GH 101: Wicked Women of the World

Throughout time and place, there have always been women who rocked the boat and challenged societal norms.  Politicians, wives, social workers, mothers, daughters, spiritual leaders, sex workers, elder women, young women, scholars, activists- these are just some of the identities of the women who have shaken their communities by pushing back against the constraints placed on them.  This course exams "wicked women," the women labeled as "bad" or "disruptive" within their communities and countries.  We will explore why women's actions often lead to them being identified as problematic members of their societies and examine the context of the societal expectations that these "wicked women" challenge through their words and actions. 

Instructor: Dr. Andrea Arrington

Dr. Arrington is a faculty member of the Department of History and the African and African American Studies Program. She writes extensively about colonial development in southern Africa and gender in Africa and is currently working on a project about maternal and neonatal health care in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Arrington conducts research in Zambia and Zimbabwe, leads study abroad groups to Ghana, and has traveled, lived, and studied all over southern and west Africa.

Please contact Dr. Arrington with any questions about this course.