Gender Issues in Development

Subject DEVT40006 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: A 3-hour seminar per week for 8 weeks, commencing in the first week of the semester
Total Time Commitment: 8 additional hours/week. Total of 10 hours per week.
Prerequisites: Admission to the postgraduate diploma or certificate; fourth-year combined honours in development; an MA (Gend & Devt) or a MDevt Stud coursework degree.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: Knowledge gained in successfully completing an undergraduate degree
Non Allowed Subjects: Previously offered as 121-516 Gender Issues in Development. Students who have completed 121-516 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Subject Overview:

As an arguably fundamental cross-cutting theme in development theory and practice today, gender issues and perspectives have moved significantly from the political and economic empowerment strategies of feminist activism in the 1970s. What began as a concern with women’s ongoing discrimination and disadvantage and the lack of visibility of women and their particular needs from development became a broader concern with the nature of relations between men and women. Discussions will focus on contemporary actions and approaches, feminist critiques, and the ‘embedding’ of gender in practices of development agencies, international organisations, non-government organisations and state level actors. Case studies will consider the social construction of masculinity, femininity and the approaches to gender issues by various actors and stakeholders, particularly in relation to the former colonised world. It will critically explore key concepts applied in development practice such as ‘gender sensitive’ and ‘gender mainstreaming’, and, the appropriateness of tools and techniques such as ‘gender analysis’ for understanding culture, expressed in the construction of gender identities and inequalities.

Objectives:

Students who successfully complete this subject should

  • be aware of the theory and practice of development, theories of social change and development in the light of challenges to traditional roles;
  • be able to understand the principles underlying certain key development problems;
  • appreciate the political and social implications of both the problems and their management solutions;
  • understand key concepts as gender related concepts as applied in the development practice
  • understand the difficulties in applying some of the theoretical solutions to development problems.
Assessment: An essay of 3500 words on a topic to be agreed upon with the lecturer 60% (due late September), a proposal for the final essay of 750 words 15% (due mid semester), an informal presentation of one article or topic combined with leading the seminar in a discussion of that presentation of 750 words 15%, and attendance and participation 10%.
Prescribed Texts:
A reading list will be provided by the subject coordinator
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/development/
Related Course(s): Master of Arts (Asian Societies)
Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development)
Master of Development Studies(CWT)
Master of Environment
Postgraduate Certificate in Environment
Postgraduate Diploma in Environment
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Development
Development Studies
Development Studies
Development Studies
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Gender Studies

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