Female Identity and the Seventeenth-Century English Broadside Ballad
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: History and Cultures
Abstract
Based in the field of gender history, my project aims to further our understanding of female identity in seventeenth century England by assessing social constructions of womanhood in seventeenth century English broadside balladry.
Comprising text, imagery, and a tune, ballads were cheap, accessible multi media experiences and were popular throughout English society. The seventeenth century is considered the heyday of the genre, with new and revised songs near-constantly being produced. Balladists drew inspiration from a range of
11 / 25 contemporary occurrences, from local scandal to disturbances that had nation-wide impact, such as the Civil War. Thus, ballads were particularly responsive to popular attitudes and values.
Women too are prominent in balladry in several contexts, including their marital status (maids, wives and widows), their occupations (spinners, weavers and midwives), and their social status (gentlewomen, beggars and prostitutes). Ballad text, imagery and tune interplayed to create discourses about various
female characters. Through a comprehensive and socially representative study of women in seventeenth century balladry, my project will reassess contemporary constructions of female gender identity. The project's temporal structure will allow for the chronological assessment of representations of women, in order to determine the impact contemporary events had on their portrayal.
Comprising text, imagery, and a tune, ballads were cheap, accessible multi media experiences and were popular throughout English society. The seventeenth century is considered the heyday of the genre, with new and revised songs near-constantly being produced. Balladists drew inspiration from a range of
11 / 25 contemporary occurrences, from local scandal to disturbances that had nation-wide impact, such as the Civil War. Thus, ballads were particularly responsive to popular attitudes and values.
Women too are prominent in balladry in several contexts, including their marital status (maids, wives and widows), their occupations (spinners, weavers and midwives), and their social status (gentlewomen, beggars and prostitutes). Ballad text, imagery and tune interplayed to create discourses about various
female characters. Through a comprehensive and socially representative study of women in seventeenth century balladry, my project will reassess contemporary constructions of female gender identity. The project's temporal structure will allow for the chronological assessment of representations of women, in order to determine the impact contemporary events had on their portrayal.
