March is Women’s History Month! Try incorporating some of these teaching tips to create a dynamic and universal learning environment that celebrates the rich history of women and highlights the often-overlooked stories of women’s pivotal roles in shaping society. It also fosters a more full educational narrative and encourages students to engage critically with the subject matter.
- Incorporate Varying Perspectives and Materials: Ensure syllabi and discussions include voices from a variety of cultural, racial, socioeconomic, and geographical backgrounds. Utilize primary sources, biographies, and scholarly articles reflecting this diversity. The National Women’s History Museum offers an extensive range of resources, including biographies and educational materials and the Women’s History Network offers links to digital resources and archives. Guide students to analyze sources critically, consider the context in which they were created, and discuss the perspectives and experiences of women represented in the materials. Learning about each other is good for all students.
- Use Intersectionality as a Framework: Encourage students to analyze women’s histories through the lens of intersectionality, considering how overlapping identities such as race, class, sexuality, disability and other identities intersect with gender have shaped women’s experiences and opportunities throughout history. Encourage students to explore the complexities of women’s lives and the interconnected systems of privilege and oppression that impact them. The powerful 2016 Kimberlé Crenshaw TED Talk (18 mins) introducing the concept of intersectionality offers a foundational understanding of this concept and can serve as a powerful educational tool. This is a more recent short interview (4 mins) with her that simply summarizes intersectionality.
- Empower Student Voices: Provide opportunities for students to express their own thoughts, experiences, and perspectives related to women’s history. Encourage them to reflect on how women’s achievements and struggles have influenced their own lives and identities. Facilitate discussions on contemporary issues facing women and encourage students to consider how they can contribute to promoting gender equality and social justice in their communities. Discussions can be structured around questions that prompt students to think critically about gender, power, and society. The Association of American Colleges & Universities offers resources on inclusive pedagogy and diversity that can help in framing these discussions and reflections.