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Nigeria's free digital learning hub. Videos, lecture notes, practice questions and leaderboards aligned with CCMAS, NBTE, NCCE, WAEC, NECO, IJMB and JAMB curricula.
History and International Studies · 300 Level
This is the complete lecture note for HIS-304 Women in History, prepared for History and International Studies students at 300 Level. You can read it online below, open it in the full viewer, or download the PDF for offline study. It pairs with the course's video lectures, so you can read and watch together.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Course code: HIS 304 • Course title: Women in History • Course credit load: 2 Series 1 Women’s Roles in Political, Economic, and Private Life Series outline • Part 1: Women in Political Life • Sub-Part 1.1: Women as rulers and leaders • Sub-Part 1.2: Women in governance and activism • Part 2: Women in Economic Life • Sub-Part 2.1: Women in productive and commercial activities • Sub-Part 2.2: Women in labour movements and entrepreneurship • Part 3: Women in Private and Social Life • Sub-Part 3.1: Women in family and domestic roles • Sub-Part 3.2: Women in cultural and intellectual contributions Introduction Throughout history, women have played vital roles in shaping societies, yet their contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued. From leadership in governance to participation in economic activities and influence within family and cultural life, women have consistently impacted the development of humanity. This Series invites you to explore these dimensions, helping you to appreciate the breadth of women’s involvement in political, economic, and private spheres. The aim of this Series is to examine the diverse roles of women in political, economic, and private life, and to equip you with the ability to analyse their contributions across these domains. We shall commence this Series by focusing on women in political life, considering their roles as rulers, leaders, and activists. Next, we will move on to women in economic life, where we will explore their participation in productive and commercial activities as well as their involvement in labour movements and entrepreneurship. Finally, we will conclude with women in private and social life, examining their influence within family structures, domestic roles, and cultural and intellectual contributions. Series Learning Outcomes
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: • SLO 1.1 define the roles of women as rulers, leaders, and activists in political life, • SLO 1.2 analyse women’s participation in productive and commercial activities within economic life, • SLO 1.3 evaluate women’s involvement in labour movements and entrepreneurship, and • SLO 1.4 explain women’s contributions to private and social life, including family, domestic, cultural, and intellectual spheres. 1.1 Women In Political Life 1.1.1 Women as rulers and leaders Rulers are individuals who hold supreme authority over a state or territory, often through hereditary succession or conquest. In history, several women rose to such positions, exercising power in ways that challenged prevailing gender norms. For example, queens and empresses often combined political authority with symbolic roles as custodians of culture and morality. Their leadership demonstrated that women could govern effectively, even in patriarchal societies. Fill in the blank: One example of a woman who held supreme authority over a state is ________. Diagram showing notable female rulers across regions and centuries Caption: Figure 1.1 Notable women rulers in history
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Leaders are individuals who guide or influence groups, movements, or nations, often without formal hereditary power. Women leaders in history included reformers, revolutionaries, and community organisers. Their influence extended beyond the throne, shaping policies, mobilising people, and advocating for justice. Fill in the blank: Women leaders often shaped policies and mobilised ________. 1.1.2 Women in governance and activism Governance refers to the processes and structures through which societies are organised and decisions are made. Women’s participation in governance has ranged from advisory roles in royal courts to elected positions in modern parliaments. Their involvement highlighted the importance of diverse perspectives in decision-making. Fill in the blank: Governance refers to the processes and structures through which ________ are made. Image of women participating in a parliamentary debate Caption: Plate 1.1 Women in governance roles Activism is the practice of taking action to bring about social or political change. Women activists have historically campaigned for rights such as suffrage, education, and labour reforms. Their activism often required courage, as they faced resistance from entrenched systems of power. Fill in the blank: Activism is the practice of taking action to bring about ________.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Box 1.1 Selected women activists and their causes Pilot questions 1.1 1. Which term refers to individuals who hold supreme authority over a state or territory? 2. Name one role women played in governance during the early modern period. 3. What is the definition of activism? 4. Fill in the blank: Women leaders often shaped policies and mobilised ________. 5. True or False: Women’s activism was always welcomed by entrenched systems of power. 1.2 Women In Economic Life 1.2.1 Women in productive and commercial activities Productive activities refer to work that generates goods or services, often contributing directly to the economy. Historically, women engaged in agriculture, craft production, and trade, sometimes as the backbone of local economies. Their labour sustained households and communities, even when it was undervalued or unrecognised. Commercial activities involve the buying and selling of goods and services. Women participated in markets as traders, shopkeepers, and artisans. In many societies, they managed small-scale businesses, balancing economic contributions with family responsibilities. Fill in the blank: Commercial activities involve the buying and selling of ________.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Diagram showing women’s participation in productive and commercial activities across different centuries Caption: Figure 1.2 Women in productive and commercial roles 1.2.2 Women in labour movements and entrepreneurship Labour movements are organised efforts by workers to improve conditions such as wages, working hours, and rights. Women played significant roles in these movements, often advocating for fair treatment in industries where they were heavily employed, such as textiles and domestic service. Their activism contributed to broader reforms in labour laws. Fill in the blank: Labour movements are organised efforts by workers to improve ________. Entrepreneurship is the process of creating and managing businesses, often involving innovation and risk-taking. Women entrepreneurs historically established enterprises ranging from small shops to larger ventures, demonstrating resilience and creativity despite social and legal barriers. Fill in the blank: Entrepreneurship is the process of creating and managing ________.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS [Insert box here] Box 1.2 Selected women entrepreneurs and their contributions [Insert plate here] Image of women working in a textile factory during the industrial era Caption: Plate 1.2 Women in labour movements AI prompt suggestion: “Generate a realistic illustration of women working in a textile factory during the 19th century” Search string: “women textile factory history OER” Pilot questions 1.2 1. What is the definition of productive activities? 2. Fill in the blank: Commercial activities involve the buying and selling of ________. 3. True or False: Women were excluded from labour movements in the 19th century.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 4. What is entrepreneurship? 5. Name one industry where women were heavily employed and advocated for fair treatment. 1.3 Women In Private And Social Life 1.3.1 Women in family and domestic roles Family roles refer to the responsibilities and positions individuals occupy within the household, such as parent, caregiver, or provider. Historically, women were often expected to manage domestic affairs, including child-rearing, food preparation, and household organisation. These roles, though sometimes undervalued, were essential for the stability and continuity of communities. Domestic roles encompass tasks and responsibilities within the home environment. Women’s domestic labour, though unpaid, contributed significantly to social and economic life. It also shaped cultural expectations of femininity and motherhood. Fill in the blank: Domestic roles encompass tasks and responsibilities within the ________. Image of women engaged in household activities in the 18th century Caption: Plate 1.3 Women in family and domestic roles 1.3.2 Women in cultural and intellectual contributions Cultural contributions refer to the ways individuals shape traditions, arts, and social practices. Women have influenced literature, music, and art, often using these mediums to express
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