PHIL20440 Feminism & Gender Justice

Academic Year 2022/2023

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 anti carceral feminism, vulnerability and precarity.

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 in important campaigns relating to: Reproductive Justice; Prostitution/Sex Work; Queer and LGBT issues; and Redress and Restorative Justice for Survivors of trauma and abuse relating to gender violence.

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

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Curricular information is subject to change

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 a 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 feminist anti-carceral theories of justice with a focus on vulnerability and precarity.

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. 
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 Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: 2,500 word essay Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

75
Assignment: 700 word written exercise Week 4 n/a Graded No

25

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
Professor James O'Shea Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tatjana Von Solodkoff Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ranier Abengana Tutor
Roxane Pret Theodore 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
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Wed 15:00 - 15:50
Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn