We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2024-2025 Undergraduate Dissertation Prize. The judging panel was impressed by the broad range of topics and high quality of research produced in the dissertations that were submitted for this prize. This made judging them all the harder.  After much discussion and deliberation, the judges awarded the prize to:

Laura Stewart, “The Soviet Balancing Act: Soviet Efforts to Emancipate Women in Central Asia Before the Hujum Campaign”. The judges commented:

This was a fascinating dissertation which was compelling and original. It clearly stated the historiography and the analysis of the newspaper Yangi Yo’l  alongside Zhenotdel records was impressive ensuring that indigenous women’s voices formed a central part of the thesis. It also considered the perspectives of those who did not align with the Soviet model of female emancipation, as well as those Uzbek women who did.

Well done to the following whose entries were highly commended by the judges:

Finbar Myers, “A History of the Institutional Containment of an Irish Mother and Her Daughter, 1903 – Present”

A compelling and meticulously researched exploration of one family’s history of navigating institutions in early twentieth-century Ireland from industrial schools to mother and baby homes. The case studies of the two Noras are expertly framed within the wider context of scholarship on this subject and the increasing number of testimonies of the experience of poverty, illegitimacy and institutionalisation in Ireland. The study effectively utilises a wide range of sources to augment the personal testimonies and experiences.

Karin Meredith, “Marketing Beauty, Maintaining Power: Gender, Class and Advertising in Late Nineteenth-Century Britain”

An original and insightful discussion of the emergent beauty industry in late nineteenth century Britain. This well-written dissertation carefully explored advertising and articles in women’s and health periodicals covering a diverse range of topics including whiteness, class, femininity and moral perspectives.

Chiara Simpson-Gregory,  “‘Dear Millie, I really want to overthrow the state’ Shocking Pink and Teenage Feminism in Britain, 1979-1992”  

This was a strong and well-written dissertation that made a valuable contribution to the historiography of feminist periodicals. There was a thorough engagement of the sources, both primary and secondary, which was enhanced by the inclusion of discussions with two collective members of Shocking Pink.

Many congratulations to everyone!