Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Dr Emily Cachia
Dr Paul Byron
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces students to fundamental theory used within gender studies to explore what it means to be male and female today, and what it has meant for past generations. Students will gain a sense of the complexity and significance of a number of key issues and debates (local and global, past and present) that have arisen within the study of sex and gender. These include: body, image and power, the cultural and psycho-sexual dynamics of oppression and violence; ideas of equality at work, at home, and at school; and the changing nature of masculinity and femininity in Australia. The unit is interdisciplinary, with input from politics, education, history, philosophy and indigenous studies, as well as sociology and gender studies.
All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Detailed guidelines explaining the requirements for each assignment are available on iLearn in the section entitled 'Assessment Resources.' It is necessary to have read these guidelines in order to successfully complete each task.
A late penalty may be applied to assignments submitted after the due date and without an approved extension: 3% on the first day, 1% per weekday thereafter.
Essays are submitted electronically through Turnitn which is located on iLearn. No hard copy of the essay is required. Turnitin Submission Procedure
Students who are absent from 3 or more weekly discussions without supporting documentation will be at risk of academic failure.
Name | Weighting | Due |
---|---|---|
Quizzes | 30% | Weekly quiz starting in week 2 |
Essay - Academic Resources | 30% | Sunday Week 6 |
Essay - Media Sources | 30% | Sunday Week 12 |
Participation | 10% | Wk 2 - Wk 12 |
Due: Weekly quiz starting in week 2
Weighting: 30%
Due: Sunday Week 6
Weighting: 30%
Due: Sunday Week 12
Weighting: 30%
Due: Wk 2 - Wk 12
Weighting: 10%
PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
Please contact teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements. Consult the OUA website for more detailed information on technology requirements:
http://www.open.edu.au/public/future-students/getting-started/computer-requirements
Lectures for this unit were originally delivered to a live audience at Macquarie University. Lectures are recorded and available through the GENX110 iLearn site using Echo. The lectures are 2hrs long: 1 x hour lecture and 1 x hour video. Please note that the video material is supplementary to the lecture, not essential viewing. Echo recordings don't typically allow the capture of video material for copyright reasons. Where possible I have included hyperlinks on iLearn to streaming versions of the films. The remaining videos can be viewed at Macquarie University library if students live locally (remember to bring your own headphones), or sourced independently.
Lectures commence in Week One, Forum Participation formally starts for students in Week Two
Required readings can be accessed electronically through the hyperlinks provided on iLearn or via MQ library by searching Unit Readings. The texts can be read online, printed out by the student or downloaded. There is no textbook for this unit.
Week 1 | Introduction |
Week 2 | Feminism/s |
Week 3 | Femininity |
Week 4 | Sex-gender |
Week 5 | Equality & Difference |
Week 6 | Gendered Harm |
Week 7 | Reproduction: Rights & Responsibilities |
Week 8 | Politicians & Prejudice: Sexism |
Week 9 | Muslim Women, Feminism & Islamic Feminism |
Week 10 | Female Genital Mutilation |
Week 11 | Indigenous family violence |
Week 12 | Gender (masculinity) & Education |
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.
You need to show that the circumstances:
If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:
Outcome
Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.
You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.
If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.
If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Academic honesty is an integral part of the core values and principles contained in the Macquarie University Ethics Statement: http://www.mq.edu.au/ethics/ethic-statement-final.html.
Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:
The link at the top of the page has more details about the policy, procedure and schedule of penalties that will apply to breaches of the Academic Honesty Policy.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
It is highly recommended that before you begin this unit of study you acquaint yourself the Online Learning Supportresources available at this website - http://www.mq.edu.au/courses/open_universities_australia/welcome_to_online_learning/welcome_to_online_learning/
It will provide you with an orientation to learning online, information about your assessment tasks, instructions on how to make use of the unit's resources, as well as an awareness of the various support services available to you. Please take some time to explore the links in this website before commencing your study.
Macquarie University would like to do as much as we can to help you succeed in your studies with Macquarie via OUA. To do that, we are providing a list of services you may need to access from time to time. Please see our Support Services Website for further details.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Foundations in Gender Studies is an introductory unit for students interested in what it means to be male and female today and what it has meant for past generations. We also introduce preliminary discussions on what it means to live outside the binary sex-gender system as a transgender or queer subject. The unit is divided into two parts: Foundational Topics and Focus Topics.
The Foundational Topics will each use first, second and third wave feminist theory to explain how issues that are now fundamental to Gender Studies - such as the ethics of care, gender identity, equal rights - first came to prominence. In addition, by using the different waves of feminism to structure the unit students will glean how gender theory has changed over time and how the discipline continues to evolve in response to contemporary issues.
The Focus Topics contained in the second part of the Unit will give students the chance to apply the different theoretical frameworks they've just gleaned to specific discussions of local or global issues that affect men, women and gender-diverse subjects today.
GENX110 is an interdisciplinary unit, drawing from sociology, philosophy, education and more. The unit has been designed by the Director of the Gender Studies Program at Macquarie University, Dr Judy Lattas, who also provides the majority of the lecture material. A number of guest academics will also deliver lectures within their fields of expertise.
Trigger Warning: GENX110 contains some lecture material on sexual assault and domestic violence. Any student who feels unable to engage with lecture content of this sort (for example in Week 6 on Gendered Harm or Week 11 on Indigenous Family Violence) please contact the convenor so that they can organise alternative assessment if necessary.
Unless otherwise stated in your iLearn unit, late submission of written work will result in a deduction of 10% of the mark awarded for each week or part of a week beyond the due date, or date to which an extension has been granted.
Extensions
The granting of extensions of up to one week are at the discretion of the unit convener. Any requests for extensions must be made in writing before the due date for the submission of the assessment task. Extensions beyond one week is subject to the university’s Disruptions Policy (Read the policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html).
Disruption to Studies
If you require an extension of longer than seven (7) days you will be required to submit a ‘Disruption to Studies’ Notification. Please follow the procedure below:
Please ensure that supporting documentation is included with your request.
Notify your lecturer via your iLearn dialogue box if you are submitting a ‘Disruption to Studies’ Notification.
Your request will be considered once all the documentation has been received.
If you have issues, please contact your convenor via the dialogue tool immediately.
Extensions are granted only on grounds of illness or misadventure, and appropriate supporting documentation must be submitted. Work submitted after 3 weeks beyond the due date, or the date after which an extension has been given, will not be accepted. If you are having problems completing an assignment, please contact the tutor as early as possible.
OUA Special Circumstances Process
Special Circumstances refers to late withdrawal from a unit and your request to have your circumstances taken into account for a possible refund of fees and removal of a “fail” result.
Applications for Special Circumstances are to be submitted to Open Universities Australia directly.
There is no requirement to purchase any texts for this unit. All required reading can be accessed electronically through MQ library. For more information click on the Online Learning Guides tab in the top right sidebar on iLearn. Then click 'Library Support'
In summary, required readings can be accessed via:
The required reading for each of our Foundational Topics will consist of 3 texts (usually journal articles or book chapters) that represent first, second and third wave feminist theory.
The required reading for each of the Focus Topics will consist of 2 texts.
The required reading is one of the most challenging parts of the unit - those of you who have studied Arts subjects previously will have some familiarity with this. As the articles or book chapters can be complex it may be necessary to read them more than once. Please be an active reader, make notes, print out the readings if it’s helpful and underline relevant passages. Use secondary sources. Learning a new language like gender theory takes time, but is worth the effort!