Introduction
A Trailblazer is a person who leads the way in any new field or endeavor; someone who is among the firsts in a particular field. Another related word is pioneer. In this activity, you will explore the contributions of five Arkansas women who were trailblazers in their professions. All of them entered male-dominated professions at the time when many Americans, both men and women, considered such decisions to be inappropriate for women. All these women defied social expectations related to their gender. Three of them also defied social expectations related to their race as they entered professions not only considered more appropriate for men but also dominated mostly by white men.
You will examine five photos that will help us learn how expectations for professional women changed over time and how some of them stayed the same.
Activity Questions
Dr. Joycelyn Elders, pediatrician and public health administrator
Photo 5: Dr. Joycelyn Elders (b. 1933), pediatrician and public health administrator. She was the second woman, second person of color, and first African American to serve as Surgeon General of the United States, ca. 1980. Horizons: 100 Arkansas Women of Achievement Records, 1980 (UALR.MS.0037)
- Examine each of the five photos and read a caption by each photo. Who are the women in the photos? Write down their names and professions.
- Look at your list of five women and five professions. Which of these five professions is still dominated by men today? In which of these five professions are there more women than men today?
- Are there racial disparities in any of the five professions today? Do white men and/or white women still dominate in any of these five professions?
- Do you know any women who work in any of these professions today?
- Read the Encyclopedia of Arkansas articles about these five women listed in the “Context” section. How did each of them contribute to her field? In what ways were they trailblazers in their professions?
- Choose one of the five women and research her life and contributions. You already have two sources: the photo and the Encyclopedia of Arkansas article. Find at least two additional sources about her and write an essay titled [Name*]: The Arkansas Trailblazer.
* Enter the name of the individual you chose.
Primary Sources
To learn more about the primary sources featured in the activities above, click the following links:
Arkansas Social Studies Standards
Arkansas History, Grades 7 – 8
- Strand: History
- Content Standard 7: Students will examine the impact of historical events and people on the development of Arkansas
- H.7.AH.7-8.9 Examine social and cultural transformations in Arkansas
- H.7.AH.7-8.10 Research contributions made by Arkansans in the fields of art, medicine, politics, science, and technology in the 20th and 21st centuries
Arkansas History, Grades 9 – 12
- Strand: Era 6: Modern Era 1968 to Present Content
- Standard 6: Students will assess ways that the actions of individuals and groups have changed over time and are shaped by the historical context of the Modern Era.
- Era6.6.AH.9-12.2 Examine effects of social and cultural transformations on various segments of the population across Arkansas
- Era6.6.AR.9-12.5 Research contributions made by Arkansans in the fields of art, medicine, politics, science, and technology
Key Terms
More Information
- Charlotte Andrews (Lottie) Stephens (1854–1951): https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/charlotte-andrews-1772/
- Roberta Waugh Fulbright (1874–1953): https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/roberta-waugh-fulbright-1653/
- Florence Beatrice Smith Price (1887–1953): https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/florence-beatrice-smith-price-1742/
- Charlie May Simon (1897–1977): https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/charlie-may-simon-41/
- Joycelyn Elders (1933–): https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/joycelyn-elders-2240/
Downloadable Guides and Handouts
We encourage K-12 educators to use History Alive: Virtually! in a way that will best match their classroom needs. The “Exercise” handout includes a complete exercise as featured on this website, the “Primary Sources” handout includes only primary sources used in the exercise, and the “Questions” handout includes analytical questions from the exercise but is editable and can be easily changed to best match students’ needs.
Trailblazers (Grades 7-12) – Exercises