When Sharon Seager was a student at Rice University in Houston, Texas, women's history ceased to exist.
"There just wasn't an interest in such a subject at the time," said Seager, a Ball State history professor. "If you were to bring it up, you'd find yourself being ridiculed."
After Seager graduated from the small university with a doctorate in American history, she began teaching at Ball State in 1966.
In the 36 years she has been with the university, Seager has taught courses about the Civil War and reconstruction, the history of the American South and women in American history.
In the early '70s, Seager collaborated with faculty member Betty Newcomb, a former instructor of English, in the development of a women's studies course for the university.
"Betty and I had talked one evening after a summer program that had been held in '71 on women's issues," Seager said. "A variety of speakers had been brought into town, most of whom Betty knew or had contacted as a member of the National Organization for Women."
Seager said the forum, "Adam's Angry Rib: Women on the Move," was only one example of how the feminist movement had reached Ball State.
"This was something that was happening throughout the country at the time," Seager said. "The feminist movement had gotten underway in the late '60s, and was really reaching its peak in the early '70s.
"It was drawing lots of attention from the media, the public and protests, and there was a real excitement and energy to what was going on."
In Spring 1972, Seager, Newcomb and Vogel began instruction of ID 210 (now WMNST 210), the first women's studies course of its kind at the university.
Because ID 210 was an interdisciplinary course, various departments soon took note of its development and began creating courses in women's studies as early as 1974.
By 1977 more than 12 courses were being offered on subjects such as "Culture and Women" and "Women and Politics," and in 1980 the Women's Studies Committee received approval from the university to create a new undergraduate minor in women's studies.
Seager continued to teach the interdisciplinary course for several years before she worked to develop a history course titled "Women in History" - a class she continues to teach today.
Seager said when she and Newcomb had first decided to join together with former sociology instructor Marie Vogel in the creation of the women's studies course, it was at a time when many Americans had begun to examine the role of women in society.
"By then, people had reached the point where they were asking about women and their involvement in writing, history and research," Seager said. "Many were bringing up the question 'What were women doing?'"
After undergoing a bureaucratic process in order to create the course, Seager said the group had initially received help from former Dean of Undergraduate Programs Victor Lawhead in its formulation.
"What we were a part of was sort of new," Seager said of the course's fundamental development. "At the time, we couldn't have known how far the course would have gone."
Seager said many of the issues being addressed by the women supporting the feminist movement in the '70s ranged from changes in terms of work patterns, women's relationships with their husbands and children and the questioning of women's equality to that of their male counterparts.
"Within the world of Ball State there were arguments about the movement," Seager said. "People went back and forth about whether it was a good thing or not, and if academic disciplines should change because of it."
After teaching the ID 210 course, Seager continued to be heavily involved with the Women's Studies Committee, chairing the group in the early '80s, and serving as acting director of the Women's Studies Program in 1991 and 1992.
Because of her involvement with its development, Seager said she is pleased with the continued growth of the Women's Studies Program.
"I would certainly say I'm proud of this program," Seager said. "It's come a long way in the past 30 years, and it's exciting to know I was a part of something that has brought on such a major change for this area."
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