Students

GENX110 – Foundations in Gender Studies

2017 – S2 OUA

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Rebecca Sheehan
Contact via email
W6A831
by appointment
Tutor
Saartje Tack
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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

Important Academic Dates

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/

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

General Assessment Information

There are 4 assessments in GEN110. These consist of: weekly tutorial participation, multiple choice quizzes, a key concepts essay task, and a final essay. Taken together, the tasks are designed to aid your learning and test your understanding of the unit material.

Tasks 3 and 4 must be submitted via Turnitin.

Students should be aware of the following policies in particular in regard to assignments:

Academic Honesty Policy: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html. The university takes plagiarism very seriously and there are penalties for using other people's work as your own. Please check this unit's iLearn site for resources on how to cite your sources properly and avoid plagiarism.

Disruption to Studies Policy: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Grading Policy: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Requests for Extensions and Late Penalties

To request an extension for a period up to and including 7 days, please email your tutor.

To apply for an extension of more than 7 days please complete the Disruption to Studies notification and submit it online through AskMQ. See the Disruption to Studies Policy above and find further details here: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration/disruption-to-studies

Late assessments without an approved extension will incur a penalty of two marks (out of 100) per business day.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online discussion 10% No Weekly
Multiple Choice Quizzes 20% No Ongoing from weeks 2-11
Key concepts comprehension 30% No Sunday Week 5
Final essay 40% No Sunday Week 13

Online discussion

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

Active engagement in discussion is an important part of university learning. Each week, we will present you with questions related to the lecture and reading material to discuss online. Tutorial participation is required each week—you cannot post retrospectively. Your mark will reflect the quality and quantity of your participation. It takes into consideration:

  • your knowledge of the material (you have listened to the lectures and done the reading)
  • your active participation in discussions and tasks. This includes posting your responses to questions posed by the tutor and responding to what others in your tutorial have written (no binge posting in the final week of semester).

Note that you are expected to participate in at least 80% of tutorials unless exceptional circumstances prevail.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Multiple Choice Quizzes

Due: Ongoing from weeks 2-11
Weighting: 20%

Students will be required to complete a multiple choice quiz each week beginning in week 2 and finishing in week 11. The quizzes are based on content in the lectures and readings. Each quiz contains 2 questions (2 questions per week x 10 weeks = 20 questions total).

From Week 2 to Week 11, multiple choice quizzes will open on the GEN110 iLearn.

Students will have one week in which to complete each week’s quiz.

Students are advised to start attempting the quizzes well ahead of the deadline. There are no extensions, including for last-minute technical problems or forgetting to submit on time. You will need to provide documentation explaining your absence for the entire duration of a quiz in order to apply for special consideration. Please be advised that the convenor will not respond to any requests to re-open quizzes, to extend their deadlines or to open them early.

It is very important to click on the save button for each answer as you go, and when you are happy with your answers, click on the submit button. Without saving each answer and submitting them at the end, they will not be counted. You will be able to change your mind on a saved answer, and save it again, as many times as you want before submitting it. Your saved answers can be retrieved even if you forget to submit them; if they are not saved, however, they cannot be retrieved and will not count.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Key concepts comprehension

Due: Sunday Week 5
Weighting: 30%

Write a maximum 1,250 word analytical response to the assignment task to be supplied.

The aim of this assignment is to show your familiarity with key concepts in the course, to demonstrate you can use those concepts, and to demonstrate academic writing skills.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Final essay

Due: Sunday Week 13
Weighting: 40%

Write a 1,500 word analytical essay on ONE of the questions to be supplied.

This essay will test your comprehension of the ideas and issues discussed during the course. 

You are to use at least 4 references from the unit, and to conduct some independent library research to locate at least 3 additional references related to your topic.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Delivery and Resources

Recorded lectures are available on the iLearn site.

Please note that lectures and tutorials start in the first week of S2 classes.

All readings are available on GENX110 iLearn.

Unit Schedule

 

Week 1

July 31

Lecture 1: Introduction: What is Gender Studies?

 

Tutorial

Introductions

Week 2

August 7

Lecture 2: Bodies and Binaries

 

Tutorial

19th century beliefs: on brains and representations of Indigenous womanhood

Week 3

August 14

Lecture 3: Feminisms

**discussion of key concepts essay

 

Tutorial

1970s feminist writings

Week 4

August 21

Lecture 4: Femininities

**feedback on progress so far

 

Tutorial

Filipina and Muslim women

Week 5

August 28

Lecture 5: Men’s and Masculinity Studies

 

Tutorial

Masculinities

Key concepts essay due

Sunday September 3

 

Week 6

September 4

Lecture 6: Masculinities

 

Tutorial

White and Chinese men

Week 7

September 11

Lecture 7: Histories of Sexualities

 

Tutorial

Queer theory

SESSION BREAK

Monday September 18-October 2

 

Week 8

October 2

Lecture 8: Sexualities

**discussion of final essay

 

Tutorial

Performativity

Week 9

October 9

Lecture 9: Intersectionality and Third Wave Feminisms

 

Tutorial

Intersectionality and national context

Week 10

October 16

Lecture 10: Intersex and Trans* Spectrums

 

Tutorial

Sexes and Genders

Week 11

October 23

Lecture 11: Gender and Intimacy

 

Tutorial

Sexual assault and pornography

Week 12

October 30

Lecture 12: Gender and Nation & Conclusions

 

Tutorial

Gender and Australian identity

Week 13

November 6

Lecture 13: No lecture this week. Please use the time to work on your final essay.

 

Tutorial

No readings this week

Final essay due

Sunday November 12

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide

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.

Extension Request

Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)

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:

  1. were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
  2. were beyond your control
  3. caused substantial disruption to your academic work
  4. substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
  5. lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.

If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:

  1. Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
  2. Fill in your relevant details
  3. Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
  4. Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process

Outcome

Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.

OUA Specific Policies and Procedures

Withdrawal from a unit after the census date

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

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.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 (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

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.

Requests for Extensions and Late Penalties

To apply for an extension of up to and including 5 days, please email your tutor.

To apply for an extension of more than 5 days, please complete the disruption to studies notification and submit it online through AskMQ. See the Disruption to Studies Policy above and find further details here: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration/disruption-to-studies

Late assessments without an approved extension will incur a penalty of two marks (out of 100) per day.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Multiple Choice Quizzes
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Commitment to Continuous Learning

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Multiple Choice Quizzes
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Multiple Choice Quizzes
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Multiple Choice Quizzes
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Problem Solving and Research Capability

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Effective Communication

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Key concepts comprehension
  • Final essay

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions
  • Examine Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world
  • Review the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today
  • Demonstrate the ability to research and synthesise media and scholarly texts
  • Comprehend the relationship between scholarship, activism, and life. The material itself, which focuses on a range of contemporary issues to do with gender and other identities, will help you to develop a greater understanding of yourself and your world.

Assessment tasks

  • Online discussion
  • Final essay

Changes from Previous Offering

All existing material is updated each year to reflect relevant developments in society and in research

We will continue to seek and respond to student feedback on all aspects of the unit, so that it works in well with student interests, capabilities, and needs.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
14/07/2017 Updated learning outcomes