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Introduction to the Politics of Gender - POL00054I

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  • Department: Politics
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Alasia Nuti
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module summary

Gender shapes our political and social landscape and our personal interactions. The module will provide an introduction to gender theories with a particular focus on their importance to politics.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22

Module aims

Gender shapes our political and social landscape and our personal interactions. This module aims to introduce students to gender theories and to enable them to draw upon these theories in making sense of political issues, broadly conceived. The module will guide students through the established cannon of theoretical work on gender. We will discuss the relationship between ‘sex’ and ‘gender’, trans* theory and politics, discourse and performativity theory, intersectionality, (post)coloniality, masculinity, and sexuality. The module will provide students with the necessary tools to understand the complexity of gender and carry out research on gender studies.

Module learning outcomes

Upon completing this module, students will be able to:

  • Explain, and critically evaluate, the most important theoretical approaches to understanding gender;
  • Demonstrate understanding of the political nature of gender

This module will also equip students with a range of key transferable skills:

  • The ability to participate thoughtfully and actively in discussions over gender and political issues;
  • The necessary skills to critically evaluate theoretical assumptions;
  • Theoretical tools in written and oral course-related activities.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Introduction to the Politics of Gender		 8 hours 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Introduction to the Politics of Gender		 8 hours 100

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment.  They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 20 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend.  They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

Judith Butler. 1990. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. London and New York: Routledge.

R.W. Connell, Masculinities (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995).

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Epistemology of the Closet (Berkeley, LA: University of California Press, 1990).

Patricia H. Collins, Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment (New York: Routledge, 1990)

Jack Haberstam, Trans*: A Quick and Quirky Account of Gender Variability (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2018).


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.