From the 1940s, throughout the Americas new ideas of national sovereignty and popular political culture extended citizenship beyond voting rights to other social forms of belonging, including the right to consume. Economic expansion gave new political meanings to ordinary purchasing acts. The pursuit of a “dignified life” transformed women into responsible guardians of the domestic economy. “Pocketbook politics” became the engine for political conflict and national politics; anger over food scarcity toppled governments. Beyond domestic daily life, food became central in class formation, national identity, and political organizing. By connecting issues of gender, domestic work, and the politics of economic development, we focus on the critical importance of women’s roles as consumers, cooks, community builders, and political actors in various countries of the 20th-century Americas.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Prerequisites: Normally open to juniors and seniors who have taken a 200-level unit in history and/or a 200-level unit in a relevant area/subject.

Distribution Requirements: HS - Historical Studies

Typical Periods Offered: Every other year

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall

Notes: