​Our history is our strength

Dr. Ashley Baggett is a professor at NDSU. She teaches history, philosophy and religious studies. She will be leading a panel discussion on the women’s movements of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s at the Radisson this coming Saturday. The panel is part of an oral history project completed last fall by the students in her Women in American History class. The students interviewed women living in the Fargo area who grew up in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.

Dr. Baggett was kind enough to answer a few questions about the panel, her interest in history, and an intriguing new book in the works.

HPR: What sparked your interest in women's history/gender studies?

Dr. Ashley Baggett: History in general cannot make sense if you leave out half the population. Gender expectations are constantly defined and redefined, and those beliefs shaped much of our history. As I became more aware of pressing social problems, especially sexual assault and intimate partner violence, I committed myself to making a difference. Understanding history can inform our current decisions and interactions, and to that end, I always hope my research, teaching, and outreach effect a positive change.

HPR: Is there a certain area that is a special area of interest?

Dr. Baggett: My research focuses on 19th century women's history, particularly gender based violence. Rather than a linear progression towards eradicating the problem, social expectations of gender have been defined and redefined, and those expectations have informed and shaped our views on issues such as intimate partner violence. Understanding how gender norms have changed over time then is critical to addressing these pressing social issues.

HPR: I saw on your NDSU profile that you are under contract to write a book called: Strike Me If You Dare: Intimate-Partner Violence, Gender, Race, and Reform in New Orleans, 1840-1890.

How is that coming along and what is the most interesting thing you have come across in your research thus far?

Dr. Baggett: My book is currently in the copy editing stage and due to be published in November this year.

Finding women's voices on intimate partner violence during the 1800s was challenging to say the least. I did, however, uncover hundreds of women testifying about verbal, physical, economic, and psychological abuse. They defied conventional beliefs of women remaining silent and told judges about the abuse in detail. At times, I had to step away from the cases because emotionally they were very difficult to read, but I realized the best way to help would be to write about these women because their voices mattered then and still matter now.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the research was how much these 19th-century women had in common with survivors of intimate partner violence today. These women I researched described a cycle of abuse we see in abusive relationships now. They also discussed reasons for staying or deciding not to prosecute that are some of the same reasons articulated presently.

Intimate partner violence wasn't "a part of life" or something people didn't see as wrong for much of American history. Women during the late nineteenth century recognized their most intrinsic right as human beings shouldn't be ignored because of their sex and demanded freedom from violence. Basically, intimate partner violence wasn't a problem specific to the twentieth century. Legal reform on abuse is closely tied with how we perceive men, women and relationships.

HPR: What separates the women's movements of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s?

Dr. Baggett: The women's movement of the ‘50s/’60s/’70s in many ways bleeds together. There is a push towards addressing inequality, but the tactics and focus shift. The women's movement perhaps can be better understood by breaking the periodization into the ‘50s/early ‘60s and late ‘60s/’70s. The earlier part focused more on equality in work, pay, and so on. They largely utilized the legal system to create top down change. The later portion sought to revolutionize how we understood gender to achieve true change and equality. Tactics shifted to consciousness raising and altering social attitudes (bottom up change). The panel discussion is an effort to highlight local women's experiences during those important decades- both their struggles and successes.

The women in my research and the women interviewed for the class project navigated power structures at critical moments in history. While each one's experience varied, the strength of these women to overcome obstacles and demand justice is inspiring. Their voices and not just those of well-known women need to be heard. After all, "our history is our strength."

HPR: how much progress do you think we have made since the women’s movements of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s?

Dr. Baggett: Oftentimes, people see history as a path towards improvement, but history is rarely so distant or simple. While there are differences in what women experienced during the 1960s and the present, we would be remiss not to see the similarities. There is a danger in viewing history as a straight path of progress even if it is comforting to view the past that way. Essentially, in speaking of current progress, we still have much to do.

IF YOU GO:

Women’s movements in the 50s, 60s and 70s

Saturday, January 14, Program starts at 12pm

Radisson Hotel Fargo, 201 5th St. N, Fargo

For more information: farmoor.aauw@gmail.com