Unit information: Czech Gender Relations in 2009/10

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Unit name Czech Gender Relations
Unit code RUSS20047
Credit points 20
Level of study I/5
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Ms. Nahodilova
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None
Co-requisites

None
School/department Department of Russian
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will explore gender relations in Czech society and assess any shifts in attitudes and values towards gender issues. Autobiographical texts written by Czechs about their own experience with gender issues will be studied within the social, historical and political perspective. This unit will analyse difference in attitudes, values and lives of Czech women of different generations (women in their eighties, sixties and thirties); attitudes towards equality in political representation; the lives of women of one of the largest ethnic minority in the Czech society, the Roma and Czech gender relations from the perspective of outsiders - women who left during Communist regime but returned since 1989.

Aims:

  • To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to second year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
  • To facilitate students engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
  • To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level C.
  • Some options may prepare students for the experience of the Year Abroad.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful students will:

  • be knowledgeable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
  • be skilled in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
  • be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at a high level;
  • be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an high level of complexity;
  • be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including study at a foreign university and on work placements during the year abroad.

Teaching Information

1x2hr weekly seminar.

Assessment Information

  • 1x essay (3000 words)  discussion of 1 aspect of gender in Czech society = 60%
  • 1x essay (2000 words)  critical analysis of 1 text = 40%

Reading and References

References:

1. Funk, N. & Mueller, M. (ed.): Gender Politics and Post-communism, Reflection from Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union, Routledge: London, 1993

2. Havelkov� H.: Abstract citizenship? Women and Power in CR in Hobson, B. (ed.): Gender and Citizenship in Transition, Macmillan Press: London, 2000

3. `iklov�, J.: Why we resist Western-style feminism in Transitions: Changes in Post-communist societies, Vol.5, No 1, January 1998

4. Watson, P.: Civic society and the politics of difference in Eastern Europe in Scott, J.W., Kaplan C. and Keater D.: Transitions, Environments, Translations: Feminism in International Politics, Routledge: London, 1997

5. erm�kov�, M.: Relations and Changes in Gender Differences in Czech Society in the 1990s, SUAVCR: Praha, 2000

6. erm�kov�, M. (ed.): Czech Sociological Review, SUAVCR: Praha, 1999.

7. Jedn�m okem/ One Eye Open  all issues.

8. Yuval-Davis, N.: Gender and Nations, Sage Publications: London, 1997

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