GEND 1107 - Gender, Work and Society

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

Gender, Work and Society is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of work and the ways in which the practices of work - paid and unpaid - is gendered. Men and women do different jobs in the workplace and in the home, they work different hours in many places, their training, education, skills and rewards are often different. While there are many differences among men, and among women, gender-based, systematic differences also exist. The course considers their origins and explanations. It examines links between broad societal changes and women's and men's changing roles, especially relating to the economy, education, technology, consumerism, individualism, globalisation, welfare and the changing patterns of family life. Furthermore the course considers recent developments in employment regarding increasing flexibility, privatisation, contracting out and home work. During the semester the course will cover current issues in the Australian workforce that are receiving media attention such as recent debates about the Industrial Relations system, the 'work-life collision', the issue of paid parental leave and the 'gender pay gap'.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEND 1107
    Course Gender, Work and Society
    Coordinating Unit Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible GSSA 1003/EX
    Course Description Gender, Work and Society is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of work and the ways in which the practices of work - paid and unpaid - is gendered. Men and women do different jobs in the workplace and in the home, they work different hours in many places, their training, education, skills and rewards are often different. While there are many differences among men, and among women, gender-based, systematic differences also exist. The course considers their origins and explanations. It examines links between broad societal changes and women's and men's changing roles, especially relating to the economy, education, technology, consumerism, individualism, globalisation, welfare and the changing patterns of family life. Furthermore the course considers recent developments in employment regarding increasing flexibility, privatisation, contracting out and home work. During the semester the course will cover current issues in the Australian workforce that are receiving media attention such as recent debates about the Industrial Relations system, the 'work-life collision', the issue of paid parental leave and the 'gender pay gap'.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Anna Szorenyi

    Course Timetable

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

    If you are having trouble fitting this course into your timetable, you may like to consider the fully online version with flexible timing each week - enrol in GEND 1107OL.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

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

    Identify and analyse contemporary national and global issues relating to gender and work.

    Apply a critical and ethical perspective to contemporary issues around gender and work

    Apply theoretical understandings of gender and society to explain contemporary work issues

    Interpret empirical data on the nature of gender and work in Australia

    Utilise knowledge to propose and evaluate policy strategies related to gender and work

    Demonstrate skills in literature searching, critical reading and referencing

    Compare and integrate different perspectives on a given question

    Construct a clear and coherent argument in written form which responds to a particular question and is supported by appropriate evidence

    Develop interpersonal, leadership and teamwork skills in group activities

        10.

    Undertake independent research and meet external deadlines

    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)
    1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
    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
    1,2,3,4,6,8,10
    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
    1,2,3,4,5,9
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    7,9
    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
    6
    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
    1,2,7,8,9
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Reader.
    Recommended Resources
     Reading lists, web-links, library resources, essay writing guides, study guides, referencing, IT support and TURNITIN will be available
    Online Learning
    The MyUni site contains some additional resources and materials. Each week after the lecture, the lecture slides and lecture recording are uploaded. Announcements and a discussion board are activated for student queries and the passing on of course information. Websites and some uploaded film/dvd material will complement the material in the reader. Articulate Storyline modules are available on MyUni. The materials will be released over the semester.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures and screenings supported by tutorials in which examples are analysed, problems posed and solved.
    Workload

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

    WORKLOAD                                          

    TOTAL HOURS

    1x2 hour lecture per week

    24 hours per semester

    1x1 hour tutorial per week

    12 hours per semester

    6 hours reading per week

    72 hours per semester

    2 hours research per week

    24 hours per semester

    2 hours assignment preparation per week

    24 hours per semester

     

    TOTAL = 156 hours per semester

    Learning Activities Summary

    WEEK

    LECTURE TOPIC

    1

    Introduction to course, terms and concepts

    2

    How did it all start? Gender, work and industrialisation in ‘the West’

    3

    Who built Australia? Colonialism and Indigenous Workers

    4

    The gender pay gap and other inequalities: Workforce segregation, pay and skills

    5

    Whose choices? Industrial relations, policy changes, flexibility and casualisation

    6

    Doing it tough: Un(der)employment and welfare

    7

    Who cares? Welfare, childcare, & social reproduction

    8

    Work/family collision! Domestic labour and housework

    9

    Femininities and Masculinities at work: Emotional and aesthetic labour

    10

    Globalised labour: Migration, outsourcing and trafficking

    11

    Policy remedies? Equity, diversity and anti-discrimination

    12

    Concluding Remarks

    Small Group Discovery Experience
    SGDE a tutorial setting involving group presentations to apply theory from modules to case studies/examples presented in the lecture and the readings. Students will work in groups of 4x5 students. Group presentation in the tutorial.
  • 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)

    500 word writing exercise

    Formative and Summative

    20%

    1, 7, 8

    Group presentation

    Formative and Summative

    15%

    1-7, 9

    Quizzes

    Formative and Summative

    20%

    1,3,4,6

    Class participation

    Formative and Summative

    10%

    1, 7, 8

    1500 word research essay

    Formative and Summative

    35%

    1-8

    Assessment Detail
    500 word writing exercise: – 20% weighting.

    Group Presentation: Students will be allocated a tutorial topic to present (in small groups) in the tutorial – 10% weighting.

    1500 word essay: Students will be required to write a research essay chosen from topics to be circulated in week 6 - 40% weighting.

    Tutorial Participation: Students engage in interaction in class activities and the cooperative sharing of materials and information - 10% weighting.

    Quizzes – On-line quizzes during semester will ask questions related to lectures and course readings – 20%
    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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