GEND 3020 - Gender and Sexualities in the Digital Age

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

The age of globalisation, the internet, social media and digital culture has been marked by new forms and understandings of identities, and new social issues and problems, ranging from climate change to artificial intelligence. Feminist theory, critical men and masculinity studies, queer theory, feminist science and technology studies, intersectionality, and disability studies/crip theory are well-placed to help us understand this period in history, as these theories have often been at the forefront of efforts aimed at exploring identities, critiquing power relations, and imagining possible futures. Topics will feature voices from intersecting and diverse sexual and cultural identities, including First Nation Peoples, People of Colour, migrants and refugees. Students will have the opportunity to apply theory-based knowledge through an analysis of a variety of cultural texts and technologies, for example, digital or media platforms, creative works and performance, or scientific research and technological innovations. Along the way we will discover new ways to understand ourselves and society, new approaches to contemporary problems, and ideas for changing the world for the better.

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Course Details

Course Code	GEND 3020
Course	Gender and Sexualities in the Digital Age
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	GEND 3018
Assessment	Quizzes, Group Presentation, Essay, Participation

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Professor Megan Warin

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Recognise critical theories, major debates and key theorists in gender and sexualities scholarship
2. Understand and articulate the political and social dimensions of diverse sexual and gendered orientations
3. Apply theoretical knowledge to contemporary social problems, issues and debates
4. Challenge binaries that structure western thought around gender and sexuality, including sex/gender, man/woman, homosexual/heterosexual
5. Explore relationships between digital technologies, science, gender and sexualities
6. Work with others in the exploration of ideas and to collectively negotiate solutions to problems
7. Construct a clear well-argued paper in response to a research question

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)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1-5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1-7
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1, 2, 3, 6
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	6, 7
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1-7
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	2-4
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	1-7
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	1-7

Learning Resources

Required Resources

An extensive list of further resources will be provided during semester. These include:
1. A list of further readings on each topic through the Weekly Myuni module
2. Resource guides on Harvard referencing and essay writing
3. Assistance with finding library and digital research materials

Recommended Resources

As above.

Online Learning

MyUni course site including announcements, discussion boards, online activities, digital platform activities, recorded lectures, digitised readings, quizzes, assignment submission and further resources.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Online: All lectures for this course are online and can be watched in student's own time each week. Lectures will be short digital formats of up to 50 minutes each week. Opportunities for interaction within lectures are provided and lecture material is supported with online digital platform activites, discussion boards, and shared resources.

Face to face: Workshops are in person each week. Workshops include extended group and self-guided learning, via discussion, case studies, peer research, collaborative problem-solving, independent and group projects and activities. You will have an opportunity to work collaboratively in small groups to present an informed analysis of your chosen topic. Guidance and support will be provided with your presentation from your tutors.

Independent:library and digital research; developing skills in constructing arguments

Workload

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

Workload	Total Hours
1 x 1 hr OL lecture per week	9 hours per semester
1 x 2 hour workshop per week	22 hours per semester
2 hours assignment prep per week	22
6 hours reading per week	66
2 hours research per week	22
	Total (including assessment prep) = 156 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

Schedule
Week 1	Understanding and theorising gender and sexuality
Week 2	Networked Masculinities and Social Media
Week 3	Incels, Right-Wing Populism, and the Crisis of Masculinity
Week 4	Intersectionalities in the Anthropocene
Week 5	Queer and Trans Inhumanisms
Week 6	Disability and Crip Theory
Week 7	Platform Feminism in the Digital Age
Week 8	Feminist Science and Technology Studies
Week 9	New materialisms and body entanglements
Week 10	Presentations
Week 11	Presentations
Week 12	Student consultation

Specific Course Requirements

Students do not need to have backgrounds in feminist theory nor scientific practice; the course is designed to work across a range of disciplines.

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

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

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Weekly Quizzes	Summative	Weekly	20%	LO 1-5, 8
Group research presentation	Summative	End of Semester	30%;1000 words	LO 1-8
Essay	Summative	TBC	40%	LO 1-5, 7, 8
Participation	Summative	Weekly	10%	LO 1-6, 8

Assessment Related Requirements

Attendance: Students are required to attend weekly workshops. You do not receive marks for attending workshops; you receive them for participating in workshops (See Assessment Details).
Written Assignments:All written assignments should be submitted as Word or pdf documents. All written assignments must be referenced in Harvard Style. Details are available on the library website.

Assessment Detail

Weekly quizzes will be based on weekly lectures/readings and activities. These will be conducted online via MyUni.

Group presentation - In groups, students will select an issue/problem/situation that concerns gender or sexuality and create an online presentation on the issue.

2000 word Essay - Students will complete an argumentative essay on a set topic covered in the course. Individual feedback
will be provided to each student via MyUni.

Participation - Students engage in interaction in class activities and the cooperative sharing ofmaterials and information.

Submission

Assignments will be submitted online, and checked for plagiarism using Turnitin.

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
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator