First-semester options
Bodily representations
Proposed to be offered next in 1998
C Atmore
Objectives The subject aims to introduce students to the idea that there is no such thing as `the body', but rather that there is a huge range of different bodies, involved in different social and political processes, and importantly shaped by history, society and culture; introduce students to a range of theories about the ways bodies are represented and involved in societies, and how these ways might relate to the specific society concerned; focus on how these different theories can be applied in analysing bodily representations, first via specific seminar topics, and second via the student's own research which they carry out using the critical skills they have developed; help students to develop and build on a working knowledge of some important contemporary debates in work on bodies, including some critical evaluation of competing theoretical frameworks; and develop and consolidate in students the critical skills necessary for presenting their arguments to others in seminars and in written form.
Synopsis This subject begins from the premise that the ways in which human bodies are represented in societies can tell us a great deal about the structures and cultural values of those societies. Social processes act on bodies, and in doing so, construct both our bodies and our ideas about what bodies actually are. These representations of bodies feed back into ideas about society, such as dominant views about the nature of a desirable social order. Taking as theoretical backdrop the stance that there is no natural body outside specific social contexts, we examine specific aspects of cultural representations of human bodies, in the context of some overlapping themes: the disciplined and scientifically studied body, the sexed and sexualised body, the exotic body and the racially marked body. Topic areas we will look at relevant to these themes include debates in social and especially feminist theory, over how to understand bodies and why this matters intellectually and politically; common sex and gender distinctions in Western cultures and how these are challenged by transgendered individuals; and the sexual and racial politics of medicine and science.
Assessment Seminar paper (2000 words): 40%
* Essay (4000 words):
60%
Recommended texts
Butler J Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity Routledge, 1990
Grosz E Volatile bodies: Toward a corporeal feminism Indiana U P, 1994
Shilling C The body and social theory Sage, 1993
Data appreciation
A McMahon
Prerequisite: SCY2150 (Research techniques)
Objectives Students will understand the fundamental assumptions lying behind basic statistical procedures, and develop competence in selecting and applying appropriate procedures.
Synopsis A two-hour weekly seminar in elementary applied statistics that is designed to strengthen students' research skills. It follows on from SCY2150 which is a prerequisite. Seminars will cover basic survey sampling theory, measures of association and tests of significance. While SCY2150 and `Data appreciation' are not prerequisites for `The joy of `X': computer data processing and analysis using SPSS-X', they do provide a good background for students.
Assessment Two practical assignments: 30% each
* One class test:
40%
Prescribed texts
Foddy W H Elementary applied statistics for the social sciences Harper and Row, 1988
Population and migration
R J Birrell
Objectives This subject examines the sources and implications of population growth in Australia. When completed, students should be able to analyse trends in Australia's population growth, particularly since World War Two, covering both natural increase and migration; understand the determinants of Australian population growth - with the major focus being on immigration policy; be capable of analysing the consequences of population growth. These consequences include: (a) the impact on Australia's ethnic makeup and interethnic relations; (b) the impact on Australia's urban and economic patterns; and c) the environmental implications of population growth.
Synopsis This option examines (a) the factors shaping Australian immigration policy since World War II and the outcome as regards country of origin, skill and other social characteristics of migrants, and (b) the migrant impact on Australian society, including inter ethnic relations, the `multicultural' challenge and class relationships.
Assessment Essay based on a class presentation (2000 words): 40%
*
Essay (4000 words): 60%
Recommended texts
Betts K Ideology and immigration MUP, 1988
Birrell R and Birrell T An issue of people rev. edn, Longman Cheshire, 1987
Castles F and others Mistaken identity, multiculturalism and the demise of nationalism in Australia 2nd edn, Pluto, 1990
Lack J and Templeton J Bold experiment: A documentary history of Australian immigration since 1945 OUP, 1995
National Population Council Final report, population issues and Australia's future AGPS, 1992
Price C (ed.) Australian national identity Academy of Social Sciences, 1991
Theophanous A Understanding multiculturalism and Australian identity Elikia Books, 1995
Wayne Smith J (ed.) Immigration, population and sustainable environments: The limits to Australia's growth Flinders Press, 1991
Sexed media, media-ted sex
C Atmore
Objectives This subject aims to provide students with an introduction to the study of mass media representations of gender and sexuality. This is a very diverse field, and students may take the subject with a range of previous experience. Students are not expected to emerge at the end of the subject as fully fledged media theorists and researchers; rather the subject aims to develop a working knowledge, and students will be encouraged to take a `hands-on' approach to media representations in becoming more critically engaged consumers of `sexed media' and `media-ted sex'. Specifically, the subject aims to introduce students to a range of theoretical approaches to the mass media and some background to this diversity; focus, via illustrations and case studies, on how these different theories can be used in analysing media representations of gender and sexuality; enable students to develop and build on a working knowledge of some important debates, concepts and research methods in media studies which focus on gender and sexuality; develop and consolidate in students the critical skills to be able to evaluate a piece of media research or theory and to carry out their own small study, and to be able to effectively present their arguments to others in class and in written form; and help students to consider whether some media theories and methods might be more useful than others in studying issues of gender and sexuality.
Synopsis This subject considers how various theories of media representation relate to different theoretical models of gender and sexuality. We consider the role the mass media might play in producing and reproducing gender and sexuality as social processes and inequalities. We also examine whether there might be particular ways of thinking about the media and analysing media representations which are more conducive to considering themes of gender and sexuality. We consider different theoretical approaches to the media and their associated methods, and look at some specific studies and debates in the areas of media representation of sexual identities, sexual violence, AIDS and feminist and sexual identity-based political protest. Students are encouraged to make their own critical assessment of the theoretical debates and choices of media analytic methods, and to support their critiques by carrying out a small study of an aspect of media representation.
