Undergraduate - UnitLAW4151 - Law, gender and feminism 406

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.

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6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Law
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2013 (Day)

Synopsis

Introduction to feminist legal theory presents a fundamental challenge to existing knowledge about law by questioning 'taken for granted' assumptions about gender, gender roles and neutrality of legal knowledge and practice. Themes such as public/private distinction, ideas of neutrality or objectivity in law, concepts of equality, difference and discrimination, equal or different treatment of men and women, and differences within these categories provide a framework for analysis. Sex and sexuality, family relationships, women's economic dependence or independence, legal construction of gender and the critique of male-centred concepts of equality and human rights.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should have:

acquired an understanding of the basic themes and major issues of feminist legal theory
developed the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the law's treatment of questions of gender and personal identity and the effect of gender on legal knowledge
practised and improved their research and writing skills, and their ability to carry out research in and about law from a feminist perspective, as well as their skills in oral presentation through class/group participation and learning to understand, share and accept differing points of view.

Assessment

Research Paper (2,000 words): 40%
Examination 2 hours writing time plus 30 minutes reading time): 60%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Janice Richardson

Contact hours

Three hours of lectures per week.

Prerequisites

LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102 or LAW1104