The aim was to study ninth grade students perceptions of the subject of history, including gender, against the background of the social, cultural, and historical context that constitutes the subject of history and the students perception of it. The Theory , the theoretical reflection room, has two levels. A general level, `"the level of the great theoretical stories", boiled down to their essence (for ex. Bourdieus "Cultural Capital" and Baumans "Retropia) and a concrete level, in the sense directed towards the subject of history as it appears to the students in the teaching situation. The previous research showed scattered results. Mainly that the subject was perceived as rather interesting , important and exciting. But also, to some extent the opposite. As a subject for school , but not for life. Gender differences were detected. Parents background played a role. The studys own empirical study, a focus interview of eight ninth grade students (four boys, four girls), conducted as a thematically structured qualitative interview, largely confirmed the previous research. But the results was scattered and the context rather vague. No gender differences were detected. The studys sample was judged to be too small, not a basis for generalizations or generation of theory. However, theory, previous research and studys own experience appear as a melting pot from which relevant questions and perspectives for future research can be cast.