presentations 1

The group of Feminist/ Suffrage presenters brought up a number of interesting groups, facts and ideas that I had not yet been introduced too (and some that I had heard of but didn't know as much about). I thought this group also did a great job of identifying issues and ideas that aren't your typical "feminist" research options.

The paper about 3rd was feminism was really interesting. I took a woman studies class a few semesters ago and we talked about a lot of things, but this was one topic we didn't really have time to address. I think the ability of this movement to shift and "keep up with the time" is incredible, also the shift in membership and member identity/ focus. Now that the movement focuses on women of multiracial and multinational identities and back grounds.

One aspect of the pro-life movement which really struck me, and I had never heard of before was the "die-in", in reference to the sit-ins of the civil rights. This tactic is really interesting and I would like to know more about it, how effective is it in "scaring" people or interesting potential new members? I don't know how I would feel to see this happen. Also one of the girls mentioned a book called Iron Jawed Angles? wrote it in my notes but wasn't sure which movement this was associated with.

Finally the Suffrage movement is something that I should know more about but really it is just not well studied or addressed in many mainstream history classes. I didn't know that originally it was attatched with the abolitionist movement (although this makes a lot of sense). It was interesting to hear this part of the presentation because later that night I actually had a conversation with a JMU French professor, who told be that it was only 50 years ago (or something like that) when women gained the right to vote in France. Her grandmother was alive and recounted the story of the first time she could vote, this was amazing to think about!