Women’s Rights from Past to Present engages students in critical analysis of primary sources to explore ways societal attitudes about gender difference shaped the rights accorded to women. The unit draws attention to the times the denial of women’s rights was challenged, and how the definition of rights has been expanded to be more closely aligned to issues important to the lives of most women.

The excerpted sources are global in scope, selected to represent a wide range of viewpoints, cultures, and eras. Each source has a brief introduction placing it in its historical context. Discussion questions and/or activities and research suggestions follow the readings.

The sources are presented in five stand alone thematic sections, each introduced with an explanatory essay. The sections are:

• Ancient Laws and Influential Teachings
• Women’s Natural Rights: Enlightenment Debates - France and England
• Reform & Reaction: The Nineteenth Century
• The “New Woman:” Early Twentieth Century Debates
• Women’s Rights Are Human Rights

The unit also contains a unit overview, teaching outcomes, correlations to National History Standards and AP World History topics, a glossary, bibliography, relevant internet sites, and ways to use the sources in comparison activities.

Illustrated reproducible unit. 47 primary sources, 132 pages,
Grades 9-college.