GSC2207

Women's sociology

Proposed to be offered next in 1999

Marion Collis

8 points
* Equivalent to 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Gippsland and distance
* Prerequisites: GSC1201 and GSC1202 or equivalents

Objectives On successful completion of this subject students should be able to critically examine the place of women in malestream sociological theory and the way in which sociology has constructed knowledge about women and develop for women analyses, descriptions and understandings of women's everyday lives using a feminist framework.

Synopsis Students will be introduced to feminist critiques of malestream sociological perspectives, their theoretical and conceptual frameworks and methods of inquiry, and to alternative feminist approaches to both theory and research which can inform a sociology for women. Issues of class, culture and race will also be considered. The second part of the subject will focus on doing a women's sociology and the application of a feminist perspective; for their individual studies students may choose from a wide range of issues relating to women's lives in contemporary Australia and are encouraged to further their understanding of their own experiences using a feminist framework.

Assessment Essay one (1800 words): 30%
* Seminar presentation or written seminar paper (2100 words): 35%
* Essay two (2100 words): 35%

Prescribed texts

Hughes K P (ed.) Contemporary Australian feminism Longman, 1994
Roberts H (ed.) Doing feminist research RKP, 1981
Sydie R Natural women cultured men: A feminist perspective on sociological theory Open U P, 1987