Women, Colonialism, and Nationalism in Modern Southeast Asia

Catalog description

This upper-division seminar examines the role women played in Southeast Asian history from the 19th century till the present, specifically as the region confronted the challenges of colonialism and post-colonial nation-building. Among key issues covered are (1) the encounter between Western guns and local political systems; (2) race and racism (or, why the other group is always a barbarian); (3) how Southeast Asia became “modern”; (4) decolonization and/or revolution; (4) political, economic and religious challenges in post-colonial nationalism; (5) the intimate and everyday lives of Southeast Asians; and so on. We will work through these themes through the lens of the role of women and women’s groups, examining Western tourists, governesses and wives; sex, prostitution and the control of VD; colonial-era marriage with “white guys” and the biracial children; Islam and women; and post-colonial women political leaders. We will examine these issues within the framework of the political, social, economic and cultural interactions between Britain, France, Holland, the United States of America, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar/Burma. In addition to reading a selection of secondary and primary materials, including poems, biographies, memoirs, and histories, students will also watch music videos and films to understand and analyze the issues. Cross-listed as HIST/ GST 393 . Code 3. G.