HIST 3906A: Gender and Politics in African History

Winter 2027

Course Description:

This course introduces students to debates on gender and politics in African history. It examines women’s political authority, participation, and activism across changing understandings of statehood in pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial Africa. Particular attention will be paid to the ways women have historically interacted with, challenged, and shaped political structures, legal systems, and institutions at local, national, regional, and international levels. The course is broadly organised around themes including pre-colonial political structures and colonial legacies, constructions of femininity and masculinity, spiritual authority, democratisation, violent conflict, sex and sexuality, women’s movements, and contemporary political struggles. We will draw on texts that illustrate a range of sources for African history, including life histories, documentaries, ethnographic texts, poetry and music.