Genders, Bodies, Borders

This subject is not offered in 2011.

This subject brings insights from contemporary feminist theory (drawn from a range of disciplines) and moves to examine the ways in which highly gendered cultural contests about identity have erupted both nationally and globally in recent years. We focus on the body and bodies as central to these contests.

Issues of femininity, masculinity, beauty, fatness, thinness, the veil, porno-chic, gay marriage, nationalism, religion, secularism and multiculturalism and clashes around human rights and cultural values are considered.

Students who successfully complete this subject will develop a:

• sound understanding of the main developments in feminist thinking about the relationships between 'culture', gender and identity and the intersections of gender, 'race', ethnicity and class.
• a sound understanding of key concepts in contemporary feminist and postmodernist thought.
• an awareness of the interrelationships between major social divisions including those of gender, race, ethnicity, class and sexuality.
• an ability to locate these social divisions in specific cultural and historical contexts, with particular emphasis on cross-cultural comparisons
• an understanding of contemporary theories on historical and cultural contests around sex, gender,sexuality and bodies.

A tutorial journal of 750 words 15% (due end semester), a research essay 2000 words 55% (due mid-semester) and a reflective essay 1250 words 30% (due in examination period). This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 75% tutorial Attendance. Regular participation in tutorials is required. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A reader will be available at the university bookshop.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources.
• show critical thinking and analysis and ability to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument.
• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.