‘Beyond the Binary’: Funerary Archaeology, Gendered Identity, and its Impact on Contemporary Society

Sex and gender are considered fundamental aspects of identity. Funerary archaeology is used as the access point to identity in the past, with these materials providing the basis for conclusions. Within interpretations, the sex and gender binaries are often relied upon, causing issues with reliability and validity of conclusions as the categories of ‘male’ and ‘female’ do not account for identities outside this binary. This research challenges the analytical processes within funerary archaeology by demonstrating a unique approach to materials that does not rely on this binary model. The results, along with other archaeological and contemporary materials that challenge ideas around sex and gender were incorporated into workshops that determined the role that archaeological materials can play in discussions around sex and gender identity and improving mental health and wellbeing today. There are issues relating to sex and gender identity today, such as inequality and discrimination. These issues have a negative impact on wellbeing, with the LGBTQ+ community having a higher risk of developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. The analysis of the funerary remains removes the restrictions of sex categorisations, allowing for broader discussions of identity and allows other patterns of evidence to come to the forefront. These results used in the workshops showed that the past is a powerful instigator of conversation around identity and can challenge perceptions and biases. This can improve contemporary attitudes by providing a sense of history and heritage and providing marginalised groups a voice in constructing their pasts.

URI

https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/handle/10454/20829

Type

Thesis

Qualification name

PhD