BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Queer Women in the Second World War in England - Josie Daw – Gra
 duate Student\, History Department\, Wolfson College
DTSTART:20160304T141500Z
DTEND:20160304T142500Z
UID:TALK64986@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Francisco Orozco
DESCRIPTION:My research focuses on queer women during the Second World War
  in England. I have attempted to explore the practises\, spaces\, discours
 es of women expressing same-sex desires in the Second World War. This has 
 frequently been associated as a unique period of toleration for queer indi
 viduals. Through my research\, I have been able to reveal that queer women
  during this period were visible and active in many aspects of wartime lif
 e. I have found that queer women utilised numerous methods in order to exp
 ress their same-sex desires\, as well as occupying a variety of spaces and
  careers. Current historiography suggests that there are few sources for t
 hese women\, but my research shows this is not entirely accurate. My resea
 rch methodology has included reviewing oral testimonies\, examining litera
 ture and films from the period\, analysing reports from the WAAF and ATS r
 eports on lesbianism\, and searching through the Mass Observation diaries 
 and newspaper articles. These sources have shown not only the proliferatio
 n of queer women but also the growing use of the term 'lesbian'. However\,
  they have also demonstrated that this term was ambiguously understood by 
 the wider public. My research has attempted to deconstruct these concepts 
 of wartime sexuality.
LOCATION:Lee Hall\, Wolfson College
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR