In this course you have a chance to learn about the changing role of women since the 1800s within American Society and Politics. You will learn about some of the leading figures in the USA women's rights movement. In addition, you will have an opportunity to explore how women’s influence and involvement in politics has increased in recent years. We will examine how Hilary Clinton's success in winning the popular vote in 2016 has helped spur on advances for women in present day politics. We will also explore the increased development of women’s role in politics at state level, within the house of Representatives, the Senate and now at Vice Presidential level. Lastly, we will examine the social and demographic change that has helped increase women’s influence in leadership positions. This course will be taught online, with a mixture of lecture based teaching, pupil participation on debate and personal research.
Course aim
It has been almost 100 years since women in the USA gained the right to vote. We will explore the changing role of women in USA politics and society. The course will give you a better understanding of USA society.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
- No skills or experience needed
- This course is suitable for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Explain about USA politics
- Assess the history of USA women's suffrage movement
- Identify how to research history and politics online
- Recognise aspects of past and present USA society
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- Most of your learning will take place in your class, but one or two sessions will be online using WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas, working by yourself or engaging with other students. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- You will be able to keep a record of your progress and achievement using photos, audio, text or documents uploaded into the WEA’s digital learning platform, WEA Canvas.
- Your tutor will provide written, text and audio feedback recorded in WEA Canvas, WEA’s digital learning platform.
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
Download full course information sheet
Women in American Society and Politics from the 19th Century to the Present Day







