GEND 1106OL - Introduction to Gender Studies

Online - Semester 1 - 2019

Gender is encountered in every aspect of our lives. It informs public debate, legislation, how much money we earn, who dies younger and our exposure to risk and sexual violence. The course examines contemporary gender relations in Australian society, in our everyday lives, the school, the workplace, and the home. To what extent can we explain these relations in terms of women's and men's choices and to what extent in terms of masculinities and femininities, laws and institutions, and the distribution of power and resources in Australian society? The ways that ethnicity, 'race' and class modify and give meaning to gender debates in an Australian and international context will also be a central concern.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEND 1106OL
    Course Introduction to Gender Studies
    Coordinating Unit Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Online
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week online
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible GSSA 1006, GEND 1106
    Course Description Gender is encountered in every aspect of our lives. It informs public debate, legislation, how much money we earn, who dies younger and our exposure to risk and sexual violence. The course examines contemporary gender relations in Australian society, in our everyday lives, the school, the workplace, and the home. To what extent can we explain these relations in terms of women's and men's choices and to what extent in terms of masculinities and femininities, laws and institutions, and the distribution of power and resources in Australian society? The ways that ethnicity, 'race' and class modify and give meaning to gender debates in an Australian and international context will also be a central concern.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Penelope Eate

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    Investigate issues and debates around gender, particularly in relation to Australian society.

     

    Identify and explain the ways in which gender shapes our everyday lives through the intersections of gender, race, class, sexuality, age, religion, culture, and nation.

     

    Discuss the ways in which systems of power, privilege, and oppression shape our experiences as individuals and members of communities.

     

    Develop a critical vocabulary that includes key theoretical debates in historical and contemporary gender studies.

     

    Demonstrate research literacy, through library searches, research techniques and skills, development of argument, and academic referencing.

     

    Write logical and coherent arguments based on evidence, and engage in critical debate.

     

    Work with others in the exploration of ideas and to collectively develop arguments and negotiate solutions to problems.

     

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2,3,5,6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3,6,7
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    5,6,7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,2,3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1,2,3,7
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    WORKLOAD - STRUCTURED LEARNING

    TOTAL HOURS

    1 x 2-hour lecture per week

    20

    1 x 1-hour tutorial per week

    10


    WORKLOAD - SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

    TOTAL HOURS

    6 hours reading per week

    72

    2 hours research per week

    24

    2 hours assignment preparation per week

    24

    3 2 hour online group discussions/ emailing in preparation for lead discussant post per semester

    6

    Learning Activities Summary

    WEEK

    LECTURE TOPIC

    1

    Introduction to the Course

    2

    Defining key terms: Sex, gender and sexuality

    3

    Gender and social change in Australia: Are we there yet?

    4

    Gender as a Socially Constructed Category

    5

    Indigenous feminism and intersectionality

    6

    Islamic feminism and the veil

    7

    Queering gender and critiquing heterosexuality

    8

    Gender and Violence

    9

    From sexual objects to sexual subjects? Gender and Sexualisation in Popular Culture

    10

    Work & Parenting in a Postfeminist World

    11

    Staff Consultations

    12

     

    Small Group Discovery Experience
    SGDE’s include, but are not limited to, working in small groups (of about 3 people) to deliver a class presentation on a lead discussant post each week. There will be interaction with the tutor in the preparation, delivery, and feedback stages of this task.

    Online tutorials for most weeks consist of small group discussions on the weekly topics, with tasks including textual analysis and close readings of key texts. There will be interaction with the tutor during these activities.  
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    ASSESSMENT TASK

    TASK TYPE

    WEIGHTING

    COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

    Online Activities

    Formative and Summative

    25 %

    1-7

    1000 word minor essay

    Formative and Summative

    30 %

    1-7

    2500 word major essay

    Formative and Summative

    45 %

    1-7

    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must attend 8/10 tutorials in order to be eligible for the tutorial participation grade.
    Assessment Detail
    Tutorial Attendance and Participation: Students will be required to attend tutorials and actively contribute in tutorial discussions demonstrating knowledge they have gained from the lecture and set readings.
    Online activities: Students will be required to participate in online tutorials knowledge they have gained from the lecture and set readings. They will need to choose one week in which to prepare a short online presentation and le

    1000 word essay: Students will be required to write a 1000 word essay on the social formation of gender.

    2500 word essay: Students will be required to conduct semi-structured interviews on a specific aspect of the social formation of gender. They will be required to write a 2500 word essay based on these interviews and independent research.
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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