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Gender, Sexuality & Inequalities - SOC00001I

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Ellen Annandale
  • Credit value: 30 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

Many contemporary societies tend to divide people into discrete categories on the basis of sexual difference. We often hear how men and women are more naturally suited to different tasks, behaviours and roles and this has, historically, placed certain limits on what people are allowed or feel able to do. However when we look historically and cross culturally, different societies have had different ways of categorising people on the basis of their genitals, sexual practices or the way they present themselves. This module explores theory and research on gender and sexualities and other social inequalities as fundamental to social order. We will problematize the concepts of sex and gender , which are often taken as a natural hierarchically structured binary division between people. We will explore the social construction of gender and sexuality through the lens of key social institutions (e.g. sport, the media, health, law and employment).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students will be able to:

  • Distinguish between different ways of understanding sex and gender
  • Demonstrate how expectations around gender are dependent on social, cultural and historical factors
  • Challenge the idea of inequalities as determined by biologically hardwired differences
  • Indicate how gender, sex and sexuality are intersected by other forms of social inequalities
  • Question issues of structure and agency in relation to people s decisions about their bodies

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Assessment 1 - Essay 		N/A 40
Essay/coursework
Assessment 2 - Spring Portfolio 		N/A 60

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Gender, Sexuality & Inequalities Reassessment Exam		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Feedback at University level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme by providing commentary on your work to date. So feedback means more than just written comments on written work. We aim to help you to reflect on your own learning and to feel clearer about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you informative and summative assessments. The University guidelines for feedback are available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

 

You will receive feedback in a number of forms:

  • On any formative (non-assessed) work, you will receive written or verbal feedback about how to improve your work (though you may not receive a mark)

  • On summative work (work that is assessed) you will receive detailed written feedback from the marker. This is intended to show areas in which you have done well, and areas in which you need to improve.

  • Your supervisor will also give you feedback on your work. S/he will be able to look across a range of your work and discuss ways in which you can build on your strengths and improve in any areas

 

Feedback on your summative written work is made available to you online via e:vision. You will receive an email telling you when it is ready to look at. You are then advised to take this work (printed out or on your laptop) to your regular meeting with your academic supervisor. Your supervisor will be able to look at your work with you and address any queries you have, as well as advise you on ways to improve your work.

 

Feedback on Exam Scripts

 

You can ask for feedback on your exam performance from your supervisor, who will go through your examination script(s) with you and discuss the areas in which you did well, and those in which you need to improve. However, you may not take the script away with you, or photocopy the script. If you would like to discuss your exam performance, please let your supervisor know at least two working days in advance of your meeting, so that they can make sure they have the script with them when you meet.

 

Indicative reading

  • Bhattacharyya, G. (2002) Sexuality and Society. London: Routledge
  • Connell, R. (2009) Gender. 2nd ed. London: Polity
  • Connell, R. (2000) Masculinities 2nd ed. London: Polity
  • Fausto- Sterling, A. (2012) Sex/Gender. Biology in a Social World. Routledge
  • Fine, C. (2011) Delusions of Gender. London: Icon
  • Fuller, L.K. (2006) Sport, Rhetoric & Gender: Historical Perspectives and Media Representations. New York: Palgrave McMillan
  • Holmes, M. (2007) What is Gender? London: Sage
  • Johnson. P. (2012) Homosexuality and the European Court of Human Rights. London: Routledge
  • Rahman, M. and Jackson, S. (2010) Gender and Sexuality: Sociological Approaches. Cambridge: Polity Press
  • Richardson, D. (2007) Introducing Gender and Women's Studies. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan


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.