Theorizing Gender and Intersectionality

Course Objective

Students of this course will acquire the abilities:

1. to recognize and interpret the main theories, concepts and ideas in gender studies and intersectionality theory;

2. to apply these theories, concepts and ideas to their major;

3. to critically question texts from the perspective of gender, race, and sexuality;

4. to perceive a problem from different disciplinary perspectives;

5. to define and defend an argument and to communicate the research conclusions verbally and in writing to an educated audience of different disciplines.

Course Content

This course introduces into the critical perspectives developed in gender studies and intersectionality theory. The key themes and debates that form the backbone of the minor Gender and Diversity will be introduced in the lectures: the sex/gender debate, social constructivism, sexual difference, performativity, the intersection of race and gender, and of gender and sexuality, the notion ‘intersectionality’.

The aim of the course is to gain an intersectional and multidisciplinary perspective: in the course we will focus upon the interrelations and divergences between gender, race and sexuality and discuss these from the perspective of the various disciplines of the students.

The course does not only aim at introducing these debates theoretically, but at stimulating reflection upon their disciplines by the students.

Additional Information Teaching Methods

The course will take place in September and October (period 1), in the form of lectures and discussion about texts, twice a week. The final
course assessment will take place in period 3: students organize a final Gender and Diversity student symposium, and present a poster in which they demonstrate to be able to analyze a subject/text/film/book in their own discipline from the angle of gender and intersectionality.

Method of Assessment

- Presentation in class (10%, group assignment) (assessment of learning objectives 2 and 5).

- Interdisciplinary group paper (group assignment: 40 %) (assessment of learning objectives 2, 3, 4, 5).

-Written exam about the texts (Individual assignment: 40%) (assessment of learning objective 1).

- Poster presentation at the final symposium (10 %, individual assignment) (assessment of learning objective 2 and 5).

Literature

- Book "Gender Theory in Troubled Times," Kathleen Lennon & Rachel Alsop, Cambridge & Medford: Polity Press, 2020 (Purchase yourself)

- Texts of: Sara Ahmed, Anne Fausto-Sterling, Simone de Beauvoir, Kimberle Crenshaw, Judith Butler, bell hooks, Jack Halberstam, and others. (These texts will be made available through Canvas.)

Additional Information Target Audience

The course is part of the university minor Gender and Diversity.

Recommended background knowledge

Required is a bachelor 2 level.