I took the MSc Gender History in 2021–22. I was meant to start my postgrad studies in London in 2020, but Covid got in the way, and by the time I was ready to apply again, my research interests had shifted such that the Gender History programme was the perfect fit. I was excited to move to beautiful Scotland and to transition from my undergrad research, which had focused on the queer history of the First World War, into women’s history and gender studies more broadly.   

I liked that we received a good introduction to many intersectional aspects of queer and feminist theory, including classic authors such as Judith Butler, Deniz Kandiyoti, and Kimberlé Crenshaw. Our core modules were shaped by each lecturer’s specialism, so we got to learn about topics as varied as the reproductive politics of American slavery; the dress history of the Congo’s fashionable sapeur subculture; and sexualit(ies) in the Scottish occult movement. I also had the opportunity to take modules in global history, which expanded my geographic focus and allowed me to think more deeply about material culture and local archives, as well as a module all about Mary, Queen of Scots, which let me indulge my love of the early modern period—and felt very appropriate whilst living in Scotland! 

My current role is PhD Researcher in History at the University of Birmingham. It involves the conceptualisation, research, and writing of an original doctoral thesis, which will be around 90,000 to 100,000 words long. In order to research my thesis, I have visited archives across the UK, including the Wellcome Library, Senate House, SOAS Special Collections, and the British Library in London, and The Keep at the University of Sussex in Brighton.  

I love archive work and I love reading primary sources, especially the letters and diaries that form the backbone of my source base: it’s like reading historical gossip! I also love exploring the secondary literature, to learn what’s already been said, determine how my work fits into the field, and discover new avenues of enquiry that I might not have thought of myself.  

My MSc research was my introduction to the history of motherhood, which directly informed my original PhD proposal: I intended to research the sexual subjectivities of British mothers, but have since amended my work to the subject of 'Writing the pregnant body in Britain, 1918–1945'. Crucially, my MSc supervisor, Dr Tanya Cheadle, also helped me to find appropriate PhD programmes and, when the time came, kindly wrote me a reference letter which helped me to secure doctoral funding. Without the MSc Gender History, I don’t think I would have ended up in this field, which is a new, exciting, and deeply timely one. I love my PhD work and am so glad that my time at Glasgow led me here! 

My advice to prospective students would be to be prepared for a lot of reading and a lot of writing! (Make sure to actually do the reading, and make notes on it so you have something to say in seminar: those awkward silences aren’t fun for anyone.) You will be exposed to so many new ideas, theories, concepts, and time periods, and while it may be overwhelming, remember that you don’t need to be an expert in everything. Find something that interests and excites you, and keep digging; you never know what you might find and where you might end up.  

First published: 24 August 2025

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