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PHIL20440

Academic Year 2024/2025

Feminism & Gender Justice (PHIL20440)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Katherine O'Donnell
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces students to contemporary feminist ideas and key feminist debates, specifically feminist gender theory (including discussions of Queer Theory and Hegemonic Masculinity), and feminist political ethics (including systems of power and intersectionality) and theories of justice with a focus on decolonial feminism.

The lectures (powerpoint) and required reading will be available in advance on-line on the Brightspace learning platform. It is expected that students will engage with this material before our lecture time slot. When we meet for our lectures we will be able to have a lot of interactive discussion (breaking into smaller discussion groups at times) as the lecture will merely re-cap the key points of the lectures available on Brightspace and answer points that students find confusing, interesting, exciting or even objectionable in the lectures and readings.

Please note that there will also be tutorials which are integral to the module and are designed to support the learning outcomes.

We will focus on important areas of contention, debate and power struggles to see how feminist approaches to gender theory, feminist political ethics and justice issues are deployed.

If you are taking this module as an elective - you may be interested in pursuing a Structured Elective programme in Philosophy (this will entail taking two more Philosophy electives). Your University Transcript could show that you have a Structured Elective in Ethics and Society. See: https://www.ucd.ie/students/electives/structuredelectives.html

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should have developed their ability to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of various contemporary feminist theories and debates as they relate to current global issues of justice.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of key characteristics of feminist gender theory, political ethics and theories of justice.
3. Produce an interpretation of ideas relating to the study of feminism in the context of the social sciences and humanities.
4. Present scholarly ideas relating to relating to the study of feminism and justice in the context of the social sciences and humanities, and engage in discussion around them with both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
5. Write scholarly work to a standard appropriate to level 2 study.

Indicative Module Content:

This module surveys feminist gender theory (including discussions of Queer Theory and Hegemonic Masculinity), feminist political ethics (including intersectionality) and decolonial feminism.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

40

Autonomous Student Learning

54

Lectures

24

Tutorial

7

Total

125


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is lecture-based with tutorials. Students are expected to participate in discussions with classmates as well as writing assignments that are either self-reflective pieces or critical research papers.

Assignment Instructions
(i) You must give page numbers when you are making references to and quoting from works. Failure to do so will be strictly penalised.

(ii) You are expected to refer at least twice to particular discussions that took place in lectures or tutorials. Please give the dates as to when these discussions took place. Failure to do so will be strictly penalised.

Generative AI Use in Module Assignments – Amber Light
You may use generative AI for assignments in this module for certain purposes only (listed below and within UCD academic integrity guidelines.
• To generate a research plan;
• To correct spelling, grammar and punctuation;
• To translate passages of text;
• To arrange references according to a particular citation style – we recommend Harvard or Chicago;
• To get feedback on a draft.

If you are unsure of contravening academic integrity guidelines in your use of Generative AI, please email your tutor and/or the lecturer in advance of engaging with Gen AI.

If you use Gen AI you must:
(a) Show track changes or provide access to the document history (via a Google Doc. link to archived drafts) to show the writing, revision, and editing process.
AND (b) Write a short description of how Gen AI was used in the preparation of the assignment.

This final instruction is very important as your assignment will go through a plagiarism detection tool which will most likely flag your submission as being generated through GenAI and you will be at risk of having your grade severely penalised if you do not provide either a document with track changes or provide access to the document history to show the writing, revision, and editing process AND also provide a short description (100-200 words) of how you used Gen AI.


Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL20510 - Feminist Legal Theory, SSJ20020 - Feminism & Gender Justice


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 800 word Assignment on personal experience of privilege Week 4 Graded No
25
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Research paper 2,000-2,500 words Week 14 Graded No
60
No
Participation in Learning Activities: engagement in tutorials throughout the semester Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9 Graded No
15
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The students are given a very detailed marking rubric in advance of the module's assessments and their feedback is given by way of a form that matches the rubric and allows also for detailed comments.

Name Role
Ranier Abengana Tutor
Philipp Wagenhals Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Wed 10:00 - 10:50