IR223: From First Wave Feminism to MeToo: Women, Rights and Justice

This course provides students with a broad overview of twentieth-century history, politics, and international relations through the lens of women, rights and justice.

These are topics that have grabbed headlines around the world in context of the global struggle for reproductive rights and the aftermath of MeToo. This course offers an insight into these movements’ origins, evolution and intersection with questions of justice, democracy and human rights.

Students will explore how women influenced and were influenced by the First and Second World Wars, the Cold War, Decolonisation, leftist movements in the 1960s, revolutions, authoritarian regimes and struggles related to gender, racial and LGBTQ+ equality. Through broad global, regional and comparative analysis in lectures and in-depth historical study of key women, groups, movements or institutions, students will explore different methodologies for examining history in the 20th and 21st century. The course’s geographical focus is the Americas, including the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, though there will also be opportunities to explore comparisons and contrasts with other parts of the world including Britain, Europe and Asia.

Key topics include:

• First Wave Feminism and the First World War in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean
• The Global 60s, the Women’s Liberation Movement and Black Power •    Women and the Cold War in the Americas
• Third Wave Feminism: Reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ politics in a comparative geographic focus

Learning will take place in and beyond the classroom, with visits to the archival collection at the Women’s Library at the LSE, the Americas collection at the British Library, the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton and the Feminist Library. Led by two leading historians of the Americas and the Caribbean, students will get a chance to learn about the current and existing research and therefore have a chance to discuss with them both the content of the course and questions relating to historical methodology and approaches. 

Prerequisites: At least one introductory course in either social science (e.g. political science, international relations, sociology, economics), history or law

Level: 200 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: One written archive essay (50%) and a final open book examination (50%). 

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

This course is suited to anyone with an interest in international politics and society in the 20th and 21st century. It is particularly suited to those who have an interest in, or have studied an aspect of, US, Latin America and Caribbean history, those looking to expand their historical approaches and methodology or those curious about the history of women, rights and justice. 

Students taking this course will:

• Gain insight into an alternative history of twentieth century international politics and society
• Attain a new awareness of the comparative and connected history of Latin America, the United States and the Caribbean as well as how these areas connect to Britain, Europe and Asia
• Explore and work with archives and with historical primary sources
• Acquire proficiency in different methods and approaches for understanding the past

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.