MO3082 Women, Gender and Sexuality in the Early Modern Middle East

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Thursday, 1300-1500

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr G Yavuzer Eper

Dr G Yavuzer Eper
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Gamze Yavuzer Eper

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This course is designed as a brief historical survey of women, gender and sexuality in the Middle East in the early modern period. We will examine the historical roots of some of the modern discussions about women, such as their role in a Muslim society in relation to men, their ability to exercise agency, the role of Islam in women’s daily lives, the discussion of the veil, and so on. Although the main focus will be on Muslim women, we will also read and discuss the experiences of Christian, Jewish, and Armenian women in the Middle East as we will try to develop a proper understanding of being a woman in a patriarchal society in the pre-modern period. The primary goal of the course will be to deconstruct the broad category of “Muslim/Middle Eastern women” and to focus on different groups within that category and their different experiences based on social class, religion, age, and their status as free or enslaved women.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS MH2002

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour seminar (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

280

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Develop an understanding of the concept of gender and use it as a category of analysis in a historical study.
  • Gain an awareness of the diverse experiences of women from different social, economic, and religious backgrounds.
  • Analyze the relationship between religion/law/culture and gender.
  • Develop the intellectual ability to gain a deep understanding of Muslim women in different periods, as opposed to some stereotypical images produced by the modern perspective.
  • Develop a comprehensive knowledge of a range of primary sources relating to women, gender and sexuality.