Not available in 2020/21
GI423      Half Unit
Globalisation and Sexuality

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Jacob Breslow

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Gender, MSc in Gender (Research), MSc in Gender (Sexuality), MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation, MSc in Gender, Policy and Inequalities, MSc in Global Politics, MSc in Human Rights and MSc in Women, Peace and Security. 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 students who do not provide evidence - e.g. prior courses in gender and/or sexuality, professional or political experience in related areas - of being at the appropriate level in this regard will not be admitted to the course.

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 and rights, homonationalism and homophobia, affect and fantasy, sexuality and labour, and use these to explore topics such as sex tourism, reproductive technologies, lesbian and gay asylum, abortion, sexual violence and sexual cultures globally. The course is interdisciplinary and takes a transnational approach to sexuality and globalisation.  Students will join existing students taking the full unit GI422 for lectures, but may have separate seminars.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT.

Seminars precede lectures on the same day.

Formative coursework

An abstract of the student essay (up to 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 written and in person feedback in office hours 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.

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

Paisley Currah, Richard Juang and Shannon Minter (2006) Transgender Rights (University of Minnesota Press).

Angela Davis (1981) ‘Racism, Birth Control and Reproductive Rights’, Women, Race and Class (New York: Vintage Books), pp. 202-221.

Fatima El-Tayeb (2012) ‘”Gays Who Cannot Properly be Gay”: Queer Muslims in the Neoliberal European City’, European Journal of Women’s Studies 19.2: 79-95.

Clare Hemmings, ed. (2014) 'Sexuality Section', Mary Evans et al, eds, Handbook of Feminist Theory (London: Sage).

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

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

Susan Stryker and Talia M. Bettcher (eds.), (2016) “Trans/Feminisms” [Special Issue] TSQ 3(1-2).

Omise'eke Tinsley (2018) Ezili's Mirrors: Imagining Black Queer Genders (Durham: Duke UP)

 

Assessment

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

Final essay due Monday week 1 of summer term

Student performance results

(2016/17 - 2018/19 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 27.7
Merit 55.4
Pass 15.7
Fail 1.2

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Gender Studies

Total students 2019/20: Unavailable

Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable

Controlled access 2019/20: 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