The twentieth century was a time of great social change in America. One example of remarkable change was in the role of women in American society. Across the country, and particularly in the South, traditional ideas defined acceptable roles and behavior for women. However, some women challenged these norms by pursuing higher education or professional careers at a time when the accepted role for a woman was wife and mother. These trailblazers contested accepted views about women’s abilities and paved the way for continuing change in women’s roles in society.
This site uses oral histories to trace ways in which ideas about women’s abilities and social roles changed in the South over the course of the twentieth century. Listen as these accomplished women recall the opportunities, challenges, changes, and triumphs they experienced as trailblazers in academic and professional careers.
