HIS-30106: Suffrage Stories: lifestories

School of Humanities

HIS-30106

Suffrage Stories: lifestories

Co-ordinator:

Prof Karen Hunt Room: CBB0.028, Tel:34591

Teaching Team:

Miss Amanda Roberts, Mrs Christine Edge, Miss Jo-Anne Watts

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

3

Credits:

15

150

School Office:

Tel: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for

History Dual Honours (Level 3)
History Major (Level 3)
History Minor (Level 3)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Barred Combinations

None

No

Description

This module allows you to study, in depth, the British campaign to give women the vote that began in the 1860s and which was finally won in 1928.

Many stories have been told about the women and men who gave their energies, health and even lives to this cause. This course looks at the different ways in which historians have interpreted this struggle, the strategies and tactics of the various suffrage organisations and the competing assessments of what finally won the vote for women. Yet it is not only historians who narrate suffrage history in different ways, so did many of those who were actually involved in all sides of this fight. This module is as much concerned with the individual stories of suffragists and those who opposed them as with the accounts of historians. Indeed, during the course we will use the autobiographies, diaries, newspapers, literature, posters and banners produced by the suffrage campaign so that we can explore the relationship between individual experiences and the stories historians have told.

As part of the module, every student will choose an individual woman or man involved in the Edwardian suffrage debate and research their motivations, views and activities in the campaign. At the end of the semester we will hold a hustings where we will debate the issue of women's suffrage from the point of view of these individuals.

By the end of the module you will not only understand why the campaign for women&©s suffrage took so long to achieve its goal and why suffrage history continues to be hotly debated but also why so many people were so passionate about their desire for women to be able to put a cross on a ballot paper. This, therefore, is a module about the many stories told about the fight to give women the vote by those who took part, those who opposed them, those who admire them, those who think they were misguided and those who have reflected on this period in history with hindsight.

This module will consider a range of competing narratives surrounding the campaign for female suffrage in Britain between c. 1860 and 1928, exploring the relationship between individual experiences and the stories historians have told.

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate a range of competing narratives surrounding the history of female suffrage in Britain, c. 1860 to 1928. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
research a critical biography of an individual Edwardian pro- or anti-suffragist and situate that individual within suffrage historiography.
will be achieved by assessments: 1

analyse the significance of secondary/historiographical debates for these topics. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
critically assess primary source materials. will be achieved by assessments: 1

20 hours in seminars
60 hours seminar preparation
40 hours essay research and writing
30 hours examination revision

Description of Module Assessment

01: Essay weighted 60%

One, 2500-word essay
The 'suffrage journey' of an individual pro- or anti-suffragist will be researched and contextualised from primary and secondary sources. The biographical subject of the essay to be agreed with the module tutor.

02: 2 Hour Exam weighted 40%

Two-hour, unseen examination
Two essays chosen from a list of eight questions.

Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.