Collins, Bethany Jane (2022) The Complexity of Royalty: An Exploration into Gender Transgressions and Sexual Deviancy in the Reign of Edward II and the Link Between Gender and Sexuality in Medieval Society. Masters thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
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2232 Collins, B. The Complexity of Royalty (2022).pdf - Accepted Version Available under License CC-BY-NC-ND Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Current historical research regarding both gender and sexuality has been notably biased and lacking. Appropriate research is currently absent regarding both the nature of transgressive individuals, those not acting in accordance with their assigned gender roles, as well as those engaging in sodomitical or ‘unnatural’ sexual and romantic relationships. Many early historians preferred a gendered approach and limited exploration of such topics to perspectives contemporary to the historian, not the historical individuals concerned. Ovesey implores that ‘the concept of homosexuality proposed by Sigmund Freud remains relatively unchanged’ 1. It is this subject that is discussed in this research piece, aiming to begin an exploration into the links between sexuality and gender while maintaining a high level of study into gender transgressions. This topic is large and complex, therefore the inclusion of a singular point in history of which to apply the findings of this research to is a useful tool implemented throughout this research. This study will use the reign of Edward II of England as its point of exploration; this decision was made due to the interesting development of gender and sexuality and the recordings of such transgressions throughout the Plantagenet dynasty. I therefore will be seeking to better understand the nature of transgressive behaviour in the reign of Edward II. This research follows its aim to explore the transgressions of Edward II and those closest to him regarding sexuality and gender. The findings of this exploration evaluate the complexity of such topics thus leading to a discussion of severity of transgressions as well as the subject of differing rules for certain individuals. An interesting anecdote of this research is the severity of which the monarchy is chastised for its transgressions and the double standard of the treatment of male transgressions versus female.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman |
| Divisions: | Theses and Dissertations > Masters Dissertations |
| Depositing User: | Lesley Cresswell |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Feb 2023 13:12 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Feb 2023 13:12 |
| URI: | https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/2232 |
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