Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Subject GEND40003 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

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

This subject is not offered in 2011.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 ( 1x 2 hour seminar per week)
Total Time Commitment: An average of 10 hours each week
Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Students enrolling in this subject must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent.
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 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:

This subject surveys recent developments in feminist theory and feminist methodology within a cross-cultural context. It explores issues involved in present-day debates about feminist epistemology and knowledge, including debates surrounding the relationship between western and other feminisms, the contributions of postcolonial feminists and queer theorists.

In 2010 the subject will consider the backlash against multiculturalism, framed largely in terms of the toleration of cultural beliefs and practices that contravene and impinge on the sovereign rights of individual members of particular groups, particularly women, sexual minorities and children.

The issues highlighted in these contests include religious fundamentalism, the veil, honour killings, and arranged marriage to name a few. Importantly, what do those who are situated at the centre of these controversies, the women and men themselves have to say, both to members of their own groups and to the those who consider them victims or perpetrators of unacceptable cultural practices.

These controversies are considered in the context of tensions around secularism, religion, sexuality, the law, the individual and the group. individual freedom and cultural constraint. feminist critics of multiculturalism and multicultural critics of feminism.

Objectives:

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

  • show an advanced understanding of the changing knowledge base in the specialist area.
  • be able to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline.
  • have an appreciation of the design, conduct and reporting of original research.
Assessment:

A literature review assignment of 1000 words 25% (due mid semester) and a research essay 4000 words (due end semester).

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement will be deemed ineligible to submit the final piece of assessment for this subject. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Prescribed Texts:

A subject reader will be available from the bookshop at the start of semester

Recommended Texts:

These texts will all be available at the bookshop

  • Amara, Fadela (2006) Breaking the Silence: French Women's Voices from the Ghetto , Berkely, University of California Press
  • Scott, Joan (2007) Politics of the Veil . Princeton, Princeton University Press
  • Wikan, Unni (2008) In Honour of Fadime: Murder and Shame, Chicago, University of Chicago Press
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

  • demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources.
  • demonstrate critical thinking and analysis through class presentation, participation, and completion of a research essay.
  • show 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.
Links to further information: http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/gender/about/
Notes: This subject is core in Gender Studies Honours, and Compulsory in the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Gender Studies), Postgraduate Certificate in Arts (Gender Studies) and also available as an elective subject in the Master of Development (Gender and Development) 097GD and the Executive Master of Arts D31AA.
Related Course(s): Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development)
Master of Development Studies(CWT)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: 200 point program - full time over 18 months
200 point program - full time over 24 months
Anthropology
Anthropology && Social Theory
Anthropology and Social Theory
Development Studies
Development Studies
Development Studies
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Indonesian
Indonesian
Indonesian
Social Theory
Social Theory
Social Theory

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