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Gender, Culture and Identity unit (HGA372)

Introduction

How do we learn to 'do' gender? Is gender 'natural'? In this unit, you will develop a critical lens through which to understand the social forces and structures of power that shape us as gendered individuals and construct the world in which we live, drawing on feminist and sociological research. The ways in which gender is mediated by social groups, systems and institutions will be of particular concern. Drawing from classic and contemporary scholarship, films, images, and popular culture, we will explore a range of topics from the gendering of children's products to cyborgs.

Summary

Unit name Gender, Culture and Identity
Unit code HGA372
Credit points 12.5
College/School Arts and Society
Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline Sociology and Criminology
Coordinator Associate Professor Peta Cook
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Advanced

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

  • Outline the main features of feminist and sociological disciplinary perspectives as relevant to gender.
  • Critically apply contemporary feminist and sociological scholarship to examine gendered lives, viewpoints and expressions.
  • Analyse how gender intersects with social groups, systems, and institutions.
  • Communicate your ideas clearly in written and/or verbal form.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

25 points at introductory level in any discipline in any faculty

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

On Campus:

Weekly online learning content (1.5 hours), Weekly face to face tutorials (2 hours)

Off Campus: 
Weekly online learning content (1.5 hours), Weekly online tutorial and/or Weekly online discussions (2 hours)

AssessmentTutorials and/or Discussion Posts (10%)|Online quiz (20%)|Examination - take home (30%)|Major essay (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Required textbook: Holmes, M. (2007) What is gender? Sociological approaches. London: Sage

 

This textbook is available through University of Tasmania library, including as an e-book. Other required readings will be detailed on MyLO. 

Recommended

If you have not recently studied sociology, a sociology dictionary and first-year textbook will be helpful. There are many that are available through the library.

I recommend sociology dictionaries published by Penguin (edited by Nicholas Abercrombie, Stephen Hill and Bryan S. Turner) and Oxford (edited by John Scott and Gordon Marshall). Sociology dictionaries can be found in the University of Tasmania library or you can purchase one. Do not use a non-sociological dictionary.

Recommended readings may be provided in the weekly learning content on MyLO. Some of these recommended readings can be accessed through the University of Tasmania library via the Reading List.

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