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This course examines the connections between gender and militarism with a focus on 20th century Africa but crucial relevance to the rest of the world. A word of caution: while the course will often pay particular attention to certain groups of women, it does not conceive ‘gender’ as being synonymous with ‘women’! In a first step, students will be introduced to different definitions and understandings of both gender and militarism as well as fundamental questions such as whether gender is an appropriate and applicable concept in African contexts in the first place. Drawing on a wide range of research on West, East and southern Africa, students will then critically engage with different aspects of the relationship between gender and militarism that include: militarized versions of masculinity and femininity; gendered histories of colonial armies; the gendered politics of liberation struggles; the role of women in military states and institutions; and women’s support of and resistance against militarism. Students will submit two shorter, ungraded essays to help them prepare for the examination, which will be in the form of a final paper. |
