Relationships and Well Being: Women and Power in American History

This panel explores how women’s relationships with men have reflected power structures throughout American history. From the “Jamestown Brides” and Indigenous women in colonial North America to 19th-century reformers and 20th-century feminists, marriage and romantic ties shaped women’s roles and perceived value. Reformers like the Oneida community and water-cure advocates promoted gender equality and dress reform, yet women’s autonomy remained limited by male-centric frameworks. By the mid-20th century, women were still judged by romantic success. The feminist movement of the 1960s challenged this, arguing traditional love hindered equality, though internal divides revealed deep tensions. Spanning three centuries, these papers trace how women sought comfort and autonomy in societies that measured their worth through relationships with men.