Students spent Monday evening at Cherry Hall learning about gender roles and societal norms of the 1950s through the 1990s through the lens of vintage board games.

Hosted by The History Club and History 498: Senior Seminar, Vintage Board Game Night allowed students to step into the shoes of children throughout America’s past. Societal norms marketed to children of the past through the games allowed students to understand the society of today.

Professor Jennifer Hanley, who teaches the senior seminar, said she likes to find unique ways to teach history.

“Almost anything can become a historical record,” Hanley said.

Bailey Wheeler, a senior history and social studies major, played “What Shall I Be? The Exciting Career Game for Boys” from 1968. The goal of the game is to become a statesman, scientist, athlete, doctor, engineer or astronaut.

There was also a “What Shall I Be? The Exciting Career Game for Girls” with the careers of actress, nurse, model, dancer, teacher or airline attendant.

“I think it was definitely a product of the 60s,” Wheeler said.

Eden Pendley, a senior history and social studies major, played “The Bride Game” from 1971, which had players compete to plan the perfect wedding.

“The representation, as far as race, wasn’t very much in our game, and also the stereotype of the woman does all the planning of the wedding,” Pendley said.

Pendley said vintage board games are a unique way to view the past.

“As you play the board game you kind of put yourself into that time period and what they would have experienced back then,” Pendley said.

Grace Yocun, a sophomore nursing major, attended the event because of a flyer she saw on the way to class.

Yocun played the “Miss America Pageant Game” from 1974, and despite the game being dated, it was fun regardless, she said.

“It was funny hearing the games there were going on at other tables and how different it is,” Yocun said. 

News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at [email protected].