Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit examines the intersection of sex and crime and the role gender stereotypes play in the operations of the criminal justice system. The subject uses key critical criminological and feminist theories to explore how social norms of femininity and masculinity produce particular sexed understandings of crime and criminality. It provides practical interpretative skills to enable students to apply these theoretical insights to the criminal justice system, to popular and media representations of crime and to the development of public policy. Topics include: sex and the nature of crime; gender and policing; femininity, masculinity and violence; family violence; constructions of rape.

Objectives

By the successful completion of Sex and Crime, students will have acquired the following skills:

1. A grounded working knowledge of the major theoretical and methodological approaches that constitute the field of feminist approaches to crime and justice.
2. An informed theoretical critique of how gender is constituted in society, the media and the criminal justice system.
3. An interdisciplinary approach to textual analysis.
4. Library based research skills and a working knowledge of the major data-bases used in cultural studies.
5. The ability to think critical and analytically, and to be able to articulate those thought processes in a high standard of written and oral expression.
6. A focus upon the production of scholarly research as the end point of a process of reading, discussion, drafting and debate.
7. The production of thoroughly researched, well documented and presented formal essays.
8. The ability to work independently as scholars.

Assessment

Written: 60%(3000 words)
Class test: 30%
Participation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr JaneMaree Maher

Contact hours

2-hour seminar

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Gender studies
Criminology
Behavioural studies

Prerequisites

First year sequence in Arts

Prohibitions

CRI3140