Gender, Sex and the Shaping of Modern Europe: A History from the French Revolution to the Present Day

Gender, Sex and the Shaping of Modern Europe explores the key transformations of sexual identities and sexuality in Europe from the French Revolution to the present day. Crucially, its focus is on gender, as it is impossible to understand masculinity or femininity in isolation. The book is designed to introduce students to the major issues surrounding gender and sexuality in modern European history. It is divided into five thematic chapters representing the critical moments in gender history: The Age of Revolution and Enlightenment, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution, Imperialism/Colonialism, Total War in the Twentieth Century, and the Long Sexual Revolution. The authors provide an overview of how gender roles were socially constructed and how they influenced political and economic developments. Throughout, Gender, Sex and the Shaping of Modern Europe presents complex narratives and introduces theoretical perspectives in language accessible to students.