Genders, Bodies, Borders

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

Standard

Total of 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/

Contemporary cultural and political conflicts are increasingly articulated with the body, bodies, gender and sexuality at the heart of their concerns. This subject brings insights from contemporary theory and social research to our understanding of how and why this occurs. The subject begins by examining theories of the gendered body. It then moves to a consderation of the links between gender, sex, sexuality, cultural difference, class, popular culture and global politics. In 2013 the subject will have a particular focus on the crossing of borders - how do 'non-normative' bodies - queery, trans, disabled, immigrant, female and 'others' - challenge theories, politics and popular understandings around gender, identity and bodies. What are the connections between bodies, feeedom and inequality?

Students who successfully complete this subject will develop:

• an understanding of a range of theories of the body and their application to meanings and practices related to gender, culture and sexuality;
• an understanding of key concepts in contemporary feminist thought;
• an awareness of the interrelationships between major social divisions including those of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, class and sexuality;
• an ability to locate these social divisions in specific cultural and historical contexts;
• an understanding of the theoretical frameworks linking bodies, selves, culture and politics.

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.

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 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.