Gender, Power and Sexuality (PO42001)
Module Convenor: Dr Richard Dunphy
Credit Rating: 30 SCQF credits
Level: Level 4 optional module
Module Content
The module covers the following broad areas:
- Gender, sexuality and history - theoretical foundations: `nature' versus `nurture', the history of sexualities, Foucault and feminism.
- Modern sexualities and their meanings - hetero-, homo-, bi-, and lesbian sexualities in historical context. Sexuality and religion, class and race. Changes in medical and legal discourses.
- Gender ideologies and gender regulation. Gender and power relations. The gendered division of labour. Gender and emotion-work. The policing of gender boundaries.
- Sexual politics - contemporary debates. Feminism and post-feminism. LGB politics and queer politics.
- Selling sex - the commercialisation of sex and gender. Prostitution. Pornography. Popular culture and advertising.
- Regulating sex and sexuality - the public policy agenda. Family policy. State responses to rape and sexual violence. Homosexual rights and the state.
Module Aims
This module aims to introduce students to a rapidly expanding area of the social sciences - critical studies on gender and sexuality. Inspired by important recent and contemporary research in women's studies, critical theories of masculinity, gender relations, lesbian and gay studies, and sexual politics, the course treats gender and sexuality as social constructions which need to be explored, analysed and understood in a critical way.
The module also draws upon a multi-disciplinary literature and spans debates within, and issues of relevance to, political science, sociology, history and cultural studies. The primary focus is on British society, although some comparative reference is made to the USA and several other European societies.
Intended Learning Outcomes
- To get students thinking about the concepts of gender and sexuality in a critical, self-reflective way and thereby to increase their awareness of the relevance of gender and sexuality to a fuller understanding of the issues raised within political science and related disciplines
- To demonstrate this through a exploration of how gender and sexuality condition ways in which people experience their presence in society, focusing on questions of power and knowledge
- To broaden students' understanding of politics by analysing the extent to which public policy in key selected areas has been underpinned by assumptions about gender and sexuality
Teaching
There will be eleven seminars, each of two hours duration.
Assessment
The assessed components on this module are:
- One essay (40% of total mark)
- One seminar presentation (10% of total mark)
- Unseen two-hour examination (50% of total mark)
Indicative Reading
- Richard Dunphy, Sexual Politics (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2000)
- Richard Parker and Peter Aggleton (eds.), Culture, Society and Sexuality, second edition (London: Routledge, 2007)
- J. Weeks, J. Holland and M. Waites (eds.), Sexualities and Society (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2003)
del.icio.us
digg
reddit
facebook
stumbleupon