Gender as a category of historical analysis begins with the acknowledgment that gender is socially constructed and varies by time and place. Historians of gender examine how notions of gender affect the culture, politics, and social practices of people and places in the past. In doing so, they provide insight into the gendered behavior and practices of the present.T he History Department also hosts the Rural Women's Studies Association website. More detailed information about listed faculty can be found on their faculty biography pages.