- Department: English and Related Literature
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Sexuality is central to feminist politics and theory, and also a site of fierce contestation. Whereas most feminists have seen the current ordering of heterosexual relations as detrimental to women, beyond this there is little agreement, but rather a range of competing stances on heterosexual, lesbian and queer sexualities. This option explores the context and substance of these differences, relating theoretical positions to political ones and drawing on empirical research that casts light on the issues at stake. The course begins with an introduction to theories of sexuality and their relevance for feminism. In discussing these theories we will challenge heterosexualitys normative status, building on feminist critiques of heterosexuality. This will provide grounding for critical engagement with some of the major controversies which have been generated around sexuality - both amongst feminists and in broader arenas of public debate. The specific issues covered will depend on the interests of students and might include, for example: pornography and representations of the erotic; commercial sex; power and pleasure; sexual violence; families and sexuality; childhood and sexuality; sexuality education; sexology and sex manuals; the medicalization of sexual problems; the sexualisation of culture debates; the construction of sexual identities; romantic love, monogamy and couple relationships.
After successfully completing this course students should:
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Pass/fail
None
Normally by week 4 of the summer term, subject to approval by the external examiners.
Hockey, J., Meah, A. and Robinson, V. (2007) Mundane Heterosexualities. (Basingstoke, Palgrave)
Jackson, S. and Scott, S. (2010) Theorizing Sexuality. (Buckinghamshire, Open University Press)
Richardson, D. and Munro, S. (2015) Sexuality, Equality, Diversity. Basingstoke, Palgrave)
Robinson, V. and Richardson, D. (eds) (2015) Introducing Gender and Women’s Studies. (4th edition.) (Basingstoke, Palgrave) See chapters on gender, feminist theory, masculinities, sexuality, family and the body.
Robinson, V. and Hockey, J. (2011) Masculinities in Transition. (Basingstoke, Palgrave)
Vance, C. (ed.) (1984) Pleasure and Danger. (London, Routledge)