This course is designed to accompany the Cleveland Museum of Art special exhibit, Degas and the Laundress: Women, Work, and Impressionism. The issues represented and implied in Degas’ 30+ portraits of women working as laundresses in late 19th century France are relevant throughout history. In each of four weekly meetings, we will discuss a short story on the theme of women and work. The stories span time (late 19th century to mid-to-late 20th century), place (i.e., France, the UK, the US), and class, but all examine the consistently complex and fraught issues of sexism and oppression around the topic of women and work.

Read: The instructor will provide a new story each week with instructions and an essential question that will focus and guide our discussion.