Kate Law
Thesis Title: 'Public and Political Representations of White Rhodesian Women c.1950-1980'
Start Year: 2008
Email: k.law@sheffield.ac.uk
| Supervisor |
Primary Supervisor:
| Secondary Supervisor:
Dr. Miles Larmer| Research Topic |
My thesis examines representations of white Rhodesian women from the period 1950 to 1980. Focusing on the examples of leading liberals such as Eileen Haddon, Diana Mitchell and Judith Todd I am exploring how these liberal women campaigned to reform UDI society. As well as these high profile figures I have conducted interviews with 30 women all of whom were resident in Zimbabwe during this period. The voices of these women will be used in conjunction with contemporary memoirs and autobiography from the period. My PhD also explores, amongst other issues, how women shaped and influenced Rhodesian nationalism as well as examining the distinction between the notions of the private and public sphere in relation to the Rhodesian state.
| Academic Background |
- MA (Distinction), International History, University of Sheffield
- BA (Hons), History, University of Sheffield
| Teaching |
I have been an Associate Tutor in the department since 2008/09, teaching on HST117: The Making of the Twentieth Century.
| Other Work |
In conjunction with Matthew Graham and Matt Carnell I organise the Imperial and International History Discussion Group. In June we held our annual conference entitled 'The Commonwealth at 60: Transitions, Belonging and Identities' at the HRI. For more information about our activities please see our webpage here.
| Selected Publications |
Published Work
- Forthcoming: 'Making Marmalade and Imperial Mentalities: The Case of a Colonial Wife', African Research and Documentation 112 (2010)
- Forthcoming: 'Liberal Women in Rhodesia: A Report of the Mitchell Papers', History in Africa A Journal of Method 37 (2010)
- ''The Wild West World of BEE': Black Economic Empowerment Reviewed', Safundi: The Journal of South African and American Studies 11 (3) pp.313-323.
- 'Episodes of Ambiguity: Socialism in Zimbabwe, 1980-1985', Australasian Review of African Studies 30 (1) pp.49-63.
Book Reviews
- Forthcoming: 'Whiteness in Zimbabwe: Race, Landscape, and the Problem of Belonging' David McDermott Hughes, Journal of Southern African Studies 2011
- Forthcoming: Derek R. Peterson and Giacomo Macola (eds), 'Recasting the Past: History Writing and Political Work' in Modern Africa Political Studies Review May 2011
- Forthcoming: Steven L. Robins, 'From Revolution to Rights in South Africa: Social Movements NGOs & Popular Politics After Apartheid' Political Studies Review May 2011
Conference Papers
- 8th June 2010: 'Making Marmalade and Imperial Mentalities, The Case of a Colonial Wife' Presented at the 'The Real Story? Personal Papers, Life Histories and Africa'. SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) Annual Conference, British Library, London.
- 4th June 2010: 'Furthering the "colonial project"? White Rhodesian Women and Cultures of Philanthropy', Presented at the Imperial Benevolence Workshop, convened by Professor Alan Lester and Dr. Zoe Laidlaw for the Voluntary Action History Society (VAHS) at University College London.
- 3rd June 2010: '"Sticking Together and Refusing to Budge?" UDI and the formation of Rhodesian Identity', Presented at the University of Sheffield 'The Commonwealth at 60: Transitions, Belonging and Identities'.
- 1st June 2009: 'Colonial Wives: Villains or Victims?', Presented at the University of Sheffield, Department of History Research Colloquium.
- 7th May 2009: 'Drinking Tea, Gossiping and Organizing the Servants' Representations of Colonial Women in Rhodesia, Presented at the Postgraduate Skills Training Workshop, University of Sheffield.