Gender and Society 1
| Module title | Gender and Society 1 |
|---|---|
| Module code | SOC3013 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| 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
In this module you will consider different theories and approaches to explaining gender and sexuality. You will examine sociologically and historically perspectives on masculinities, femininities, bodies, love, desire and intimacy. With the use of specific examples you will explore gender and sexuality as social and cultural constructions and evaluate the contribution studies on sexuality, the body and the diverse and changing nature of personal relationships - among others – have made to the ways in which we understand these aspects in everyday life. No prior knowledge of sociological perspectives is necessary. This interdisciplinary module is suitable to all students.
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, social and political dimensions. The module will:
(a) introduce you to the ways in which various related concepts have been developed 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 between various perspectives on gender, sexuality and the body;
- 2. Appraise their conceptual 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 (e.g. heteronormativity, 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 the following themes over one or more week:
Sex/gender debates and the critique of biological determinism
Masculinities
Bodies
Femininities
Sexuality
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 | 22 | 11 x 2 hours weekly lectures/seminars (or 1 hour lectures + 1 hour seminars) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 77 | Module research, reading (4 hours per week) and preparation for class (3 hour per week) |
| Guided Independent study | 51 | Research and writing for summative assessments |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 100 | 2200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2200 words essay | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
If you are required to submit a second essay for re-assessment, this cannot be on the same topic as the first essay.
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. Boston Mass: Beacon.
Rahman, Morin and Jackson, Stevi 2010. Gender and sexuality. London: Polity.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Web-based and electronic resources:
| 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 | 03/02/2023 |
