Gender and Empire: Contested Meanings and Divergent Practices

Drawing on recent historical research that introduced gender as an analytical concept into the study of empire, this course seeks to explore a variety of discourses and practices that forged the notions of masculinities and femininities in imperial consciousness and redefined the roles of men and women in colonised societies. Moving between pre-colonial, colonial and contemporary times, the course examines the continuities and changes in gender relations in the context of the variety of economic, social and cultural systems which developed in the European colonial empires. Following the examination of the impact of 'empire' (in the widest use of the term) on the formation of European consciousness and political practices, the course analyses the extent to which these policies affected gender relations by examining particular cases studies in specific geographical contexts (primarily Africa and India). It chiefly looks at the main transformation of gender relations throughout the colonial and post-colonial periods, although attention will be also given to the features of the relationship between men and women in pre-colonial contexts. Topics include: the impact of imperial possessions on both literature and on masculinities and femininities, pre-colonial patterns of gender relations in Africa and India, the impact of colonial policies on the status of men and women and different forms of resistance against, collaboration with and adaptation to imperial policies and cultural models. Credit Level: 11 Year Taken: Postgraduate

Not running in 2025/26