HIST/WMST 770

Readings in European Women's and Gender History: Gender, Politics and Citzenship in Modern European History, 19-20. C.

(Graduate seminar)

Karen Hagemann

The field of modern European women’s and gender history is after more than thirty years of research an established field that could not be ‘covered’ by a single course. Therefore the course will focus on one of the most promising topics: the gendered history of politics and citizenship in 19^th and 20^th century Western Europe. The focus is on gendered constructions of politics and citizenship, gendered forms of protest, the history of the new and old women’s movement, political activism of women and men in patriotic and national movements, female and male participation in political parties and governmental politics, and the gendered politics of the state and political parties. The course is designed to provide an introduction to the development of the research, familiarize students with its themes, theories and methodologies, and point out possibilities for future research.

The course will read books more or less in the order they were published, rather than go through the period itself chronologically. The purpose is to give students some sense of how the field itself evolved as topics, methodologies, analytical frameworks developed in dialectical relation to each other.

The heart of the seminar is the discussion in class. The success of this discussion depends on the preparedness of all students. Everyone should have read the week’s assigned book before class. The sessions will center on their discussion. Participating in a group discussion is important both as a skill and as a learning opportunity. Preparation for and participation in the class discussions are therefore key requirements for this seminar.