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Gender & Migration - WOM00018M

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  • Department: Centre for Women's Studies
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Rachel Alsop
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module summary

Taking an intersectional feminist approach, this module explores the gendered dynamics of migration.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22

Module aims

With around 200 million international migrants in the world currently, around half of whom are women, migration is not only one of the most important and pressing global issues of our time, but also a significant issue within Women’s and Gender Studies. This module explores the gendered dynamics of migration, considering both forced and voluntary migration (as well as those migratory journeys that fall somewhere in-between). Taking an intersectional feminist approach, the module troubles what we understand by the term ‘migrant’, exploring how gendered and other power differentials are embedded within the migration process. The module draws on a range of theoretical and conceptual tools, a wealth of case study data, and students own experiences of migration to interrogate the multiplicity of ways in which migration is gendered. Focusing on a number of key issues, such as transnational care, gender based violence, trafficking and generational patterns in migration trafficking, the module considers the significance of feminist research in developing the field of migration studies. In addition, students develop skills in critical analysis through a portfolio of assessed work which includes a critical review, case study report and annotated bibliography.

Module learning outcomes

After successfully completing this module, students should be able to:

Demonstrate a critical and nuanced understanding of the gendered aspects of various forms of migration

Critically analyse a range of methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of migration within the overall context of gender studies;

Be familiar with a number of empirical examples and case studies pertaining to the question of how migration experiences are gendered;

Interrogate and analyse different forms of migration experience from an intersectional feminist perspective;

Be able to critically evaluate a variety of books, journals and other sources of information relevant to the topics studied on the course;

Present complex arguments, in relation to gender and migration, cogently and with nuance in both oral and written form

Module content

Indicative Programme:

Week 2: introduction to theories of gender and migration: an intersectional feminist approach

Week 3: researching migration from a feminist perspective

Week 4: transnational care

Week 5: gender, violence and migration

Week 6: READING WEEK

Week 7: trafficking

Week 8: Generation, gender and migration: the case of unaccompanied child migrants

Week 9: gender and international student migration

Week 10:  representations of gender and migration (in media, literature, music, law etc)

 

 

 

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
1000-1500 word case study report		 N/A 40
Essay/coursework
1000-1500 word critical review		 N/A 30
Essay/coursework
Annotated Bibliography		 N/A 30

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Students need to receive a pass mark for the combined components to pass the module. If students do not achieve an overall pass mark,  they are reassessed in the component/s they have failed.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
1000-1500 word case study report		 N/A 40
Essay/coursework
1000-1500 word critical review		 N/A 30
Essay/coursework
Annotated Bibliography		 N/A 30

Module feedback

Students will usually receive feedback within 20 working days in line with University guidelines.

Indicative reading

Anderson Bridget and Isabel Shutes (2014) Migration and Care Labour: Theory, Policy and Politics.  New York:  Palgrave Macmillan

 

Anzaldua Gloria (1987) Borderlands/ La Frontera: the new mestiza, San Francisco: Spinsters/ Aunt Lute

 

Brettel Caroline B (2016) Gender and Migration, Cambridge: Polity Books

 

Currie Samantha and Helen Stafford (2009) Gender and Migration in 21st century Europe. London: Routledge

 

Kontos Maria and Glenda Tibe Bonifacio (eds) (2015) Migrant Domestic Workers and Family Life: International Perspectives. New York:  Palgrave Macmillan

 

Passarlay Gulwali (2019) The Lightless Sky: My Journey to Safety as a Child Refugee, London: Atlantic Books

 

Shukla, Nikesh (2016) The Good Immigrant, Unbound Books.

 


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.