Gendered perspectives in archaeological narratives of the Danish Bronze Age : deconstructing the binary approach
Utilising a gender critical perspective augmented by statistical analysis, this thesis examines the binary approach customarily employed throughout archaeological narratives pertaining to the Danish Bronze Age. In respect to the recent development of feminist scholarship in archaeology regarding concepts of gender, identity and the body in prehistory, it is argued that a binary approach, which views prehistoric society as having been structured according to rigid male-female oppositions, places inappropriate restrictions upon evidence relevant to the study of gender in Bronze Age Denmark. To decipher the meaning encoded in any type of evidence related to gender ideology a perspective which emphasises contextual analysis rather than assumed heteronormativity is essential. In addition, statistical analyses of data from a representative sample of the mortuary record reveal that continuous implementation of the binary approach in the documentation of funerary remains has effectively corrupted the integrity of the evidence. The results of this investigation have significant consequences for the study of gender and societal organisation in the Danish Bronze Age. Gender categories valued by contemporary western ideology
Jones, Megan Elizabeth
gender ; identity ; Bronze Age ; Denmark
Gendered perspectives in archaeological narratives of the Danish Bronze Age : deconstructing the binary approach. Utilising a gender critical perspective augmented by statistical analysis, this thesis examines the binary approach customarily employed throughout archaeological narratives pertaining to the Danish Bronze Age. In respect to the recent development of feminist scholarship in archaeology regarding concepts of gender, identity and the body in prehistory, it is argued that a binary approach, which views prehistoric society as having been structured according to rigid male-female oppositions, places inappropriate restrictions upon evidence relevant to the study of gender in Bronze Age Denmark. To decipher the meaning encoded in any type of evidence related to gender ideology a perspective which emphasises contextual analysis rather than assumed heteronormativity is essential. In addition, statistical analyses of data from a representative sample of the mortuary record reveal that continuous implementation of the binary approach in the documentation of funerary remains has effectively corrupted the integrity of the evidence. The results of this investigation have significant consequences for the study of gender and societal organisation in the Danish Bronze Age. Gender categories valued by contemporary western ideology
gendered perspectives archaeological narrative danish bronze_age binary approach utilising gender critical_perspective augment statistical_analysis examine binary employ throughout archaeological narrative pertain danish bronze_age respect recent_development feminist scholarship archaeology regard concept gender_identity body prehistory argue binary view prehistoric_society structure accord rigid male_female opposition place inappropriate restriction upon evidence relevant study gender bronze_age denmark decipher mean encode type evidence_relate gender_ideology perspective emphasise contextual_analysis rather assume essential addition statistical_analysis data representative_sample mortuary_record reveal continuous implementation binary documentation funerary remain effectively corrupt integrity evidence investigation significant consequence study gender societal organisation danish bronze_age gender category value contemporary_western ideology