Date

1-14-2026

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)

Chair

Mark Edwards

Keywords

religion, education, women, North Carolina, feminization, Nineteenth century

Disciplines

History

Abstract

In the state of North Carolina southern traditions run deep. The strong foundation of religion and family have been a constant in this state. However, not everything about this state’s history has been equal or fair, especially in the case of women and education. It would take the Progressive era for the feminization of southern life and culture to work its way into the lifestyle found amongst North Carolina residents. Women across the state would lay witness to the changes that both feminization and religion brought into their lives. Education would be one major factor that played into the equation for both feminization and religion that would allow new doors to open for women and the new roles they now play in North Carolina’s society.

In order to analyze this interconnection between religion and education it is necessary to dig into state archives, newspaper articles, journals, scrapbooks, interviews and more. But more than that, North Carolina’s three regions need to be addressed separately in order to get a clear picture of the experiences that women had across the state. Women from all walks of life gave witness to the change and not all in the same way. What society and the church expected from women had a major impact on their lives and their future. And as the nineteenth century ends and the twentieth century begins a new ideology is presented with the feminization theory. How does this new idea of how culture and religion impact women? This dissertation explores that journey and how it has led to the current state of women today.

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