Roboforbes

HSWM UN2761

Gender & Sexuality in Africa · History

This course examines the history of gender, sexuality and ways of identifying along these lines in Africa from early times through the twentieth century. It asks how these aspects have…

Who teaches HSWM UN2761

What students said

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

I learned so much from this course! I learned how dynamic and changing gender and sexuality were and are especially throughout history in different African countries. I learned a lot about cultural specificities in different countries/localities and eras in Africa and how colonialism really shaped treatment of and identification with gender and sexuality. I also gained some super useful historical skills including how to treat primary sources and how to think about history in contemporary settings and politics.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

The roles of women and men in pre-colonial Africa in terms of labor, childcare, household duties. Examples of gender being more connected to societal roles that biological sex. Queens and Queen mothers How constructions of gender and sexuality inform religion, militarism, colonialism, modernity, family planning, and nationalism The social meaning of homosexuality pre-colonialism, during, and after; how it changed over time.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

I learned more about culture in Africa in terms of gender and sexuality.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

I learned about the multiple perspectives about African gender/sexuality across the continent including the colonial implications. This is a topic hardly covered and Rhiannon did an amazing job.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

It was a super interesting and accessible course that I think anyone no matter the major could get a lot out of.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

I think it’s a course to take especially if you are interested in African history and culture its so fascinating to see the changes from precolonial to post colonial Africa.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

learned a lot of new perspectives on African history and gender relations

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

One of the classes I've learned the most from during my four years here. We learned about gender & sexuality in Africa through history, including about colonialism's lasting effect on concepts of gender & sexuality today in post-independence African countries. We studied problems in how history is recorded and evaluated. We looked at case studies from specific cultures so as not to generalize the continent. Overall, the course covered so much interesting and memorable material.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

I learned a lot about the impacts of gender and sexuality in Africa in the precolonial and colonial period.

Rhiannon Stephens · 2026 · 2026

really interesting class if you're at all interested in gender relations and/or African histories

More History courses

Plan your semester on Roboforbes — free