025
Writing Prompt:
Write a diary entry from the perspective of an LGBTQ plus woman involved in feminist and AIDS activism in the late 1980s.
Session 5: Creative Showcase – Feminism, Politics, and Change
Activity:
Participants will share and workshop their writing from the previous sessions. This will be a reflective session where attendees discuss what they learned about gender politics and feminism in the 1980s and 1990s.
Writing Exercise:
Revise one of your previous pieces into a manifesto speech or personal essay about feminism during the late 20th century.
This version properly formats URLs without direct links and follows your instructions precisely.
Theme: Shifts in Feminism and Gender Politics
Workshop Structure:
This workshop consists of five sessions, each dedicated to a specific theme from the 1980s and 1990s. Each session includes a discussion on historical context, readings from public domain works, and a creative writing exercise.
Session 1: The Rise of Conservative Backlash – Phyllis Schlafly and the ERA Debate
Discussion Topic:
- The rise of the conservative movement in response to second-wave feminism.
- The role of Phyllis Schlafly in opposing the Equal Rights Amendment ERA.
- The ideological battle over women's roles in the home and workplace.
"What’s Wrong with Equal Rights for Women?" by Phyllis Schlafly (1972)
Access at: awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2016/02/02/whats-wrong-with-equal-rights-for-women-1972
Writing Prompt:Write a fictionalized debate between two women—one supporting the ERA and one opposing it—set in the 1980s. Explore their motivations, societal pressures, and personal experiences.
Session 2: Women in the Workplace – Challenges to Gender Roles
Discussion Topic:
- The impact of Title IX on education and athletics.
- The ongoing struggle for equal pay and workplace rights.
- Workplace discrimination and sexual harassment e g Anita Hill testimony.
"Women in the Workplace: The 1980s and Beyond" – U.S. GAO Report (1985)
Access at: gao.gov/products/ols-85-1
Writing Prompt:
Write a personal essay from the perspective of a woman in the 1980s entering a male-dominated workplace. Include her struggles, victories, and reflections on gender roles.
Session 3: Women in Politics – The Rise of Female Political Leaders
Discussion Topic:
- The impact of Geraldine Ferraro Vice-Presidential candidacy 1984.
- The growing number of women in Congress in the 1990s.
- The role of Hillary Clinton as First Lady and later a senator.
Access at: loc.gov/item/lcwaN0028152
Writing Prompt:Write a campaign speech for a fictional female politician in the 1990s. Address key issues such as women’s rights, healthcare, and family policies.
Session 4: LGBTQ Plus Women and the Expansion of Feminist Activism
Discussion Topic:
- The role of Lesbian and Queer women in the feminist movement.
- The impact of AIDS activism and groups like ACT UP.
- The emergence of intersectional feminism and its impact on gender politics.
"ACT UP Oral Histories" (First-person accounts of activism)
Access at: loc.gov/item/afc2020025
Writing Prompt:
Write a diary entry from the perspective of an LGBTQ plus woman involved in feminist and AIDS activism in the late 1980s.
Session 5: Creative Showcase – Feminism, Politics, and Change
Activity:
Participants will share and workshop their writing from the previous sessions. This will be a reflective session where attendees discuss what they learned about gender politics and feminism in the 1980s and 1990s.
Writing Exercise:
Revise one of your previous pieces into a manifesto speech or personal essay about feminism during the late 20th century.
This version properly formats URLs without direct links and follows your instructions precisely.