GENDER 301 : Gender, Sex and Commodification
Arts
2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course meets for three hours of lecture per week (2 hours + 1 hour), which includes time for us to analyse together a number of examples that illustrate key themes of the course. Major concepts include biopower, technologies of the self, post-feminism, neoliberalism, heteronormativity, objectification, somatechnics, biomedicalization, and governmentality. We see how these concepts are at play in arenas such as sex work, pornography, cosmetic surgery, the marketing of reproductive technologies, and other fields. This means that you will be asked to be active in class discussions throughout the lecture periods, and "lecture" includes time to discuss examples and concepts as well as listen to the lecturer frame the materials and define terms.
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
Learning Outcomes
- Explain using both theory and practical examples, how the marketing and selling of commodities and practices are part of the social construction of gender, sexuality, and gendered identities. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Explain how bodies and identities themselves are commodified to both reinforce and contest gender and sexual identities and relations. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Define and apply key concepts such as biopower, technologies of the self, post-feminism, neoliberalism, heteronormativity, objectification, somatechnics, biomedicalization, governmentality (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Critically appraise, critique, compare and contrast arguments about the social meaning of different social practices and institutions like advertising, sex work, and assisted reproduction that commodify sex and gender. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Critique arguments about gender, embodiment, identity and commodification by assessing them in relation to each other and in relation to students’ own viewpoints (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Essay | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 35% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
The first two assessments also ask you to combine in-class material with independent research in a coherent way. The first assessment focuses on persuasive writing: using the concepts and research from class and the library, try to persuade your reader of your position on a topic. The second assessment focuses on critical, analytical writing: you will present a range of evidence or theories to explain key features of a social practice. The final exam offers you the chance to show your mastery of key concepts in the course.
Learning Resources
All course readings will be available through the TALIS link on the course Canvas page.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 2-5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2-5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week. Numbers vary depending on where we are in the term and where you are in your assessment prep.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information,
look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894),
which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.