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LA GRANDE, Ore. – “Branding Their Own: Cowgirls, Rodeo, and Rural Feminism, 1890 – 1935” is a project that explores feminism in the rural American West with special attention to ranch women and rodeo cowgirls.
Dr. Tracey Hanshew, Assistant Professor of History at Eastern Oregon University will present for the next EOU Colloquium on March 14, 2024, from 4-5 p.m. in Ackerman Hall.
Competition in the rodeo arena from 1900 to 1935, provided opportunities for women to establish careers both as athletes and in contract performance. By doing so, women gained financial independence unique to that of many women working in other professions.
Rodeo, as the first professional sport for women in America and as a dangerous sport, was an important platform for women to dispel notions that had previously restricted opportunities for female athletes.
In analyzing the social norms of the period, and reactions to rodeo cowgirls who lived in this predominantly male world of extreme competition, Eastern Oregon University’s Dr. Tracey Hanshew argues during her colloquium that rodeo cowgirls stimulated change to greater social norms and that their contributions to feminist progress have largely been overlooked due to their rural status.
Hanshew makes the case that by extending ideals of certain gender impartialities found in rural areas of the West, specifically in working and ranching skills, and the ability to do “men’s work” yet remain feminine, cowgirls provided a foundation for feminist posterity by presenting themselves as equally competent to men athletically, and in their abilities to manage a successful career. Although these women did not self-identify as feminists, their actions aligned with feminists’ principles of equality and autonomy.
« From the President – February 14, 2024 | New Clinical Director at Eastern Oregon University Prioritizes Student Health »
Eastern Oregon University Hosts First New Nature Writing Event with Top Authors and Hands-On Workshops LA GRANDE, Ore. – The EOU Masters of Fine Arts program in Creative Writing is excited to announce its inaugural New Nature Writing Con on July 19-20, 2024. The conference will consist of two days of readings, conversations, and workshops […]Read more
Eastern Oregon University Announces Grand Staircase Construction LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University is set to begin construction on the Grand Staircase this month. Completed in 1929, just after Eastern Oregon Normal School opened its doors, the iconic landmark provides a pathway between the University and downtown La Grande and has been an important […]Read more
Eastern Oregon University Foundation Announces Historic Milestone with Over $1 Million in Scholarships LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Foundation has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing $1 million in privately funded scholarship dollars available for EOU students for the first time in its history. This achievement comes at a critical time when […]Read more