Sex, Gender and Power

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

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/

This subject is an introduction to the study of gender, sex and sexuality exploring the recent histories of feminisms and feminist thinking about gender, difference and the origins of sexual inequality. Key themes include: structures and institutions of sexual inequality including the family, marriage, mothering, sexual divisions of labour, masculinities and femininities, bodies and sexualities, and their relationships to the workings of power, especially the intersections of gender and sexuality with 'race', ethnicity, class and nation. The final section of the course considers 'third world' feminisms and postfeminism in a transnational and global context.

On completion of this subject students should:

• be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of the main developments in feminist theorising about sex, gender and identity and of the issues involved in debates about feminist knowledges;
• have a sound understanding of the main frameworks for the analysis of gender relations within social structures and institutions and debates about feminist knowledges, with a particular focus on cross-cultural comparisons of such frameworks;
• have an awareness of the main developments in feminist thinking about the origins and historical development of gender inequality;
• have a good 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 group tutorial presentation and paper of 750 words (15%) due during semester, a research essay of 2000 words (55%) due mid-semester, and a reflective essay of 1250 words (30%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: 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 working 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 in 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.