WGS 213: Overview of the course
Focus on foundational concepts in understanding sex, gender, and sexuality.
Course Convenor: Bali Maeneche
Course Co-Convenor: Alexis van den Heever
Course GLA: Hannah October
Discusses the significance of gender studies and its relevance to personal and societal understanding.
Questions posed: "Why am I here?" and "Why are you/we here?"
Aims to explore and critique issues related to sex, gender, and sexuality.
Importance of Course Outline.
Utilizing personal experiences to theorize gender.
Engaging with current events and personal reflection through social media and news stories as part of the learning process.
Requirement: Final mark of 50% or more is necessary to pass.
Assessment components include:
Continuous Assessment Mark (CAM)
Exam mark
8 A’s needed to be admitted to the exam.
16 A’s required to achieve an overall A in the course.
Tutorials: 7
Discussion Forums: 2
Weekly Online Worksheets: 14
Total of 23 A’s available to earn during the semester.
Collaborative work in pairs or groups of three.
Evaluation criteria for submission:
Evidence of reading the text.
Writing in 1st person.
Personal reflections and connections to the text.
Accurate in-text references and reference list.
Scoring: 4 yes = pass; 3 yes = fail.
Introduction of a new course section focusing on analyzing current events.
Incentive: First student to provide a correct answer on a current event gets an A.
Student response must:
Last 3-5 minutes.
Include at least two feminist theories or readings.
Clearly explain the connection to the current event.
Focus: Kendrick Lamar’s "Not Like Us" performance at the Super Bowl.
Notable moment featured: Serena Williams’ symbolic crip walk in blue, reflecting cultural, political, and gendered themes.
Exploration of foundational definitions related to sex, gender, and sexuality.
Focus on understanding gender beyond simplistic binaries.
Prompt: Discuss personal understanding of sex.
Considerations on the sources of this understanding.
Prompt: Discuss personal understanding of gender.
Consideration of where this understanding comes from.
Prompt: Discuss personal understanding of sexuality.
Explore views on whether it is a choice or determined by other factors.
Gender is a complex spectrum rather than a binary concept.
Illustrated guide (Genderbread) encourages individuals to plot their identities across terms:
Gender Identity: How one defines their gender internally.
Gender Expression: How one presents gender through actions and appearance.
Biological Sex: Physical characteristics at birth and development.
Sexual Attractions: Differentiates between sexual and romantic attractions.
Biological Determinism: Theory that behavior is solely determined by biological factors.
Social Constructionism: Theory emphasizing social and cultural context in shaping behaviors and norms.
Focus: Trump’s Executive Order on Gender Ideology.
Critique of the order's definition of 'female' and 'male' from feminist perspectives as discussed by Ocobock & Lacy.
Exploration of the implications for societal understanding of gender.
Commentary on societal expectations concerning gender presentation and the emphasis on visible symbols of genitals through clothing.
Encouragement not to underestimate the impact of everyday actions in addressing and engaging with gender-related issues.
Knowt
Note
Studied by 10 people
