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Noakes, L. 'Gender and British
national identity in wartime: a study of the links between gender
and national identity in Britain in the Second World War, the
Falklands War and the Gulf War.'
D.Phil. thesis completed 1996, Sussex University
Particular use is made of Mass-Observation.
This focuses on the representation of men and women as wartime
citizens on the public stage. Considers how ideas from the Second
World War were re-appropriated for later wars. The thesis concludes
that images and memories of the Second World War, which are central
to ideas of British national identity, often appear to be clearly
shaped by gender.
Abstract: In each case, the thesis examines
the links between gender and national identity in wartime, focusing
on the representation of women and men as wartime citizens on
the public stage, and the ways in which Mass-Observation correspondents'
wartime writing may have been shaped by their gender. The Second
World War is identified as a key moment in dominant, contemporary
ideas of British national identity, and the creation of a widely
shared definition of national identity during the war itself,
and its re-appropriation during the Falklands War and the Gulf
War, is examined. The introductory Chapter explores relevant work
on national identity, gender and wartime, and sets out the theories
and viewpoints which have informed the arguments used here. The
Second Chapter examines the role of the Second World War in British
national identity in more depth, focusing on representations of
the war in contemporary museum displays as a means of illustrating
its importance. Chapters Three and Four return to the Second World
War itself: Chapter Three examining the gendering of citizenship
in the war through a study of army education material and women's
magazines, whilst Chapter Four looks at the wartime writings of
Mass-Observation correspondents, considering ways in which the
writing points towards gendered concepts of national identity.
Chapter Five examines the shaping and gendering of national identity
during the Falklands War through a study of daily newspaper and
the writing of Mass-Observation correspondents. Chapter Six analyses
newspaper coverage and Mass-Observation material from the Gulf
War in the same way. The thesis concludes that images and memories
of the Second World War, which are central to ideas of British
national identity, often appear to be clearly shaped by gender.
Published Works:
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