466-354 CDS 3B: Gender Development

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Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• demonstrate an in-depth understanding of contrasting approaches to gender development;

• understand the differences between individual and social construction approaches to gender development;

• show familiarity with current critiques of production and social reproduction theories of gender development; and

• appreciate the contribution of post-structuralist feminist theories in recent accounts of gender development.

Content:

A critical exploration of dominant approaches to gender development, contrasting individual with social construction approaches, including production and social reproduction theories. An examination of current research literature on the social and cultural construction of gender in early childhood education, in family life and in popular culture, concentrating on the discursive production of femininity and masculinity in childhood and the impact on children's gender development of the commodification of gender.

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