Undergraduate - UnitATS2560 - Theorising sexed bodies: Contemporary feminist theory

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

To find units available for enrolment in the current year, you must make sure you use the indexes and browse unit tool in the current edition of the Handbook.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Women's Studies and Gender Research
Offered	Clayton First semester 2013 (Day) Sunway First semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Sally Newman

Notes

Previously coded GND2010

Synopsis

This unit introduces a range of exciting contemporary feminist theories. Broadly interdisciplinary in its concerns, the unit examines how feminist thinkers theorise around complex and challenging issues such as bodies, sexual desire and sexual difference; pleasure and danger in the realm of sexualities; bodies and body modification; fluidity in gender identity; and the cultural and social regulation of shifting forms of femininity and masculinity; Theorists examined include: Elizabeth Grosz, Luce Irigaray, and Iris Marion Young.

Outcomes

Students successfully completing this unit will have gained:

a basic knowledge of a range of contemporary feminist theories of bodies and sexualities;
developed skills in reading and analysing theoretical texts;
enhanced ability to develop and sustain theoretical arguments;
enhanced skills in verbal and written communication.Third-year students will be expected to demonstrate greater capacity for independent research and will be required to answer questions of a more conceptually challenging nature.

Assessment

Written work: 90%
Class Participation/presentation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Sally Newman

Contact hours

One 2-hour seminar per week.

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

Sociology
Politics
Gender studies
Behavioural studies
Anthropology

Prerequisites

A first year sequence.

Prohibitions

WMN3240