166-024 International Gender Politics

Usually 25 points of first-year politics.

This subject will look at issues of gender and sexuality in an international context. It will cover war and militarism and their effect on women, the international division of labour, the effects of religious fundamentalisms, the politics of population and reproductive technologies, international trafficking in women, sexual violence and clitoridectomy. Students who complete this subject should understand the ways in which gender politics might affect the study of international relations; understand how government policy and other forces operating in Australia and other Western countries are affecting the lives and opportunities of women and relationships between men and women in the rest of the world; be familiar with developments in feminist theory on the issues of human rights, cultural relativism; and have an understanding of international gender politics which can enrich their study of other subjects in the social sciences.

• be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays;

• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;

• be able to communicate knowledge ideologically and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion;

• be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision;

• be able to participate in team work through small group discussions.

A research essay of 2000 words 50% (due mid-semester) and a research essay of 2000 words 50% (due at the end of semester).

A subject reader will be available.