| Unit name | The Sociology of Gender |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCI20042 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Perrier |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is important because it introduces you to different feminist theories that are needed to understand contemporary patterns of gender relations such as inequalities between women across the Globe as well as patterns of gender+ inequalities in households, in the labour market, in politics, and culture amongst others.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Although students are introduced to the significance of gender inequalities and feminist thought in year 1 units, this unit gives them the opportunity to thoroughly and systematically assess different feminist theories and concepts-such as patriarchy, sexual division of labour, stratified reproduction intersectionality theory- and evaluate what light they shed on gender and its intersections with ‘race’ class, sexuality and other social divisions.
An overview of content
This unit introduces students to key theoretical conceptualizations of gender, including queer, decolonial, Marxist and intersectional perspectives. It also examines contemporary gender relations through the investigation of questions of nature/culture, reproduction, work, solidarity, exploitation. The unit asks students to appreciate the diverse ways in which gender is a structural division at the same time as appreciating the ways gendered hierarchies and expressions are constantly transforming. A key dimension of the unit is examination of how gendered relations of power intersects with other kinds of social difference such as 'race', class, migration and sexuality.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Students will be able to critically reflect on how conceptualizations of gender are connected to other key social divisions, as well as reflect on how gender manifests in their own lives.
Students will emerge from this unit with an understanding of key feminists concepts and how to apply them. Students will appreciate how sociologists of gender seek to explain and change gender and intersectional inequalities. On completing this unit, students will also be able to locate themselves within these contrasting debates and critically reflect on their own intersectional identities.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
This unit will be taught through seminars and lectures and a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities including weekly tasks that sometimes include blog writing, podcasts, reflective diary entries, peer interviews, manifesto and zine writing and domestic labour surveys. These methods will enable you to experience some techniques of feminist writing and activism for yourself. There will also be the opportunity for you to use weekly padlet discussion board to ask questions and continue the seminar conversations.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The formative assessment will be a presentation plan that you hand in to your seminars. You will receive oral feedback on this during seminars from your seminar tutor.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Assessment 1
The first assessment will be a 20 Minute student led presentation that counts for 25%. This gives you the opportunity to applies a concept from the unit to an area or sociological problem of your choice and then present your work to your cohort and lecturer. You will receive guidance in seminars/office hours. You will receive written feedback from peers and formal feedback from your lecturer. The presentations will help you gain the analytical skills that will help you develop your essay and if you choose to you can choose to design your own essay question with the module leader’s approval. This is an opportunity to practice analytical skills that will be key for your dissertation.
Assessment 2
The second assessment will be a 2500 word essay. There will be a range of essay titles that analyse feminist concepts. There will also be an opportunity to produce your own feminist manifesto which will receive separate guidance and marking criteria. This assessment is 75%.
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. You will be required to complete a different assessment question.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCI20042).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
