GI423      Half Unit
Globalisation and Sexuality

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Clare Hemmings COL.5.01C

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Gender, MSc in Gender (Research), MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation, MSc in Gender, Policy and Inequalities, MSc in Global Politics, MSc in Global Politics (Global Civil Society) and MSc in Human Rights. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

Students wanting to take GI423 but who are not part of a listed degree programme should provide a statement about their reasons for wanting to follow the course. This should include background in sexuality or gender studies, areas of related interest and experience, or other conceptual or theoretical grounding that might be relevant. GI423 is an interdisciplinary course with a high theory content, and it is important that students come to the course with appropriate skills.

Course content

'Globalisation and Sexuality' explores the importance of sexuality for global politics and society. Starting from the assumption that 'sexuality matters' in today's globalised world, the course considers histories, theories and contexts within which the role of sexuality is pivotal. Since sexual identities, rights and health are central to citizenship and to how nations and states relate to one another contemporarily, this course combines theory and case study to think through how as well as why sexuality has become so important. Students will be introduced to theories of sexual citizenship, homonationalism and homophobia, affectivity, sexuality and labour, sexual rights and pleasures, and use these to explore topics such as sex tourism, lesbian and gay asylum, abortion, sexual violence and sexual cultures globally. The course is interdisciplinary and takes a transnational approach to sexuality and globalisation. It has a high theory content and seminars are oriented around student discussions of readings in various ways. Students will join existing students taking the full unit GI422 for lectures, but will have separate seminars.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 20 hours of classes in the LT.

15 hours of lectures preceded by seminars (1 hour each week).  Limited numbers to 3 seminars.

Formative coursework

An abstract of the student essay (300 words) submitted on Friday of week 5, with written feedback; a detailed outline (up to 2000 words) of the essay to be submitted by Monday of week 9, with feedback in person through tutorial before the end of term.

Indicative reading

Jacqui Alexander (2006) Gay Tourism: Culture and Context (Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press).

Rutvica Andrijasevic (2014) ‘The Figure of the Trafficked Victim: Gender, Rights and Representation’, The Handbook of Feminist Theory (London: Sage), pp. 359-373.

Jon Binnie (2004) The Globalization of Sexuality (London: Sage);

Sonia Corrêa et al (2008) Sexuality, Health and Human Rights (New York: Routledge),

David Evans (1993) Sexual Citizenship: The Material Construction of Sexualities (New York: Routledge);

Éric Fassin (2010) ‘National Identities and Transnational Intimacies: Sexual Democracy and the Politics of Immigration in Europe’, Public Culture, 22. 3:  507-529.

Laura Alexandra Harris (1996) ‘Queer Black Feminism: the Pleasure Principle’, Feminist Review 54: 3-30.

Cindy Patton & Benigno Sanchez-Eppler, Eds (2000) Queer Diasporas (Durham: Duke University Press);

Victoria Neilson (2004) ‘Uncharted Territory: Choosing An Effective Approach in Transgender-Based Asylum Claims’, Fordham Urban Law Journal 32.2: 100-124.

Jasbir Puar (2007) Terrorist Assemblages: Homonationalism in Queer Times (Durham: Duke UP);

Tom Shakespeare (2006) Disability Rights and Wrongs (New York: Routledge).

Laura Ann Stoler (1995) Race and the Education of Desire (Durham: Duke University Press);

Assessment

Essay (100%, 4000 words) in the ST.

Final essay due Monday week 1 of summer term

Key facts

Department: Gender Institute

Total students 2014/15: Unavailable

Average class size 2014/15: Unavailable

Controlled access 2014/15: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Specialist skills