Ranchwomen, rodeo girls, and rough riders: The makings of a nineteenth and twentieth century cowgirl

Brisbois, Emma J.

Item

Ranchwomen, rodeo girls, and rough riders: The makings of a nineteenth and twentieth century cowgirl

Brisbois, Emma J.

Date

2025-07-25

Abstract

Despite their iconic place within the history of the American West, a concrete definition of a cowgirl is and what exactly a cowgirl does is yet murky and undefined. Cowgirls and the rich cultural significance that they carry are best understood through a careful examination of their jobs. The three-pronged definition of the cowgirl as proposed within this these are ranch women, rodeo athletes, and outlaws. It is through these proposed occupations that the cowgirl can be defined as such a historically significant and enduringly iconic American figure. This thesis explores the modes by which these occupations allow the cowgirl to gain financial independence, and the ways that these jobs equip the cowgirl with the ability to transform social and gendered norms during the nineteenth and twentieth century.