Global Gender Studies: Introduction to contemporary gender studies

The course is a single subject core course in the first cycle.

The course can be part of the following programmes: 1) BA-program in Global Studies (S1GLS)

This course will provide a basic understanding of key ideas about sex, gender, sexuality, and intersectionality. The course is divided into five modules, each focusing on different "feminist waves." We will explore what each wave stood for, what triggered them, and how they changed over time due to both internal and external factors. We will read classic texts and place them in their historical and social contexts, providing you with tools to understand and analyse sex and gender in today’s globalized world. We will also look at how gender studies view development and globalization, and how these relate to the North and South. Throughout the course, we will dive into important and contested concepts like sex, gender, feminism, masculinity/femininity, queer, trans, heteronormativity, and intersectionality. The course may also touch on postcolonial and posthumanist theories, critical globalization perspectives, critical race theory, and contemporary ideas about materialism and emotions. By the end of the course, students have a solid foundation in gender studies and a deeper understanding of how such concepts relate to contemporary issues and feminist activism.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding 

• account for basic knowledge of theories of sex, gender, sexuality and intersectionality
• show a foundational understanding of power relations in relation to categories such as gender, queer, ethnicity/race and class 

Skills and abilities 

• examine and compare phenomena in society, culture and media on the basis of global gender studies theories, concepts and issues both orally and in writing 
• prepare for and take active part in seminar discussions 
• identify, describe and discuss basic theories, concepts and issues in global gender studies 

Judgement and approach 

• critically evaluate cultural, political and historical phenomena on the basis of the category of gender 
• demonstrate a familiarity with academia and its basis in critical thinking.

The main forms of teaching are lectures and mandatory seminars.

Language of instruction: English

The examination will be conducted through attendance and active participation in five (5) mandatory seminars, and five (5) mandatory individually written short seminar papers.

Absence from mandatory seminars will be compensated for by additional or extended assignments according to instruction from the course coordinators.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

In order to be awarded a Pass grade for the course, a Pass grade is required on all assignments.

In order to be awarded a Pass with Distinction for the course, the student must receive a Pass with Distinction on three (3) of the written assignments, in addition to fulfilling the requirements for a Pass grade.

The course coordinator is responsible for systematically and regularly collecting the students’ views of the course, and for making sure that the results of the evaluations in different forms are taken into consideration when developing the course.

The results and possible changes to the course will be shared with the students who participated in the evaluation and the next class to take the course.