Students

GEND1020 – Gender and Power

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor
Jyhene Kebsi
jyhene.kebsi@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
New Arts Precinct Sociology Department C312
Email to arrange
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-time 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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research essay plan 25% No 07/09/2025
Research Essay 50% No 19/10/2025
Weekly quizzes 25% No 09/11/2025

Research essay plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 07/09/2025
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
  • Synthesise ideas through discussion with peers

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 54 hours
Due: 19/10/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

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

Weekly quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 09/11/2025
Weighting: 25%

 

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

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 On-campus/Internal students and recorded for On-line Flexible/External students. Lecture recordings can be accessed via the iLearn site through ECHO

• Tutorials: weekly 1-hour tutorials held on-campus for On-campus/Internal students.

• Please note: lectures and tutorials start in Week 1.

• See your timetables for the latest information on lecture and tutorials times via Class Finder on eStudent.

 

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/

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

 

 

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 2025.02 of the Handbook