ABSTRACT
In making small talk on airplanes and in waiting rooms, I have often been asked, “What do you do for a living?” If I feel like ending the conversation quickly, I reply, “I teach history.” However, if I am feeling chatty and adventurous, I say, “I am a women’s historian.” The predictable next question or comment is, “What is ‘women’s history’?” or “How is that different from ‘regular’ history?” or “Oh yeah, Susan B. Anthony.” Depending on how long the flight or the wait is, I launch into an explanation of women’s history, an area of research that is almost thirty years old but still a surprise to most out-of-school adults. In this very short essay, I want to tell you a little about women’s history and also about what it means to be a historian.
