Presentation Type
Poster
Number of Presenters
1
College or University
Arkansas State University
Department
History
Faculty Mentor
Justin Castro, jcastro@astate.edu
Student Level
Undergraduate student(s)
Abstract
Throughout the twentieth century, women's activism in Arkansas existed on a spectrum. From sweeping, state-wide movements to incremental shifts in local policy, many women united across racial lines and socioeconomic differences to bring about positive change for all Arkansans. Thousands of unnamed rural women worked directly and indirectly with public figures such as Adolphine Fletcher Terry and Daisy Bates to improve access to healthcare, education, and a better quality of life. For these women in Arkansas, I argue that the intersectional nature of their activism is precisely the reason for their greater successes.
Recommended Citation
Hennings, Laura L., "A Cord of Three Strands is Not Quickly Broken" (2025). Arkansas Liberal Arts and Humanities Day. 2.
https://arch.astate.edu/humanities-day/2025/2025/2
A Cord of Three Strands is Not Quickly Broken
Throughout the twentieth century, women's activism in Arkansas existed on a spectrum. From sweeping, state-wide movements to incremental shifts in local policy, many women united across racial lines and socioeconomic differences to bring about positive change for all Arkansans. Thousands of unnamed rural women worked directly and indirectly with public figures such as Adolphine Fletcher Terry and Daisy Bates to improve access to healthcare, education, and a better quality of life. For these women in Arkansas, I argue that the intersectional nature of their activism is precisely the reason for their greater successes.
