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SSJ20110

Academic Year 2025/2026

Gender, Power and Politics - Historical Perspectives (SSJ20110)

Subject:
Social Justice
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Soc Pol, Soc Wrk & Soc Justice
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Mary McAuliffe
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module explores how power has been gendered, where gender has served as a basis for power, regulation, and control. There is a focus on key historical, political, and socio-cultural issues from the 1st to the 3rd/4th waves of feminism, concentrating on identities, politics, political activism, sexualities, and citizenship. The module will address the social construction of gender and how modern society has responded to issues of citizenship, power, race, class, gender, identities, and sexualities. There will be an examination of gender relations in Ireland and globally, the changing constructions of masculinities and femininities, and the gendered nature of power. This module is taught by Dr Mary McAuliffe.

We encourage you to search for other Social Justice (SSJ) modules which include options relating to Equality Studies and Women's Studies. Graduates who have completed at least 15 credits of undergraduate electives by choosing SSJ modules will have this noted on their UCD transcripts as the completion of Structured Electives in Social Justice.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Show familiarity with key feminist movements, debates and issues.
2. Explain the systems of power and citizenship which produce differences among women and between women and men.
3. Situate feminist activism, movements and debates in historical and local contexts.
4. Present ideas orally and engage in discussion. 6. Write a scholarly essay that is appropriate for Level 2 students.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

26
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
this module will be a mixture of lectures; critical writing; reflective learning; and student participation. Each two hour session will comprise a lecture followed by a participative seminar. .

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

This course would suit students of any discipline interested in gender, politics, feminism, gender history, women's activism as well as issues and debates about equal rights.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Gender, Power & Politics (WS20110)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): A short journal entry (c. 500 words) that will reflect on a chosen theme or themes discussed in class and relevant readings up to week 4 Week 4 Graded No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Critical review of chosen reading - 600 words Week 7 Graded No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Case Study - 400 words, with images, on a chosen activist movement - what it represented, how it went about campaigning, and discuss its impact. The case study should be feminist, civil liberty, LGBTI Week 9 Graded No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): end of term essay - 2,000 words Week 15 Graded No
60
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn 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?

for both the assignment and essay written and oral feedback will be provided.

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