This inquiry leads students through an investigation that assesses the extent to which gender roles empower or limit the agency of women. In doing so, it provides students with the opportunity to explore how women, specifically Latina and Black women, have utilized various ways to push against social norms and to expand what is considered acceptable for females to achieve in American society. Gender intersects with race in many important ways, therefore this inquiry intentionally focuses on the experiences of Latina and Black women. This is not to say that women of other racial groups do not experience similar social pressures. Rather, this inquiry is attempting to provide a more in-depth perspective for traditionally marginalized female voices.
