BASS Philosophy and Data Analytics / Course details

This course covers the key debates and themes in the study of gender and politics from a comparative perspective. We will investigate questions of what it means to say that politics is gendered, and analyse how gender operates within both conventional and unconventional arenas of politics.

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This unit aims to provide an introduction to the key debates and themes involved in the study of gender and politics from a comparative perspective. It will ask what is means to claim that politics is gendered given multiple and intersecting claims and identities? It will explore how far different groups of men and women behave differently as political actors.  And it asks whether ‘politics’ and political systems are gendered in particular ways that affect different groups of men and women differently.  

The unit aims to give students a better understanding of the ways in which gender operates in the conventional political arena, namely in terms of voting behaviour, political recruitment, political parties, parliaments, the executive and policy-making.  But taking a broad definition of what counts as political, the module also aims to explore how gender operates in movements that are active outside of the state and the conventional political arena.  The course will consider the differing strategies adopted to promote and enhance gender equality and assess the arguments for and against each one.

The course aims to give students a better understanding of the ways in which gender operates in the conventional political arena, namely in terms of voting behaviour, political recruitment, political parties and government, the executive, and policy-making. But taking a broad definition of what counts as political, the module also aims to explore how gender operates in movements that are active outside of the state and the conventional political arena. The course will consider the differing strategies adopted to promote and enhance gender equality and assess the arguments for and against each one.  

The course covers a range of different topics in gender and comparative politics. Indicative questions we will address include:

• How does adopting a gendered perspective help us to understand politics in different ways?
• Who can represent women’s interests?
• To what extent do women and men differ in their political preferences and voting behaviour?
• How and why do women and men differ in their political participation?  
• Why are women under-represented in political parties?
• In what ways are legislatures gendered?
• What are the barriers that prevent women gaining executive office?
• When do governments promote gender equality policies?  

Understand a range of perspectives on how politics is gendered

Appreciate how taking a comparative approach to studying gender and politics can help us better understand the causes of gendered inequality  

Analyse the role of gender in comparative politics

Explain how various theories and concepts of gender and comparative politics apply to real-world cases

Consider what changes, reforms, or interventions can be made to address gendered inequalities in politics 
 

 Use of library, electronic, and online resources

Information retrieval and critical evaluation, synthesising materials from a variety of sources

2000 word essay (50%) 

1500 word policy briefing (35%) 

500 word tutorial task (15%)

Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission.

Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June.

For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results.

You will receive feedback on assessed essays in a standard format. This will rate your essay in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the essay. If you have any queries 
about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor.

On assessments submitted through Turnitin you will receive feedback via Blackboard. 
This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future.You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff. 

M.L Krook and S Childs, Women, Gender and Politics: A Reader. Oxford University Press, 2008.

P. Paxton and M Hughes, Women, Politics and Power: A Global Perspective, 3rd Ed. 2016.

G. Waylen, K. Celis, J. Kantola and L. Weldon (eds). The Oxford Handbook of Gender and Politics, Ch.1. 2013