Undergraduate Course: Gender Identities in Britain during the Two World Wars (HIST10342)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | History |
Other subject area | Economic and Social History |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course highlights the centrality of gender to the analysis of wartime experience in twentieth century Britain and explores how gender identities are socially, culturally and historically shaped. It examines the public construction of gender roles in wartime and considers the ways in which norms of masculinity and femininity were promoted and utilised by the government to mobilise the British population at war. It pays particular attention to the social construction of masculinities in wartime Britain. The primacy of the $ùsoldier hero&© discourse during the world wars has been widely recognised but this course will also address the experiences of those who did not conform to this hegemonic form of masculinity such as conscientious objectors, pacifists and civilian male workers. It will also address the experiences of those held in captivity, either as Prisoners of War or as internees. This course will also examine the ways in which femininity was used to mobilise support for the war and critically analyse the competing narratives of the woman worker and the faithful wife or mother at home. Addressing wide-ranging topics such as sexuality, disability, ethnicity and criminality, this course adopts an inter disciplinary approach which incorporates popular representations from film, literature and the arts. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | A pass or passes in 40 credits of first level historical courses or equivalent and a pass or passes in 40 credits of second level historical courses or equivalent. Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admission Secretary to ensure that a place is available (Tel: 503783). |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 28 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | |
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| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
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WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: 2 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who take this course will be able to:
develop an understanding of the impact of war on society, in particular the relationship between war and the formation of gender identities
acquire knowledge and understanding of modern historical scholarship on war and gender
assess the complex relationship between war and gender identities and the need to critically analyse popular representations of wartime gender roles
to grasp the importance of the social construction of gender identities and the complex ways in which gender identities are shaped and re-imagined at a time of war
demonstrate, by way of essay and examination, an ability to engage with primary and secondary sources in a critical manner
enhance their problem-solving and writing skills, develop greater precision in thought and judgement, develop team-working skills and the ability to deliver oral presentations
formulate appropriate questions and to provide answers to them using valid and relevant evidence and argument
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Assessment Information
A coursework essay (3000 words) accounts for 30% of the total assessment;
one (2-hour) degree examination accounts for 60% and an oral presentation for 10%.
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Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
War and Gender - overview
Soldiers and Sailors - constructions of masculinity in the army and navy Maiming - disfigurement, mutilation, disability and shell shock Aviators - masculinities in the Royal Air Force Women's Work/pro-natalism - the contested role of women: work; motherhood, military service Sexuality - sexual health and disease, femininity, romance Homosexuality - experiences of gay and lesbian recruits in the armed forces Dissent - conscientious objectors, pacifists, criminals Home front masculinities - civilian male workers, organised labour, immigrant 'other'
Captivity - the experience of imprisonment as prisoners of war or internees
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Weekly Seminars |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Wendy Ugolini
Tel: (0131 6)50 3766
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Caroline Cullen
Tel: (0131 6)50 3781
Email: |
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