Students

GEND1020 – Gender and Power

2023 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Tobia Fattore
tobia.fattore@mq.edu.au
Emily Cachia
emily.cachia@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit evaluates the ways that gender, race, class, sexuality and other intersecting identities are shaped in and by the cultural and social institutions that organise and frame contemporary life. Through various topics including the body, surveillance, sexuality, labour, reproduction, and religion, the unit examines how ideas and ideals of gender and other intersecting identities are central to the operation and distribution of power. Assignments encourage the development of research and writing skills including posing questions, and evaluating and sourcing evidence.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Critically examine the operations of gender, identity and power in contemporary life
  • ULO2: Appraise theories that have been used, challenged, and critically extended in Gender Studies
  • ULO3: Interpret the relationship between contemporary life and theories of gender and power and apply analyses outside the classroom
  • ULO4: Demonstrate skills in summarising texts, analysing sources, and writing research essays. These skills will in turn support the analysis, evaluation of, and engagement with a range of texts
  • ULO5: Synthesise ideas through discussion with peers

General Assessment Information

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

Detailed Assessment Guidelines explaining the requirements for each assignment are available on the GEND1020 iLearn page in the Assessment Resources section. You must read these guidelines in order to successfully complete each task.

All essays are to be submitted electronically through Turnitin on the GEND1020 iLearn page.

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl. essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Please speak to your tutor as early as possible if you are experiencing any difficulties in meeting deadlines in this unit.

 

RELEVANT POLICY

Please be aware of the following policies in regard to assignments:    

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 20% No ongoing
Weekly quizzes 20% No weekly
Research essay plan 25% No wk7/wk8/wk9
Research Essay 35% No Week 13 Friday

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 20%

 

Each week you are required to actively participate in online discussion forums. This includes: --Evidence that you have done the readings, listened to the lecture, and thought about the topics in relation to your contemporary context. --Responding to questions and actively participating in the forums.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically examine the operations of gender, identity and power in contemporary life
  • Appraise theories that have been used, challenged, and critically extended in Gender Studies
  • Interpret the relationship between contemporary life and theories of gender and power and apply analyses outside the classroom
  • Synthesise ideas through discussion with peers

Weekly quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: weekly
Weighting: 20%

 

Weekly online quizzes related to unit content and skills development

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically examine the operations of gender, identity and power in contemporary life
  • Appraise theories that have been used, challenged, and critically extended in Gender Studies

Research essay plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: wk7/wk8/wk9
Weighting: 25%

 

Essay plan of 500 words addressing a set question (2 pages, including proposed thesis statement and draft structure), plus a preliminary list of sources you wish to consult (not included in the word count).

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically examine the operations of gender, identity and power in contemporary life
  • Appraise theories that have been used, challenged, and critically extended in Gender Studies
  • Interpret the relationship between contemporary life and theories of gender and power and apply analyses outside the classroom
  • Demonstrate skills in summarising texts, analysing sources, and writing research essays. These skills will in turn support the analysis, evaluation of, and engagement with a range of texts

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 13 Friday
Weighting: 35%

 

This 1500 word essay builds on the skills developed across semester via the quizzes, activities and the essay plan.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically examine the operations of gender, identity and power in contemporary life
  • Appraise theories that have been used, challenged, and critically extended in Gender Studies
  • Interpret the relationship between contemporary life and theories of gender and power and apply analyses outside the classroom
  • Demonstrate skills in summarising texts, analysing sources, and writing research essays. These skills will in turn support the analysis, evaluation of, and engagement with a range of texts

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

UNIT DELIVERY

  • Lectures: weekly 2-hour lecture delivered on-campus for internal students and recorded for external students. Lecture recordings can be accessed via iLearn site through ECHO

  • Tutorials: weekly 1-hour tutorials held on-campus for internal students. Weekly online discussion forums and activities for external students (accissed via iLearn).

  • Please note: lectures, tutorials and online discussion forums start in week 1

  • See your timetables for the latest information on lecture and tutorials times https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2023/

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED  

  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/  

 

REQUIRED READINGS  

  • All required readings are available through the iLearn site via Leganto and at Macquarie University library. Texts can be read online and/or downloaded.

 

Unit Schedule

The following list of topics is provisional and may be subject to change. Please see iLearn for the latest information. 

Week 1 Introduction and theories
Week 2 Making Gender and Sex
Week 3 'Good' and 'Bad' Bodies
Week 4 The Gaze and Controlling Images
Week 5 Reproduction
Week 6 Religion
Week 7 Gender and Work
Week 8 Making Social Hierachies
Week 9  Selling Sex
Week 10 The State
Week 11 Conclusions
Week 12 Essay Clinic
Week 13 Essay Clinic

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

Introduction of a new authentic assessment task (Essay Plan) to better support students in planning and writing their Research Essay. Students will self-select the due date of this assignment from a 3-week window that will correspond with delivery of feedback (see below).

Number of weekly tutorials have been reduced to allow for verbal feedback on the Essay Plan to be delivered to students through individual, face-to face consultations with tutors. Consultations will be scheduled to take place during wk10/wk11/wk12. Students will be able to revise their essay approach and structure before submission of their Research Essay.    

 

Unit information based on version 2023.03 of the Handbook