Alexis Widenhouse Prof. Kirsten Paine Representing Adolescence 14 February 2019   (X: A Fabulous Child's Story) "Well, don't worry. You'll all know one of these days. And you won't need us to tell you” (Gould)  The 1970s, historically documented and reiterated in history books as the time in America to be radical. The well-known hipster … Continue reading X: A Fabulous Presentation on the Construct of Gender →

When our class visited Special Collections, one station caught my eye the most-- the comic book section. To be quite honest, I am not really a comic book reader. I do not like or follow any superhero or Star Wars-related  franchise. In the back corner of the comic section was special comic book called Just … Continue reading Reflecting on Just Married #87: “Rebound” →

By Emily Mears A topic that oftentimes arises in this class is gender stereotyping. Through different pieces of literature such as Charlotte Temple and The House on Mango Street, we are able to see how young women are expected to be subordinate, male-dependent sexual beings. In Charlotte Temple, the protagonist, Charlotte, is only displayed as … Continue reading Gender Stereotyping Across Literary Media →

The Famous Funnies comic series is thin, leaflet-sized and bright-coloured. Each comic is about 2-4 pages long and contains a simple message. With a focus on edition #208, published in 1953, the agenda of the comic steers toward war, honour and heroism, given that this time period was in the middle of the Korean War … Continue reading Gender Roles in Famous Funnies →

Bradley Seltzer Throughout the 18th century, the roles and expectations of adolescence were vastly different than they are today. For one, a man’s expected role during this time was clearly more significant and noteworthy than a woman’s, as men were expected to be the breadwinners, whether that be from being a military officer or travelling … Continue reading Differing Expectations Making Impactful Scenes →

Earlier this week, I proposed a question that brought grueling fear, outright disgust, and overwhelming remorse to five 18-year-olds: What did you think about when you were fifteen years-olds? After their initial reactions subsided, my peers’ responded, their answers ranging from acne medication to how Taylor Swift’s single Fifteen was beyond relatable. Unsurprisingly, not a … Continue reading The Absence​ of Autonomy and the Inadequacy​ of Identity →

Much of our discussion regarding The Lowell Offering has emphasized the fact that the writing in each issue is that of adolescent girls in the nineteenth century, and understandably so. The opportunity to read writing for teens, about teens, by teens is a very unique one, and has much to say about adolescent agency. After all, … Continue reading Adolescence and Authorship →

Kaitlyn Miller Kirsten Paine Blog Entry #1 5 February 2018 Within the novel Charlotte Templethere are a variety of themes regarding adolescence and what comes with being considered an adolescent. Charlotte is tested and betrayed—yet she continues to look forward and sees the new possibilities that life has to offer. Even though she decides to … Continue reading The Truth of Adolescence →

Cassi Whitehead   In the many issues of The Lowell Offering, the girls who contribute their articles spend a lot of time focusing on identity and their place in the world, whether they realize it or not.  From their position in the factory, to the role they play in society both in and out of … Continue reading Identity and Perceptions: The Insight Displayed in The Lowell Offering →