The 2024 Election, the MAGA Movement, and Its Relationship to the Status of Women in Society
H&G15-10-Thu2
Saul Schapiro
This course will take place in person at 60 Turner Street. The room will be equipped with a HEPA air purifier.
September 12 - November 21
(No Class October 3)
This course will explore the relationship between the status of women in America from the founding of The Republic until the present time that has contributed to the ever-widening divisions in our political and cultural institutions. Red States and Blue States, as well as our secular and religious institutions, are increasingly focused on the traditional roles that women have played in society, as well as gender and sexual orientation. The recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court relating to reproductive health and abortion rights have brought new attention to these issues relating to women in society, the rights of women to control their own bodies, the rights of LGBTQ people, and even the right to marry.
We will trace the historical antecedents of the present societal conflict leading up to and following the 2024 elections. We will examine how norms characterized as traditional values, family values, or Christian values delineate the “proper” role of women in society. We will explore the conscious and subconscious ways that gender differentiation has historically been accepted in America, how this has changed in recent times, and the degree to which bias persists. Finally, we will attempt to understand how reactions to change and the rate of change, differ amongst various subsets of the population based on class, race, religion, and culture of origin.
More facilitated discussion than lecture.
References and links to online materials will be provided that will be helpful for the discussion as the course progresses. A bibliography of books and articles will be provided that will be helpful for anyone who wants to go into greater depth on the subjects discussed in class.
1 -2 hours per week.
Saul Schapiro is an attorney who is a graduate of City College of New York and Harvard Law School. His practice was divided between litigation and transactional matters. Saul has taught several courses at BOLLI concerning the relationship of law to societal organization, including a course on race relations from the perspective of the US Supreme Court, Supreme Court decisions at inflexion points in American history, and the way the United States government operates in theory and in practice.