Session 2 08.06.-15.06.

you will study theories concerning the relationship between gender and collective identities from a historical perspective.

Compose a message. 
- explanation of Scott's thesis.
- advantages/disadvantages of gender theory when used to explain the shaping of national identities.

Discussion of messages in pairs

Assignments 

1. Your first assignment will be to briefly explain the thesis of Scott by using the following questions as guidance. 

• What is Scott's definition of gender, and why?
• How should a historian analyse the past - in her opinion?
• What do you think would have been the result if you had performed an analysis like hers on the material you used in phase III? Please give examples!

2. Your second assignment will be to discuss what you think could be the advantages/disadvantages of gender theory when explaining how national identities have been constructed and reinforced.

For instance, what is the relationship between different kinds of identities, as a gender identity, a class identity or a national identity, and so forth?

Refer to Scott's theoretical thinking about gender, as well as her concrete analysis of historical documents and to things of relevance from phase 3.

3. Your third assignment includes discussions with your fellow students. 

IRead each other's answers and explanations (assignments 1 and 2) and discuss whether you are of the same opinion or not. Try to make sure that you have understood Scott's reasoning in the same way.

Discuss in pairs as your messages turn up in the forum. The student who submits the first answer will comment to the student who sends the second answer, and vice versa. The student who sends the third answer will form a pair with the student whose answer is number four in line, and so on. (If the number of students is uneven, the last student in line should make a comment to the student first in line, and ask the same person for a comment on his/her answer as well).

General recommendations:

It is important that you try to write your explanations of Scott in such a way that you think everyone will be able to understand how you have perceived her thesis. This will hopefully encourage comments from your fellow students and stimulate further discussion.