Professor Erin Mignin weighs in on the importance of Women’s History
BY : Lauren Johns
Staff Writer
March shines a spotlight on the lesser acknowledged half of America’s population. Women’s History Month celebrates the achievement of those who have been oppressed and denied basic human rights.
Women are scarcely included in American history textbooks. Therefore they are rarely given credit for the numerous obstacles they’ve overcome and their ability to build bridges within a society of strict gender roles.
Meramec women’s history professor Erin Mignin said she understands the importance of keeping historical records on women and often idolizes suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who resided in a culture where good, well-behaved women stayed home, had babies and did the cooking and cleaning.
“If you [were] out there agitating for the right to vote, you’re not doing your job,” said Mignin.
According to Mignin, these women are often left out of basic history classes due to fewer political contributions, only because they were prohibited to do so. They were victims of compromise, living solely to care after their husbands.
Mignin discovered her passion for this particular subject when she was an undergrad in college. While studying the topic in class, she felt a genuine connection to everything that was being said and went on for a minor.
“There was this special moment where I felt like I was learning about myself and others before me who paved the way for the future,” Mignin said.
After earning her degree, she immediately started teaching, moving through several universities until settling at Meramec, where she has been for the past three years.
“The former teacher must’ve not loved it as much as I do,”
Mignin said.
Mignin’s class curriculum is written by Mignin herself and focuses on American history. The class also sheds light on the realities of modern day society. Women are still treated unfairly in the workforce, making 83 cents to the dollar that every man makes, regardless of skill level and time commitment. Mignin pointed out that even though she has a Ph.D, she still earns the same amount of money as a male with a bachelor’s degree. In this way, women need more education to reach the same standards as men.
Regarding modern feminism, Mignin said she believes that many people have the wrong idea about it. While feminism is literally defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes,” many are under the impression that feminism is intended to be revenge for past inequality perpetrated towards women.
“All [feminists] really want is for a young girl to grow up in a world where she can be whatever she wants to be,” said Mignin. “I love these T-shirts that say, ‘this is what a feminist looks like.’ They come in men’s sizes, women’s sizes and child sizes. Anyone can be a feminist, especially men. Fundamentally, it’s just supporting women and their rights to have equal opportunities.”
Regardless of the importance of suffragists and their relentless fight for voting rights, Mignin favors Martha Ballard, a common midwife, healer and farmer in the late 1800’s.
“She did nothing to fight for women’s rights, but she shows us just how strong and powerful ‘average’
relatively obscure women are,” Mignin said. “She lived everyday with integrity and won the respect of family, friends and her community in a world where women were deemed inferior.”
America only knows of her today because she kept a detailed diary.
“At every twist of turn of history, women are out there doing important things,” Mignin said. “Everyday is men’s history. It’s about time the rest of us are given the chance to shine.”
