Students

GEND1000 – Freedom Dreams: Foundations in Gender Studies

2025 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
Rebecca Sheehan
rebecca.sheehan@mq.edu.au
Contact via +612 98507947
Office B162, Modern History, Level 1, Arts Precinct, 25C Wally's Walk
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is an introduction to Gender Studies, an interdisciplinary field that analyses gender and how it intersects with sexuality, race, class, different abilities, and other identities. We establish foundational knowledge of and key concepts in how gender has been theorised and debated through exploring grassroots gender liberation activism including feminism, gay liberation, and the trans and intersex movements.

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: Analyse key concepts about gender, its intersections with other identities, and how these shape and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and political institutions.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate an understanding of Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today.
  • ULO4: Research and synthesise media and scholarly texts.

General Assessment Information

Please see Policies and Procedures below for information on policies that relate to assignments. In particular, you should read the Academic Integrity Policy, the Special Consideration Policy, and the Assessment Policy. 

**The university takes plagiarism very seriously and there are penalties for using other people's work as your own. This includes using and/or directly quoting other people's work and/or AI (eg. ChatGPT) without quotation marks and/or acknowledgement. Please see the instructions on each of your assignments for what use of AI is and isn't acceptable and check this unit's iLearn site for resources on how to cite your sources properly and avoid plagiarism.

Requests for Extensions

To request an extension for a period up to and including 5 working days, please email your tutor.

To apply for an extension of more than 5 working days please complete a Special Consideration request and submit it online. For more information see the Special Consideration Policy above and find further details here: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration. 

If you are having any issues submitting your assignments please contact your tutor or the convenor. We will always try to work with you and support you to complete and submit your work. When in doubt, send the convener an email.

Late Assessment Penalty

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. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Tutorial/discussion reflection 20% No 14/03/2025
Reading analysis 30% No 11/04/2025
Reflective essay 50% No 06/06/2025

Tutorial/discussion reflection

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 14/03/2025
Weighting: 20%

 

Short answer reflections on readings, tutorials/discussions, and lecture content. 

 
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.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today.

Reading analysis

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11/04/2025
Weighting: 30%

 

Short written analyses of key concepts based on unit lectures and readings.

 
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.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today.

Reflective essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: 06/06/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

1500 word reflective essay on one of the questions provided.

 
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.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field and its contribution to understanding the contemporary world.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of different forms of feminism, what they have contributed the field of Gender Studies, and why they matter today.
  • Research and synthesise media and scholarly 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

Each week there will be a 2-hour lecture on campus which is also live-streamed. The lecture is recorded and made availabile online so that you can watch it on demand. Each week there is an online discussion forum which requires you to post answers to set questions and discuss with other students via posts. You are expected to participate in 80% of these forums.  

**You are expected to engage with both lectures and discussion forums. Passing the assignments and the unit will be difficult if you don't.

Please see your timetables for the latest information on lecture and tutorials times. Please note that lectures and discussion forums start in week 1.

All readings are available via Leganto through our iLearn site and the library.

Unit Schedule

Please note this schedule is a guide and the order of topics may change

 

Week 1

Feb 26

Lecture 1: Introduction: What is Gender Studies?

 

Tutorial

Introductions

Week 2

March 5

Lecture 2: Gender Panic: Male/Female Binaries and Beyond

 

Tutorial

Intersex Spectrums

Week 3

March 12

Lecture 3: “Second Wave Feminism”

 

Tutorial

1970s Feminist Manifestos

Assignment due

Friday March 14, 11.55pm

Tutorial discussion/reflection due

Week 4

March 19

Lecture 4: Gay Liberation Movement

 

Tutorial

Gay, Radical Lesbian, and Bisexual Liberation Manifestos

Week 5

March 26

Lecture 5: Transgender Liberation

**discussion of take-home exam

 

Tutorial

Trans Identities

Week 6

April 2

Lecture 6: Performativity and Queer Theory

 

Tutorial

Queer Theory

***

Thursday March 27, 7pm

Reading analysis zoom Q&A

Week 7

April 9

Lecture 7: Intersectionality

 

Tutorial

Intersectional Feminisms

Assignment due

Fri April 11, 11.55pm

Reading analysis due

SESSION BREAK

Mon April 14-Fri April 25

 

Week 8

April 30

Lecture 8: Backlash

Week 9

May 7

Lecture 9: Boys, men, and masculinities

**discussion of final essay

 

Tutorial

The Man Box

Week 10

May 14

Lecture 10: Girls, Women, and Femininities

 

Tutorial

Filipina and Arab women

Week 11

May 21

Lecture 11: Sex, Intimacy, and Violence

 

Tutorial

Sexual Citizenship

Week 12

May 28

Lecture 12: Gender and Nation; Conclusions

 

Tutorial

Gender and Australian National Identity

***

Thursday May 29, 7pm

Reflective essay zoom Q&A

Week 13

June 4

Lecture 13: Final Essay discussions

 

Tutorial

Reflective Essay discussions

Reflective essay due

Fri June 6, 11.55pm

 

 

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 connect.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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook