TIFFANY ISSELHARDT, GIRL MUSEUM
Proposal Type
Roundtable
Seeking
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
Related Topics
- Material Culture
- Memory
- Place
Abstract
Girlhood is a marginalized space in public history, often confined to bedrooms, nurseries, and courtships. While exceptions exist, they are seen as rare examples of defiance rather than well known expressions of a marginalized culture. Working in public history and girlhood studies, the revelations on how American girlhood is commemorated – and often not just marginalized, but reworked to suit societal level needs – is indicative of the work to be done in repairing girls’ status in American history and culture. I seek to present two related projects on commemorating girlhood, and initial reflections on the process of researching girlhood, and brainstorm ideas on how we as public historians can extend this work.
Description
Looking for panelists or participants interested in girl studies/public history intersections, as well as general feedback on the idea and if work is being done in this sector. My goal would be to discuss the projects and gather feedback on their usefulness, how to address issues found during project research, and how public history methods can help further the interpretation of girlhood at American museums and historic sites.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Tiffany Isselhardt, [email protected]
All feedback and offers of assistance should be submitted by July 1, 2019. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Tiffany, did you see there is another session that seeks to explore the history and interpretation of American Girl Dolls? I think you two should talk!
Thanks, Rebecca! I’ve reached out. 🙂
Hi Tiffany, how does public history research on girlhood meet the current discussions on the fluidity of gender? I would love to see some representation of panelists or part of the discussion speak to this larger context of gender minorities or non-binary gender categories, and how girlhood studies is situated.