Genders, Bodies, Borders

Subject GEND20003 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Semester 1, 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

Standard

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 1 x 2 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks. The lecture and tutorial programs are staggered and cover the 12 weeks of semester.
Total Time Commitment: An average of 8.5 hours per week.
Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Two previous Arts faculty subjects (25 points) are recommended but not required.
Non Allowed Subjects: Students who have completed Genders, Bodies, borders inder the codes 121-218 or 673-385 are not permitted to enrol in this subject.
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/

Coordinator

Dr Maree Pardy

Contact

Dr Maree Pardy

mpardy@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

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.
Objectives:

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.
Assessment:

A research essay of 2000 words (55%) due mid-semester, a tutorial journal of 750 words (15%) due end semester, and a reflective essay of 1250 words (30%) due during the 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.
Prescribed Texts:

A reader will be available at the university bookshop.
Breadth Options:

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

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.

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.
  • 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.
Links to further information: http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/
Notes: This is a core subject for the minor in the interdisciplinary program in gender studies. This subject may also be completed as part of the interdisciplinary program in the social theory minor and sequence. Students who have completed 131-034 prior to 2008 may not enrol in this subject
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Anthropology and Development
Anthropology and Social Theory
Anthropology and Social Theory
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Gender Studies Major
Social Theory
Related Breadth Track(s): Gender Studies

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