Gender, Power and Identity in Early Modern England
Module title | Gender, Power and Identity in Early Modern England |
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Module code | HIC3313 |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 30 |
Module staff | Dr Nicola Whyte (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 32 |
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Module description
This module provides you with an opportunity to investigate the meanings and construction of gender in historical context: not just biological difference but also the social meanings attached to that difference. As well as investigating the lives and experiences of women, the module engages with the most recent research on sexuality, masculinity and gender as a key component in early modern power relations. It is concerned with contrasting the myths about gender relations in this period with a close understanding of the documented experiences of the lives of men and women. This module is concerned throughout with the ways historical lines of enquiry have developed over time and how old assumptions are modified in light of new theoretical and methodological developments.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to do two things.
- It provides an introduction to the study of gender relations and how the experiences of men and women relate to broader debates about the social, economic, cultural and political changes taking place in the early modern period.
- The module is designed to ensure that you acquire a firm grasp of academic skills, techniques and concepts in order to develop your skills as independent researchers and critical thinkers.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Display a core knowledge of gender relations in the early modern period, linked to key themes
- 2. Demonstrate critical awareness of the historiography of the period
- 3. Bring primary evidence to bear on your interpretations of secondary arguments about gender relations and social and cultural change
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Analyse and reflect critically and contextually upon historical texts relating to a specific historical period or theme
- 5. Collate data from a range of sources, both primary and secondary
- 6. With limited guidance, understand and deploy historical terminology in a comprehensible manner
- 7. Handle different approaches to history in areas of controversy and work with a range of primary sources
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Show evidence of ability to read and use texts and source materials critically and emphatically
- 9. Combine independent, autonomous study with the ability to work reflectively and collaboratively
- 10. Show evidence of collaboration in group work and oral presentation
Syllabus plan
Through a sequence of linked seminars and lectures you will investigate some of the following themes and issues:
- Ideas and laws regarding women
- Meanings of masculinity and femininity
- The patriarchal state
- Household, family and the lifecycle
- Women, work and the household economy
- Sexuality and the body
- Crime and gender
- Religion and witchcraft
- Gender and popular politics
- Questions of agency
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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33 | 267 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | lectures |
Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | Seminars |
Guided independent study | 267 | Private study and lecture and seminar preparation |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Essay Plan | 500 words | 2-9 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Project essay: Individual written assignment | 40 | 3000 words | 1-9 | Written (coversheet) |
Panel presentation and group discussion | 20 | 30 minutes | 1-7, 9,10 | Written |
Written essay | 40 | 2500 words | 1-9 | Written (coversheet) |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Primary source project essay: Individual written assignment | Themed project part 1: Individual written assignment (3000 words) | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Written essay | Written essay (2500 words) | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Panel presentation and group discussion | Primary source analysis (1000 words) | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Amanda Flather, Gender and Space in Early Modern England (Boydell, 2007)
- A. Fletcher, Gender, Sex and Subordination in England, 1500-1800 (1995)
- Sara Mendelson and Patricia Crawford Women in Early Modern England 1550-1720 (Oxford, 1998)
- Alex Shepard, Meanings of Manhood in early Modern England (Oxford, 2003)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE page: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11318
- EEBO
- JSTOR
- Project Muse
Credit value | 30 |
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Module ECTS | 15 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 6 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 26/01/2018 |
Last revision date | 22/02/2022 |