Analyze the impact that WWI had on European notions of gender, and the subsequent “gender crisis” of the 1920s. Exactly how and why did the World War I challenge established gender roles? How was gender used during the 1920s to discuss and analyze social changes caused by the war? In what ways were fascist policies vis-à-vis the family during the 1930s a response to this “gender crisis”? The “trick” to this essay is to be detailed and specific about these changes—sweeping generalizations that aren’t supported by examples and quotations would result in a weak essay. Be sure to make extensive use of the readings assigned for the units on WWI and the 1920s.
