This course will further develop students' knowledge and understanding of concepts and theories of gender and sex, as well as examining the aims of feminist theory in general. In particular, the course will trace changes from the late 1960s to the present in the status of the categories of 'women' and 'gender' as foundational concepts in Feminist Theory. In addition, it will consider how theories of discourse and representation have changed the way theorists have conceived of 'women' and 'gender''. Topics to be covered include: biological and cultural theories of sex and gender; feminist analyses of identity, power and sexuality, the relationship between gender and differences of race and class; feminist theory, postmodernism and postfeminism.

Students will develop:

• advanced understanding of debates about the foundational concepts of gender and sex in feminist theory
• familiarity with some of the key debates and texts in feminist theory
• an ability to critically analyse and understand theoretical texts
• improved skills of argumentation and exposition

The recommended assessment for this course is 3,000- 3,500 words of written work and tutorial participation.

20 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials

GEND1001, GEND1002 or with permission of the Coordinator.

WOMS2023 Gender, Sex and Sexuality: An Introduction to Feminist Theory

* Stacey, J. 'Feminist Theory: Capital F, Capital T' in V. Robinson & D. Richardson (eds) Introducing Women's Studies: Feminist Theory and Practice, MacMillan, 1997.
* Ang, I., 'I'm a Feminist But... Other Women and Postnational Feminism' in B. Caine and R. Pringle, (eds) Transitions: New Australian Feminisms, Allen & Unwin, 1995.