SOC6102 - Gender and Society

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Critically evaluate and contrast key aspects of contemporary social life through the examination of a range of constructions of gender.
Question the strengths and weaknesses of social and cultural discourses on gender, including where these intersect with oppressive institutions.
Devise clear critical arguments, linking discursive and visual representation, to demonstrate the salience of gender in everyday life.
Communicate and argue effectively in both oral and written forms.

Content:

This module is designed to develop sociological literacy skills and enable students to analyse key political and cultural texts in a range of historical, critical and contextual approaches to gender. The aim of this module is to examine the way gender is performed, consumed, and contested. It offers a critical review of key aspects of classical and contemporary theory and research in gender studies. It examines a range of interconnected issues concerning power, gender, and identity. The course examines debates surrounding the social construction of gender, including how gender could be considered an oppressing force that could define and determine the an individual's lifecourse, regardless of biological sex.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be structured around lectures on the relationship between gender and society, and seminars where students will engage in debates on the way gender roles are performed and reinforced by different individuals/institutions.

The module's Moodle page will serve as an information portal containing reading, links to reading and primary and secondary research and also an archive of lecture materials.

Seminar/workshops
Hours: 30
Intended Group Size: 30

Guided independent study
Hours: 170

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment 1. Poster: The poster will consist of the critical visual analysis of a specific form of gender representation. The additional oral and written exposition will consist of a detailed and critical analysis of the visual analysis that addresses the relationship between the poster topic and gender and everyday life. The exposition will have to identify the main actors of the chosen gender representation, engage with the existing policy framework and provide recommendations for future analysis. Full guidance and support will be provided in the module handbook, lectures, seminars and on Moodle for the completion of the poster and exposition.

Assessment:

001 Poster, written & oral exposition; A1 poster-800 words with 10mins oral exposition & 2,000 word statement; end of sem 1 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Nicola Harding
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6S1

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