Assessment Essay (2000 words): 40%
* Project (4000 words): 60%
Recommended texts
Betterton R Looking on: Images of femininity in the visual arts and media Pandora, 1987
Cunningham S and Turner G (eds) The media in Australia Allen and Unwin, 1993
Fiske J Introduction to communication studies Routledge, 1990
van Zoonen L Feminist media studies Sage, 1994
Social psychology
W H Foddy
Objectives This subject addresses the question of how individuals influence one another in everyday social settings. Upon completing the course students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the following: a variety of theoretical perspectives that have been used by social psychologists; a number of major explanatory hypotheses that have been advanced and how these hypotheses apply to specific social situations; the analytic skills necessary for evaluating theoretical arguments and empirical evidence in social psychology.
Synopsis An introductory option involving one lecture and one tutorial per week. This option is designed to (i) reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the subject; (ii) cover the major perspectives in social psychology; (iii) review major research hypotheses and findings.
Assessment Assignment (4000 words): 60%
* Test (equivalent to 2000
words): 40%
Prescribed texts
A set of readings will be available at the start of the course
Sociology of the family
U Svensson
Objectives Students in this subject will develop an understanding of how people's choices about marriage and parenthood are shaped and constrained by social structures and political ideologies; obtain a cross-cultural understanding by comparison with Scandinavian, socialist, and pre-industrial societies; learn to apply a gender perspective on research, theorising, and social policies in the field of family studies; develop the practical skills of oral presentation and learn to debate and defend ideas and views.
Synopsis This subject examines how social, political and economic forces structure private domestic life. Topics to be discussed include the politicisation of the family and family reform movements; a comparison of family forms and family policies in capitalist and socialist societies; family forms and personality construction; the social construction of parenthood and childhood; the family as a site of gender struggles. The aim is to critically assess different theoretical explanations within the Marxist, feminist, functionalist and psychoanalytic perspectives.
Assessment Two essays (2500 words): 45% each
* Seminar
presentation (1000 words): 10%
Recommended reading
Barrett M and McIntosh M The anti-social family Verso, 1982/1991
Delphy C and Leonard D Familiar exploitation: A NEW ANALYSIS OF MARRIAGE IN CONTEMPORARY WESTERN SOCIETIES POLITY 1992
Gittins D The family in question: Changing households and familiar ideologies Macmillan 1985/1993
Jaggar A and Rothenberg P (eds) Feminist frameworks: Alternative theoretical accounts of the relations between women and men McGraw-Hill 1978/1984/1993
Thorn B and Yalom M (eds) Rethinking the family: Some feminist questions Longman, 1982
Sociology of self
W H Foddy
Objectives This subject aims to introduce students to the work of GH Mead; familiarise students with the general symbolic interaction paradigm that has been built upon Mead's work, so that students appreciate the theoretical similarities between the symbolic interaction theoretical paradigm and Darwin's theory of evolution - especially those similarities which centre on reciprocal, reflective, and dialectical elements; see how a wide range of everyday, self-related processes fit within, and are explained by, the symbolic interaction paradigm.
Synopsis This option deals, primarily from a symbolic interactionist point of view, with the following topics: measurement techniques; the role of `typifications' in social interaction (motives, emotions, disclaimers, excuses); self process in subhuman species; emergence of self-processes in humans; self-evaluation/self-esteem; objective self-awareness; role-taking; presentation of self; self-monitoring; embarrassment/stigma; self-disclosure; privacy; obscenity; loneliness; shame and guilt, anger, shyness; jealousy; love; identity crises; and the relationship between social structure and self.
Assessment Seminar paper (2000 words): 40%
* Essay (4000 words):
60%
Preliminary reading
Baldwin J D George Herbert Mead: A unifying theory for sociology Sage, 1986
Women, gender and society
J van Bommel
Objectives This subject aims to introduce students to a variety of theoretical approaches to the study of the position of women in contemporary society, drawing from sociological perspectives and various theories and practices of the feminisms; introduce students to a discussion of current theoretical debates concerning the relationship between women, gender and society, such as a history of feminism, the feminisms, theories of patriarchy, gender, the sexual division of labourand the body; enable students to understand the political questions for women involved in the issues of equal pay, gender at work and new technologies; enable students to understand and articulate analyses of the various theoretical approaches studied; provide students with conceptual and critical resources to write clear and competent essays on various topics.
Synopsis This option critically assesses the position of women in contemporary society through a critique of sociological explanations and an examination of the theories and practices of feminism. The topics include a history of feminism, the feminisms, patriarchy, feminist theories of gender, class and the sexual division of labour. In particular, we will focus on the issues of equal pay, gender at work and women and new technologies. We shall conclude with a brief discussion of what concerns Australian feminists today, for example the `equality versus difference' debate, the body and psychoanalysis.
Assessment Two essays (3000 words each): 50% each
Recommended texts
Barrett M Women's oppression today Verso, 1988
Butler J and Scott J W (eds) Feminists theorize the political Routledge, 1992
Caine B and Pringle R (eds) Transitions: New Australian feminisms Allen and Unwin, 1995
Gunew S (ed.) Feminist knowledge: Critique and construct Routledge, 1990
Wajcman J Feminism confronts technology Allen and Unwin, 1991
Walby S Theorising patriarchy Basil Blackwell, 1990
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