GENDER 700 : Critical Theories and Methods in Gender Studies

Arts

2024 Semester One (1243) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Engages, using an interdisciplinary approach, critical theories and epistemological debates in gender studies; provides grounding in key gender studies methods and methodologies; traces the evolution in approaches to gender from early feminist scholarship to the present; requires independent research and application of theories and methods.

Course Overview

In 2024, this course conveys the history of feminist theory and practice--feminist "praxis"--over time. Starting with readings from before and across the 20th century and through the early 21st century, students will learn how and why feminist theories and practices proliferate and change over time. Seminar topics highlight different moments in time and different approaches to gender studies, and each topic will be explored through weekly readings and discussions. With each reading, we will engage with the underlying approaches, asking questions about how they differ and what they share in terms of questions, approaches, theories, and methods. Topics include: theories of the Second Wave of Feminism,  Standpoint Theory, Intersectionality Theory, Indigenous & Global Feminist Theories, Gender Theories, Queering Feminist & Gender Theories, and Trans Theories & Fourth Wave Feminism. The aim is to apply this learning to define and develop your own practice as a gender studies scholar.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop theoretical knowledge and methodological skills to interrogate the world through different critical lenses (e.g. feminist, queer, intersectional, discursive). (Capability 4 and 5)
  2. Use a range of disciplinary contexts (e.g. education, humanities, social sciences) in order to explore the multiple ways in which the world is inherently gendered. (Capability 3)
  3. Be able to foster the social responsibilities of the researcher as critic and conscience of society. (Capability 7 and 8)
  4. Develop independent research skills through their participation in class discussions and course assessments. (Capability 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Seminar Participation & Presentations 30% Individual Coursework
Weekly Responses 30% Individual Coursework
Final Essay 40% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of seminars of three hour blocks each week, with the expectation of at least two substantive readings completed prior to each seminar, a written response of consisting of 300 words before the seminar, and a final essay that would, together, require 200 hours of reading, writing and thinking to fully engage and complete to the required standard. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
Teaching sessions will not be available as recordings due to the seminar-style format of delivery. 
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

Learning 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.

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.

Providing additional arts and humanities content and methods to balance social science content and methods.

Other Information

This course requires a commitment to ethically and proactively engage in the ideas and concepts presented, in the form of class discussion. As such, your attendance is crucial to the overall success of this course. 

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 10/10/2023 06:06 p.m.