First Ladies of the United States 4219-SF064
This course takes a fresh and engaging look at the role of the First Lady in the United States by examining how different women have defined this position across more than two centuries of American history. Instead of treating First Ladies as one uniform category, it explores how each of them interpreted the expectations of her time, balanced public and private identities, and found her own way of shaping the political and social life of the nation.
The course begin with early figures such as Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, Mary Todd Lincoln, Frances Cleveland, and Edith Wilson, using their stories to understand how the role of the first lady was set and developed, using both informal influence and formal authority. As the course move into the twentieth century, the students will explore the innovative leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt, the cultural impact of Jacqueline Kennedy, the environmental initiatives of Lady Bird Johnson, and the contrasting approaches of Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan. Finally, the course will focus on contemporary examples of Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, looking at today's role of the First Lady and the expectations related to it.
A central aim of the course is to help students develop both social and leadership competences. To do so, a range of interactive methods will be used, including: snowball discussions, creative group projects, short presentations, decision-making scenarios, and role-playing exercises inspired by real dilemmas faced by various First Ladies. These activities give students the opportunity to practice communication, teamwork, empathy, and strategic thinking — skills that to different degree help also the First Ladies themselves to face different political and social challenges.
By the end of the course, students will not only have a deeper understanding of how the role of the First Lady has changed from the Washington administration to the 21st century, but also a stronger set of practical skills.
The course is conducted within the “Integrated Teaching & Learning Development Programme – ZIP 2.0”, which is co-financed by the European Social Fund – the European Funds for Social Development Programme 2021–2027 (FERS) (contract no.: FERS.01.05-IP.08-0365/23-00).
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students:
KNOWLEDGE
- have basic knowledge about the First Ladies of the United States.
- understand the specific role of the First Lady in the U.S., its evolution, and its complexity
- have basic knowledge about the relationship between the role of the First Lady and societal expectations in different periods of U.S. history.
SKILLS
- are able to search for, analyze, evaluate, select, and use information from various sources concerning U.S. First Ladies
- are able to assess the integrity of a First Lady’s public image as well as the nature and effectiveness of her initiatives
- are able to use acquired knowledge to critically analyze the actions and public image of the current First Lady
SOCIAL COMPETENCES
-are able to work effectively in a group, taking on different roles, including leadership
- are ready to apply the knowledge gained during the course to solve cognitive and practical problems
- are able to negotiate their positions and find compromises
- are prepared to undertake tasks that require combining acquired knowledge with creative thinking
- are able to present the results of their own work and their group’s work to an audience, responding to questions and potential criticism from peers
Assessment criteria
The final grade is based on participation points earned by students during class activities. Points are awarded for engagement in discussions, group work, presentations, decision-making tasks, and role-playing exercises, etc. The grading scale is as follows:
100% → 5!
90–99% → 5
80–89% → 4.5
70–79% → 4
60–69% → 3.5
50–59% → 3
The number of absences may not exceed 2.
Bibliography
Core reading:
1. Andersen, Kate. First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies. New York: HarperCollins, 2019.
2. Caroli, Betty. First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.
3. Hendricks, Nancy. America's First Ladies: Their Lives and Their Legacy. Chicago: ABC-CLIO, 2014.
Further reading:
1. Watson, Robert P. (ed.), Life in the White House: A Social History of the First Family and the President's House, Routledge, 2012.
2. Carl Sferrazza, Anthony, First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents’ Wives and Their Power, William Morrow, 1990.
3. Watson, Robert P. The Presidents’ Wives: Reassessing the White House, Lynne Rienner, 2000.
4. Katherine A. S. Sibley (ed.), A Companion to First Ladies. Wiley‑Blackwell, 2016.
5. Carl Sferrazza Anthony, America’s Most Influential First Ladies. Oliver Press, 1992.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: