Newcastle University > Undergraduate > Find a Degree > Module

• Offered for Year: 2020/21

• Module Leader(s): Dr Orly Siow

• Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Aims

1.       To provide students with a critical overview of feminist theories and approaches to politics;
2.       To equip students with knowledge of different strands of feminist thought and their understandings of sex and gender;
3.       To provide students with skills to analyse the politics of sex, gender, and sexuality across social structures, institutions, and cultures;
4.       To engage students in the analysis of sex and gender in intersection with other categories like race, class, and ethnicity;
5.       To empower students to critically engage with current feminist debates.

Outline Of Syllabus

Why are sex, gender and sexuality political issues? Feminism, in all its various forms, profoundly unsettles established understands of the nature and location the political. Not only does it contest the gender-neutrality of politics, but also challenges what counts as politics. This module explores the various ways in which different feminist approaches conceive of the political. What does it mean to examine concepts like power, inequality, labour, violence, and the international from a feminist perspective? What do feminists have to say about representation, capitalism, social movements, and colonialism? How do sex and gender intersect with other forms of oppression? How and why do various strands of feminism agree or disagree with each other? Why is feminism still politically relevant today? Each week familiarises students with a particular feminist approach, such as liberal Marxist, radical, postcolonial and queer feminism, and applies it to one or more feminist issues.

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures introduce students to the key terms, concepts, and texts associated with the politics of gender. They also help place feminism in context vis-à-vis e.g. Marxism, Liberalism and Poststructuralism. Seminars provide a live, synchronous environment in which students can discuss readings from e.g. MacKinnon, Crenshaw, Butler . The Lecture Q&A gives students the chance to drop in and ask questions of the ML, who may also use the time to expand on recorded lectures and clarify key themes. Structured, guided learning activities such as annotated readings to encourage deeper engagement with the concepts and debates covered in the key texts.

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The essay plan will provide the opportunity for formative assessment. The essay will allow students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and debates covered throughout the course, as well as engaging in particular depth with specific strands of feminist theory, ideology, practice or movement relevant to each question.

Reading Lists

• POL2113's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• POL2113's Timetable