Sarah Ford | June 10, 2015
The First Step for Putting Women Back in History
[Preservation Tips and Tools] The First Step for Putting Women Back in History from PreservationNation
Gerda Lerner, a pioneering scholar of women’s history, looked back on several decades of research in women’s history and divided it into four phases, each building on the other to reach a complex understanding of the history of women. Lerner saw historians of the 1960s doing what she called “compensatory history” — that is, looking for women and inserting them into male-dominated history. She compared historians of that period to Diogenes with his lantern, seeking simply to find the women.
Today, many historic sites are still wandering with their lanterns, trying to find the women’s stories represented there. Here are some suggestions to help you illuminate the lives of women at a historic place that matters to you, whether it is a historic site or your own home.
Every single historic site is a women’s history site — including the ones you don’t think are. If you think not, look again, and think about what prejudices you might bring to the process. Consider these examples:
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Explore More Articles
Emergency Assistance Fund Compliance: How to Stay IRS-Compliant While Maximizing Employee Impact
Why Emergency Assistance Funds Matter More Than Ever Financial insecurity remains a critical challenge for today’s workforce. Approximately 37% of Americans cannot afford an unexpected…
Open Position – Director of Marketing
Position: Director of Marketing Department: Business Development Reporting Structure: VP, Business Development Exemption Status: Exempt Location: Remote Overview of the Role: Reporting to, and partnering with, the VP,…
Celebrating Juneteenth and Continuing to Work in Solidarity for Racial Justice, Equality, and Equity
June 19 — also known as Juneteenth, or the nation’s second Independence Day — commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, and therefore the nation,…
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.
