Domesticity & its Discontents (V1348)
Special Subject: Domesticity and its Discontents: Women in Post-War Britain
Module V1348
Module details for 2011 cohort.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Module Outline
Domesticity and its Discontents explores the history of women in Britain from the end of World War Two to the rise of Second Wave Feminism, with a particular focus on the 1950s. The fifties have been associated with the 'new look' in fashion, a movement back into the home and the efflorescence of womens and girls magazines. Recent historiography, however, points to more complex social and economic experiences: the period is increasingly seen as one of contradiction and instability. Historians are beginning to ask new questions about femininity, desire and representation in the period and there is a wealth of comparatively unexplored source material available allowing ample opportunities for original essay and dissertation research.
This module will cover a number of topics including girlhood, sexuality, prostitution, crime, migration, motherhood, employment, domesticity, politics and pleasure, locating these within the wider context of post-war British history. Students will be introduced to a range of source material including social surveys, film, parliamentary papers, magazines, oral history, autobiographies and the Mass Observation Archive and will be instructed in the use of these sources. The module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to a historical understanding of the complex social position of women in the period, the broader context of postwar Britain and the nature of historical representation and change. Our key focus is upon the ways in which historians set about interpreting and understanding the past. What kinds of 'evidence' do they use, and what are the problems involved in using these various kinds of evidence?
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 60.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Exercise | T2 Week 7 | 50.00% |
| Essay | A1 Week 1 | 50.00% |
| Unseen Examination | End of Year Assessment | 40.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Teaching | SEMINAR | 2 hours | 111111111111 |
| Spring Teaching | SEMINAR | 2 hours | 111111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Claire Langhamer
Convenor, Assess convenor
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/102970
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