Anne Firor Scott discusses feminism and women’s voluntary associations in nineteenth-century America, arguing that women’s actions and lives are too complicated to fit within strict categories of feminist and anti-feminist, but should be regarded on a continuum. Scott discusses the first schools for women’s higher education, in which feminism took root, and concludes by explaining that studying the history of women’s movement provides perspective for contemporary women activists.
At the time of this interview, Scott, a Fellow at the National Humanities Center (1980-81) and trustee of the Center, was professor of history at Duke University.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
