Perspectives on Gender 2

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge on gender as a socio-cultural phenomenon - as structure, relation and construction. It will examine questions concerning gender in interaction with sexuality and class. The course will take up contemporary debates such as those relating to equality policies in political, working and family life. These questions are examined with a particular focus on contemporary Norway. The course will cover themes such as feminism, femininity, masculinity, sexualiety, equality, identity, family, reproduction, power and violence.

The course is taught in Norwegian or English.

The course is part of the one-year program in Gender Equality and Diversity, but it can also be taken as an elective in other contexts.

The aim is to give the students an understanding of the significance of gender in relation to a broad spectre of topical societal matters. Students of this course, have knowledge of:

• theories of gender in the humanities and social sciences
• the main gender-related issues being debated in the Norwegian public in the light of various theories of gender, sexuality, and equality
• theoretical concepts in gender research
• the historically changing conceptions of biological and social gender

Students of this course have skills in:

• using theoretical concepts in discussing contemporary debates connected to gender, sexuality, and gender equality
• recognize political and theoretical positions in contemporary debates about gender, sexuality, and gender equality
• evaluate and use scholarly research in written and oral communication
• formulate relevant discipline-specific questions
• formulere relevante fagspesifikke spørsmål

There will be given lectures, and students are expected to participate in other classroom activities like oral presentations and discussions.

The exam is in assignment form: It consists of one shorter exam assignment (constituting 20% of the total grade) and one longer exam assignment due towards the end of the semester (constituting 80% of the total grade). To qualify to sit the final exam, the mandatory course assignment must be approved.