Gender and Society 1

Module title	Gender and Society 1
Module code	SOC3013
Academic year	2019/0
Credits	15
Module staff	Professor Dana Wilson-Kovacs (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	40

Module description

This module considers different theories and approaches to gender and sexuality, and explores the ways in which these intersect with concepts of masculinity, femininity, the body, work, class and ethnicity. With the use of specific examples iyou will explore gender as a social and cultural construction and evaluate the contribution gender studies, studies on sexuality, the body and the diverse and changing nature of personal relationships - among others - make to sociology more generally.

No prior knowledge of sociological perspectives is necessary. This module is suitable for both specialist and non-specialist students and its interdisciplinary outlook will appeal to students in social sciences and humanities.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to develop a multi-faceted, in-depth approach to the study of gender and sexuality in the Western world through an exploration of perspectives on masculinities, femininities, bodies and sexualities and their historical, cultural and social and political dimensions. As such, the module aims to

(a) introduce you to the ways in which these concepts have been articulated and debated, and

(b) help you develop a critical understanding of topical issues, together with

(c) the ability to apply such an understanding both to fine-tune your analyses of gender relations and dynamics, sexual representations and love and intimacy (to name a few) and your observation and interpretation of everyday life.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Differentiate critically between various perspectives on gender, sexuality and the body;
2. Critically appraise in detail their conceptual value and social relevance through informed examples
3. Demonstrate the capacity to critically select relevant and topical material and structure it in order to present coherent arguments in relation to masculinities and femininities, bodies and sexualities

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Acquire detailed, systematic and comprehensive knowledge of gender debates in sociology the gender and sexuality fields
5. Critically evaluate analytically a range of various perspectives on selected topics (such as feminism, hetero-normativity, love and intimacy)

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. Plan and work independently and in groups;
7. Make good use of feedback; and
8. Act autonomously within agreed guidelines and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes over one or more week:

Sex/gender debates and the critique of biological determinism
Masculinities
Bodies
Femininities
Sexuality
Feminism
Love and Intimacy

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	11	11 x 1 hour lectures will deliver the conceptual framework of the course and examples.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	11	11 x 1 hour seminars will allow for the detailed discussion of particular topics by the students as a group. Each seminar is based on selected lecture topics.
Guided Independent study	80	Module reading
Guided Independent study	48	Research/Reading for the essay plan and essay

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay plan	750 words	1-6, 8	Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
85	0	15

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Class participation	15	Weekly, as part of group discussions	6	Verbal
Essay	85	2500 words	1-8	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Class participation	1500 words review	6	August/September assessment period
Essay	Essay (2,500 words)	1-8	August/September assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Attwood, Feona 2009 Mainstreaming Sex. The sexualisation of Western culture. London: I.B. Tauris.

Susan Bordo, Susan 2003 Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture and the Body. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Connell, Raewyn. 2005 Masculinities. London: Polity.

Fausto-Sterling, Anne 2012 Sex/gender: biology in a social world. London: Routledge.

Foucault, Michel 1990 The History of Sexuality. London: Penguin.

Halberstram, Judith 2013 Gaga feminism: sex, gender, and the end of normal. Bsoton Mass: Beacon.

Rahman, Momin and Jackson, Stevi 2010. Gender and sexuality. London: Polity.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Indicative web based resources e.g. ELE:
Course materials (lecture slides and tutorial topics/questions) will be provided on ELE prior to each lecture/tutorial.

Key words search

Sexuality, Body, Femininities, Masculinities, Sociology, Gender, Society

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/06/2004
Last revision date	23/01/18