HIST 4291

HIST 4291

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

Marriage was the widely expected norm within African societies. The institution was an important marker of adulthood, linking individuals and lineages in a network of mutual cooperation and support. Marriage practices and the concomitant gender expectations varied significantly between societies, and over time. As a result, marriage and divorce are especially rich terrain for exploring social history, women's agency, discursive constructions of 'women', masculinity and gender relations of power. This course explores some of the newest scholarship on marriage by Africanist scholars. The readings demonstrate the wide cultural variety in marriage as well as the dynamic relationship between marriage and historical change. They especially highlight women's roles and expectations in marriage, masculinity and the ways men and women negotiated the rules and boundaries of marriage.

When Offered Spring.

Breadth Requirement (GB)
Distribution Category (HA-AS)

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Syllabi: none
  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: ASRC 4291FGSS 4291

  • 4 Credits Stdnt Opt

  • 16735 HIST 4291   SEM 101