Gender and Health: Critical Perspectives

Subject 505-423 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 1, - 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

Classroom/ Block mode

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 hours contact time in two blocks of two days each just prior to the commencement of first semester.
Total Time Commitment: Students will be expected to undertake additional tasks, reading and preparation equivalent to a total time commitment of 96 hours
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Key Centre for Women's Health in Society
Subject Overview:

This subject examines the way Gender and Health, and particularly Women's Health have been examined within and across the disciplinary fields of Public Health, Biomedicine, Epidemiology, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology. We will examine the key feminist, socio-cultural, psychological and psychoanalytic discourses and ideas that have informed our understanding of gender and health, focusing on the on sex/gender, human rights and power. The course will also examine the critical contribution of first, second and third wave feminism to the fields of Women's Health, Men's Health and Gender and Health.

Subject Objectives: By the end of the semester students will be expected to:

  • Describe the meaning and use of key terms- sex, gender, gender relations, diversity, health, illness, and disease, gender mainstreaming - that underpin the fields of Gender and Health and Women's/ Men's Health;
  • Describe and critically reflect on the ways in which gender and health have been examined within the disciplinary fields of Public Health, Biomedicine, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology;
  • Understand the historical and core ideas that underpin and frame research on gender and health, particularly women's health;
  • Demonstrate in both written and oral form your capacity for critical thought and self-directed learning.
Assessment: Reading journal (critical comment on prescribed reading material for each week) total of 1000 words submitted twice during semester (20%); class presentation (20%) and written assignment of 2500 words (60%) due end of semester.
Prescribed Texts: Selected readings will be available.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  • examine and interpret evidence
  • ability to interpret as well as develop and sustain an argument
  • oral and written communication skills
  • skills in searching bibliographic data bases and synthesising evidence
Links to further information: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au
Notes: This subject is a Group 1 elective in the Master of Public Health.

Subject Coordinator: Dr Shelley Mallett

Related Course(s): Postgraduate Diploma in Women's Health

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