How are women's and men's identities shaped by society? In what ways are men's and women's lives different and in what ways are they similar? How do we learn to become 'proper' women and men? How do gender relations intersect with race, class and sexuality? This course gives an accessible and lively introduction to Gender Studies. It introduces the key concepts of gender, sexuality, femininity and masculinity, and the key idea that gender is socially constructed. The course includes case studies of three areas of popular controversy in gender relations: sex and sexuality (bodies, cosmetic surgery, sport, etc.); images of women and men in the media; and men's and women's experiences of violence. These case studies are used to explore the significance of gender analysis in understanding social and cultural life, and to introduce the diversity of feminist approaches within Gender Studies.

By the end of this course, students should be able to

1. Analyse the way gender structures our ways of being and thinking.
2. Use specific examples to explain key concepts, themes and theories in Gender Studies.
3. Think, write and argue with these key concepts, themes and theories.
4. Reflect on and discuss your own learning as it relates to the subject matter of the course.

Reading report (15%) (500 words)

Essay (35%) (1500 words)

Reflective Excercise 15%  (500 words)

Tutorial Presentation and Report (25%)  (500 words)

Tutorial Attendance and Participation 10%

Tutorial attendance is compulsory.

24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials

4-7 hours of independent study depending on assessment schedule.

The prescribed texts for this course are contained in a reading brick. The reading brick includes articles and book chapters by authors such as Particia Hill-Collins, Jeffrey Weeks, Bronwyn Davies, Ann Fausto-Sterling and Emily Martin.

Connell, R.W. (2002) The Question of Gender. From Gender, Cambridge; Polity Press