History & Area Studies / Thematic History / Social & Cultural History

How White Men Used 'Civilization' to Justify Racism & Sexism: A Shocking History (USA, 1880-1917)

Manliness & Civilization: A Cultural History of Gender and Race in the United States, 1880-1917

Gail Bederman

In this video, we dive into Gail Bederman's groundbreaking book, *Manliness & Civilization: A Cultural History of Gender and Race in the United States, 1880-1917*. Discover how the idea of 'civilization' was weaponized by white middle-class men to link male dominance with white supremacy during a time of social upheaval. We explore four key figures—Ida B. Wells, G. Stanley Hall, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Theodore Roosevelt—who each manipulated this discourse to advance their own agendas, from anti-lynching activism to imperialist expansion. You'll learn how this historical framework still echoes in modern debates about race, gender, and power. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged as we unpack the dark, manipulative side of a concept we thought we knew.