MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS
Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996
Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Women's studies
Subjects listed under this heading are offered by the Centre for Women's
Studies and administered by the Board of Interdisciplinary Studies. The
director of the centre is Dr Rose Lucas (Women's studies/English). The centre
is located in room S631 of the Menzies building (telephone: 9905 2996; fax:
9905 1454).
Objectives
The Centre for Women's studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to issues
of gender and constructions of female subjectivity and experience, using a
variety of feminist models of analysis. Students are thus required to develop a
range of methodological skills by means of their engagement with different
materials and discourses including historical documents, philosophy,
sociological perspectives, considerations of geographical space and location,
semiotic analyses of texts, and crosscultural representations of gender. In the
context of this disciplinary diversity, the centre aims to introduce students
to questions about the formulation of sexual difference, the reproduction of
roles of gender and different accounts of the construction of patriarchy or
phallocentrism. A consideration of contemporary debates necessarily involves an
engagement with the wide-ranging field of writings within theoretical
feminisms, thereby challenging students to develop a proficiency with skills of
theoretical analysis and critique.
Pass courses
Students wishing to focus on the study of women and gender in their selection
of courses for the BA degree may do so in three ways:
(i) Major sequence in women's studies
This will comprise of a first-year sequence in the BA degree; two core women's
studies subjects WMN2240/3240 (Introduction to contemporary feminist theory);
WMN2110 (Representations of women and gender in Australian society), plus three
additional eight-point subjects selected from the cross-listed options within
the faculty.
(ii) Minor sequence in women's studies
This will comprise of a first-year sequence in the BA degree; the two core
womens' studies subjects WMN2240/3240 (Introduction to contemporary feminist
theory); WMN2110 (Representations of women and gender in Australian society)
plus two additional eight-point subjects selected from the cross-listed options
within the faculty.
(iii) Individual subjects
Students may take individual subjects dealing with issues of women and gender
that are offered either within women's studies or within other discipline
sequences. Students wishing to vary the components of their minor or major
sequences should consult with the director of the centre.
Minor sequence
A minor sequence comprises subjects totalling a minimum of twenty-eight points
at second and third-year level. The prerequisite for the minor sequence is
usually a first-year sequence. The minor sequence consists of the following:
the two core women's studies subjects WMN2240/3240 (Introduction to
contemporary feminist theory); WMN2110 (Representations of women and gender in
Australian society), plus two additional eight-point subjects selected from the
cross-listed options within the faculty.
Major sequence
A major sequence comprises subjects totalling forty points over second and
third-year levels. The prerequisite for the major sequence is usually a
first-year sequence. The major sequence consists of the following: the two core
women's studies subjects WMN2240/3240 (Introduction to contemporary feminist
theory); (WMN2110 Representations of women and gender in Australian society),
plus three additional eight-point subjects selected from the cross-listed
options within the faculty.
A Women's Studies Prize will be awarded to the most outstanding undergraduate
student in 1996.
Honours and graduate work
At present there is no provision for students to enrol in women's studies at
honours level. However, departments that offer specialist undergraduate courses
are also able to provide supervision for theses and research projects with a
focus on women and gender. The Centre for Women's Studies does offer a Master
of Arts in women's studies by coursework alone, by coursework and minor thesis,
and by major thesis. Interested students may also undertake a PhD in women's
studies.
Advisers
Anthropology and Sociology: Lucy Healey and Jan van Bommel; Asian
Languages and Studies: Barbara Hatley; Greek, Roman and Egyptian
Studies: Alba Romano; Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies:
Elizabeth Grosz; English: Jenny Strauss and Pauline Nestor;
Education: Georgina Tsolidis;Geography and Environmental Science:
Katherine Gibson; German Studies: Silke Hesse; History: Marian
Quartly; Law: Bronwyn Naylor; Linguistics: Joanne Winter;
Philosophy: Karen Green; Politics:Sue Blackburn; Visual Arts:
Leonie Naughton and Annette Van Den Bosch
First-year level
Any relevant first-year sequence in the BA degree.
Second-year level
Students taking either a minor or major sequence in women's studies should
select subjects from the following list to the value of at least twelve points
at second-year level.
The centre requires that the following compulsory subject be taken at
second-year level: WMN2110 (Representations of women and gender in Australian
society) (8 points). The other core subject, WMN2240/3240 (Introduction to
contemporary feminist theory) (8 points) may be taken at either second or third
year.
Optional subjects
Anthropology and sociology
+ WMN2130 Race and sexual politics
Greek, Roman and Egyptian studies
+ WMN2410 Women in Roman society
Comparative literature and cultural studies
+ WMN2010 Introduction to critical theory
English
+ WMN2060 Critical and literary theory
+ WMN2550 Contemporary women's fiction and theory
+ WMN2570 Writing women
+ WMN2220 The woman's part
Geography and environmental science
+ WMN2471 Gender and urban restructuring
German
+ WMN2750 Women and German writing
History
+ WMN2420 History of sexuality, 1800 to the present
+ WMN2840 European cultural history
Linguistics
+ WMN2380 Language, communication and the sexes
Philosophy
+ WMN2230 Feminist philosophers
Visual arts
+ WMN2000 The other side of the avant-garde: twentieth-century women's art
history (next offered 1997)
Third-year level
The centre requires that WMN3240 (Introduction to contemporary feminist theory)
(8 points) be taken at third year if not selected at second year.
The remaining subjects necessary to complete the forty points required within a
major sequence should be selected from the following optional listings:
Optional subjects
For full details of these subjects consult the relevant departmental or centre
entry.
Anthropology and sociology
+ WMN3010 Sexed media, media-ted sex
+ WMN3310 Women, gender and society
+ WMN3340 Women and social control (proposed to be offered next in 1997)
+ WMN3360 Sociology of the family
+ WMN3630 Feminism cross-culturally
Asian languages and studies
+ WMN3290 Gender and its representation in Indonesian society and
literature
Greek, Roman and Egyptian studies
+ WMN3410 Women in Roman society
Comparative literature and cultural studies
+ WMN3010 Introduction to critical theory
+ WMN3050 Freud and feminism
+ WMN3780 Women in Latin American writing
English
+ WMN3550 Contemporary women's fiction and theory
+ WMN3210 The woman's part
+ WMN3570 Writing women
Geography and environmental science
+ WMN3740 Gender and urban restructuring
German
+ WMN3750 Women and German writing
History
+ WMN3420 History of sexuality, 1800 to the present
+ WMN3840 European cultural history
Linguistics
+ WMN3380 Language, communication and the sexes
Philosophy
+ WMN3230 Feminist Philosophers
+ WMN3370 Contemporary Moral Problems
Politics
+ WMN3760 Gender in Asian politics
Visual arts
+ WMN3000 The other side of the avant-garde: twentieth-century women's art
history (proposed to be offered next in 1997)
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