Subject Area: History
This course can also be studied in the following specialisations: European Studies; Women's and Gender Studies

Behind Closed Doors: a History of the Family in Europe uses the family as a way into the study of the political, social and cultural history of modern Europe. The course examines past and present conceptions of what 'the family' is, the ways in which the makeup of the family have changed over time, and the relation between family, society and politics. The course compares both the historical experience of the family across European societies and the different ways in which the family has been studied and understood. Topics include the analysis of different forms of family and ways of life, family and household, gender and generational relations, migration. The course encourages students to think critically about the family as a historical concept, its representation, and the way in which the study of the family has informed understanding of Europe’s historical development. The course challenges students to question the supposed separation between private and public spheres and encourage them to think about the relevance of the domestic realm to social and political life.