https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/SOCIOL/735/1203

SOCIOL 735 : Current Debates in Gender and Sexuality

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Traces contemporary sociological debates in the analysis of gender and sexuality. This includes reference to feminist concerns with identities, differences, bodies, power and agency. These issues are taken up and explored through an examination of practices enacted on/or through sexed bodies.

Course Overview

This course combines theoretical and empirical work on the contemporary sociology of gender and sexuality to address the ever-changing understanding of the relationship between genders, the relationships between gender and sexuality, the most appropriate methods and theories to use in studying gender and sexuality, and particular cultural practices that produce our knowledge about - and material experiences of - gender and sexuality in day-to-day life. 
 
Gender and sexuality organise social life, institutional practices and individual relationships. They are premised upon and structured by relations of inequality and difference vis-à-vis class, race, nation, religion and other significant identity makers, embodiments, and institutional positions. Our conversations will traverse these terrains of material life as we read contemporary social theorists and researchers trying to grapple with the doing and renegotiating  gender and sexual categories and practices.  
 
We will begin by establishing some theoretical foundations; here we include a few readings that depart from the "current debates" focus of the course in an effort to provide a common frame of reference for our conversations and to set the stage for interrogating the rest of the readings. The emphasis in this section of the course is on feminist, queer, intersectional, and postcolonial frameworks for thinking gender and sexuality. 
 
From there, we will read "current" (from approximately the past decade) articles and books tracing the changing understandings and practices of gender and sexual identities, practices, and institutions. The course also emphasises independent work by students on questions of gender and sexuality that interest them. Students' independent research projects form the basis of some class discussions. In the last third of the course, students will present their research projects in the model of a conference presentation before writing up the final research essay that will conclude the semester's work. 
 
Student Learning Objectives 
 
On completion of this course, students will be able to: 
 
  •     Explain the key sociological literatures and debates surrounding the status of gender and sexuality, as well as the relationships between gender and sexuality, as both identities and practices 
  •     Analyse strengths and weaknesses in the main theories of gender and sexuality, singly and in relation to each other 
  •     Apply these theories in a specific area of sociological inquiry that they have chosen to research 
  •     Conduct postgraduate level, independent research on a topic of their own choosing 
  •     Present their research orally and in writing 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain the key sociological literatures and debates surrounding the status of gender and sexuality, as well as the relationships between gender and sexuality, as both identities and practices (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  2. Analyse strengths and weaknesses in the main theories of gender and sexuality, singly and in relation to each other (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
  3. Apply sociological theories of gender and sexuality to a chosen area of inquiry (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
  4. Present and discuss reflections on others' work as well as one's independent research (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 100% Individual Coursework
100%

Next offered

Tentatively scheduled to be offered again in Semester 1, 2023.

Learning Resources

  1. Risman, Barbara J. 2018. Where the Millennials Will Take Us: A New Generation Wrestles with the Gender Structure. Oxford University Press. (Available at the University Bookstore from February.)
  2. Digital Course Reader. (Available through TALIS, in CANVAS, from late-February.)

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.

This course meets once per week for 3 hours of seminar. Students are expected to come to seminars prepared to discuss the readings and their responses to them. The remaining 17 hours per week will be spent reading, writing analyses to share with others (in nominated weeks), and doing independent research for your research projects throughout the semester. 

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.

Published on 20/12/2019 03:13 p.m.