If you are studying History, Literature, Sociology, Education  or Cultural Studies, you may be interested in the historical database Defining Gender, 1450-1910. Defining Gender is a collection of original source material from British and European archives, and it is accessible via our Electronic Library and the library catalogue.

The material includes essays, documents and biographies, and there is a useful chronology from 1406-1917.  The documents may be manuscripts, diaries, letters, printed works or illustrations.  They cover a wide range of topics from art, fashion, midwifery, poetry, novels and travel writing, and some conduct and advice literature.  Famous authors include Nicholas Culpeper, Daniel Defoe, Maria Edgeworth, John Locke, Samuel Richardson and Mary Wollstencraft as well as many other writers and illustrators who have contributed to the gender debate.  There are useful essays by researchers.  The images may be downloaded.