ENGENDERING WORLD POLITICS - 2020/1
Module code: POL3067
Module Overview
This module seeks to introduce students to a range of topics relating to the roles of gender structures and sexuality in defining international relations and world politics. The module will explore the complex interactions that underpin the relationship between the personal and the international. The module will look at key debates in feminist and sexualities theorising, in order to show how the concepts of gender and sexuality require scholars to unpack key defining concepts such as “masculinity” and “femininity”.
Module provider
Politics
Module Leader
CHAPPELL Laura (Politics)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 128
Seminar Hours: 22
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
The module will cover a range of theoretical perspectives and will apply them to the analysis of key issues and case studies.
The syllabus is likely to include but is not restricted to:
Theories
• Empirical and Standpoint Feminism
• Critical and Post-Structuralist Theories
• Sexualities and ‘Queer’ Theories in International Relations
Key Issues/Case Studies
• Women’s political representation.
• Sex Trafficking
• Sexual violence as a weapon of war
• Masculinity, militarism and nationalism/national identity
• Global gender divisions of labour – women in the global economy
• Participation and representation
• Pornography, sex work and sex tourism
• Gender based violence
• Gender and post-colonialism
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | CASE STUDY (3000 WORDS) | 60 |
| Examination | SEEN EXAM (1.5 HRS) | 40 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the development of core skills and the application of theoretical knowledge to applied cases studies.
The Case Study (3000 words) will assess the student's ability to
- Apply feminist theories and/or gender approaches to the analysis of empirical data, e.g. texts, policies and statistical trends.
- Apply a range of research methods to analyse empirical material
The Seen Exam (90 mins) will assess the student's
- Knowledge of gender approaches to the study of Political Science and International Relations
- Ability to draw on different theoretical approaches in order to answer specific questions
Module aims
- To introduce students to a range of concepts relating to gendered and sexualities approaches to International Relations
- To demonstrate the close links between the “personal” and the “international” in the study of world politics.
- To critically assess the role of key actors in international relations.
- To identify and assess the impact of social trends in world politics.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Develop analytical and critical skills necessary for the application of gender and sexuality theories to empirical examples. | KCPT |
| 002 | Develop the ability to synthesise key theoretical concepts and debates in IR. | KC |
| 003 | Evaluate the changing nature of IR and world politics. | KC |
| 004 | Form critical arguments | KCPT |
| 005 | Manage time effectively | PT |
| 006 | Develop research and writing skills. | CPT |
| 007 | Communicate persuasively and fluently in speech and writing; | PT |
| 008 | Work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organization and time-management; | PT |
| 009 | Make appropriate use of information and communication technology. | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- Develop students’ understanding of feminist theories in the social sciences
- Expand students’ analytical toolkit by introducing them to feminist approaches to research
- Challenge the assumption that knowledge is value free and neutral
- Expose student to a range of critical approaches to politics and international relations
The learning and teaching methods include:
- Lecture
- Seminar
- Workshops
- Research labs
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POL3067
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Affairs MPA | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| International Relations BSc (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Politics BSc (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Politics and Economics BSc (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Politics with Spanish BSc (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Politics with French BSc (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Politics and Sociology BSc (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| English Literature with Politics BA (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Politics with Creative Writing BSc (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Law with International Relations LLB (Hons) | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.