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Gender, Sexuality and Inequalities - SOC00058I

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

While gender and sexuality have been used to categorise people throughout history, this module provides you with a critical perspective on the concepts of sex and gender. You will develop an intersectional perspective and apply this to range of contemporary global topics associated with the experience gender and sexuality.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

Gender and sexuality have been used to categorise people throughout history and around the world. We often hear how men and women are more naturally suited to different tasks, behaviours and roles and this has placed certain limits on what people are allowed or feel able to do. However, different societies have had different ways of categorising people on the basis of their genitals, sexual practices or the way they present themselves. There is also growing recognition of multiple genders and gender fluidity within some communities and an increasing focus on the intersections of gender and sexuality with other axes of identity and experience (e.g., social class, ethnicity, age). This has helped to make visible the experiences of people who identify as gender non-binary and as transgender. In this module, we problematize the concepts of sex and gender, and critically evaluate inequalities associated with the experience gender and sexuality, adopting an intersectional and global perspective. The module will first provide a theoretical foundation for the study of gender and sexuality and then apply this to a range of contemporary global topic areas.

Module learning outcomes

1

Distinguish between and evaluate different ways of understanding gender and sexuality

2

Demonstrate how expectations and inequalities arising from gender are dependent on social, cultural and historical factors and not innate biological differences.

3

Indicate how gender, sex and sexuality are intersected by other forms of social inequalities

4

Assess issues of structure and agency in relation to people’s decisions about their bodies

5

Apply learning to global contemporary real-world examples and case studies

6

Critically assess multiple, contentious and contradictory positions in relation to gender and sexuality.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

For formative work - choice of case study - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessments provide practice for the summative task, and in line with MLO 1-6.

For summative work - essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLO 1-6. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well, and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

  • Bhattacharyya, G. (2002) Sexuality and Society. London: Routledge
  • Connell, R. (2009) Gender. 2nd ed. London: Polity
  • Connell, R. (2000) Masculinities 2nd ed. London: Polity
  • Fausto- Sterling, A. (2012) Sex/Gender. Biology in a Social World. Routledge
  • Fine, C. (2011) Delusions of Gender. London: Icon
  • Fuller, L.K. (2006) Sport, Rhetoric & Gender: Historical Perspectives and Media Representations. New York: Palgrave McMillan
  • Holmes, M. (2007) What is Gender? London: Sage
  • Johnson. P. (2012) Homosexuality and the European Court of Human Rights. London: Routledge
  • Rahman, M. and Jackson, S. (2010) Gender and Sexuality: Sociological Approaches. Cambridge: Polity Press
  • Richardson, D. (2007) Introducing Gender and Women's Studies. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.