Gender and imperialism

Creates a dialogue between the histories of imperialism and of women and gender. By engaging critically with both traditional history and colonial discourse analysis, the essays demonstrate how feminist historians can play a central role in creating new histories of British imperialism. Following an introductory survey of the developing field, the book is arranged into three sections, dealing respectively with the imposition and impact of British imperial control, reactions and resistances, and the impact of the Empire within Britain. Chronologically, the focus is on the late-18th to early-20th centuries, while geographically the essays range from the Caribbean to Australia and span India, Africa, Ireland and Britain itself. Topics explored include the question of female agency in imperial contexts, the relationships between feminisms and nationalisms, and questions of sexuality, masculinity and imperial power.