Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
What did the term 'woman' mean in the Middle Ages and early modern period? How were the characteristics of 'femininity' established? How did girls become women? In particular, how did the social norms applying to 'female' and 'male' affect the lives of individuals? This unit investigates how gender was established and acted out in the Middle Ages and early modern period. In particular, it analyses the writings of women themselves, to see how they thought about gender structures, how they influenced the discourses about gender in their own time, and how their own lives impacted on, and were affected by, their historical context. The time span is a long one—700 years of complex cultural interactions between 1100 and 1800 AD. It explores a wide range of female experiences in the medieval and early modern period: women and religion; women, marriage and the household; women in the wider community and finally, women and politics. Students also discover how greatly historians' interpretations of gender relations have changed in recent decades and debate the effects of historical change on the lives of women and men in the past.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face Not available in 2025 Online Online timetabled - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 2 option in the History major sequence
- Level 2 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) describe and assess the basic historiographical issues characteristic of the discipline of History from a wide reading of scholarly studies of gender in medieval and early modern Europe; (2) identify and evaluate the historiographical problems posed by the study of gender in the European past; (3) demonstrate a detailed understanding of gender in Europe between 1100 and 1800 by (a) interpreting a wide range of source material as evidence of gendered perceptions and experiences; (b) defining and applying the modern scholarly concept of gender to the study of European history; and (c) explaining in detail how historical developments affected experiences and perceptions of femininity and masculinity in medieval and early modern Europe; (4) locate appropriate sources for research essays; and (5) present arguments in both written and oral assessments using the conventions of the historical discipline.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) a reflective exercise; (2) a research essay; and (3) tutorial/workshop attendance and participation. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Associate Professor Jacqueline Van Gent
- Unit rules
- Contact hours
- 3 hours per week
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.