BSocSc Sociology

This course examines concepts relating to gender, sexuality and culture. We discuss the social and cultural significance of gender and sexuality in a historical, social, and cultural context, including the digital. Topics for discussion include, for example, feminism(s), the relationship between gender, sexuality, race, class, disability, masculinity and femininity, sex sciences, and the social, historical and political role of LGBTQI identities. Questions include: to what extent are the characteristics of masculinity and femininity born with us, and to what extent do the makers of gender/sexuality vary over time and between societies?  

The course explores gender, sex and sexuality in society, and how they can be theorised. The course begins by looking at basic concepts of gender, and if it can be considered an 'essential' and inherent category within a person. We discuss what terms like 'essentialism', 'determinism' and 'social constructionism' means in terms of gender (lecture 1). These are discussions that appear throughout the module and that are relevant for understanding and theorising both gender and sexuality. 

Week 1 provides and overview of the course, and discuss key terms, concepts and approaches. In weeks 2-5 of the module we focus on gender in particular and in weeks 6-9 we focus more specifically on sexuality and LGBTQI identities, although the overlaps between the two will be highlighted throughout. In week 2, we explore relations of sex and gender in society and the development of feminism, feminist theory and contemporary issues, including online worlds. We thereafter go on to explore how sex and gender relations also need to be understood as shaped through race and class divisions (lecture 3). Next we will look at gendered 'regimes' in society and how masculinities and femininities operate and are socially constructed in everyday life (week 4). In week five we go on to looking specifically at how gender relations operate in media and in culture, and draw on theory to analyse media outputs. Constructions of gender are intimately interlinked with constructions of sexualities, and in week 6, we shall begin to explore the historical development of expert knowledge about sex, gender and sexuality or 'sex science' (known as 'sexology'), and also consider some psychoanalytic theories about the development of gendered and sexual identities. After this, the work of Michel Foucault on the 'historical' construction of sexuality, and how experts have played a part in constructing such knowledge (week 7). In week 8 and 9 we then focus especially on LGBTQI communities and identities. In week 8, we explore in particular gay and lesbian politics and same sex relationships, in particular dynamics like marriage and divorce. In week 9 we focus in particular on trans identities and intersex, exploring contemporary politics and understandings of these gendered experiences within LGBTQI communities. The final session (lecture 10) and final tutorial are crucial because they recap key theories and concepts in a way that is designed to maximise your success in the end of course examination.  

Weekly lecture (1 x 2 hour)   
Weekly tutorials (1 hour)  

Lectures will focus on exploring and critiquing gender and sexuality through different structural framings. Classic texts in the field will be drawn upon, alongside contemporary debates in books, journal articles and the media enabling students to consider the key theoretical arguments in relation to empirical case studies. 

In tutorials and through presentations, students will be encouraged to explore empirical examples, applying theoretical knowledge from the course to critique and debate them. The course will utilise Canvas and other software to deliver the module's course content, core readings, lecture slides, any supplementary materials such as video materials, and communication.

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:

• Apply their knowledge of sociological theory of gender and sexuality, including for example feminist and intersectional theory, to enable them to recognise the nature of sociological questions in this field

• Appreciate, understand and interpret the complexity of the role of gender and sexuality in society, including conducting sociological analysis of diverse aspects of these categories, for example, how they interact intersectionally or within digital spaces intersectionally.

• Reason critically about the development of gender and sexuality and analyse how they shape social relations. This for example through the critical study of media and culture, and issues related to transgender and intersex

• Develop a coherent analysis of a substantive topic, e.g. the construction and history of sexuality 

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:  

• Evaluate competing analytical perspectives  

• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of theory and empirical evidence  

• Employ material available from academic, media and policy sources to make effective arguments  

• Develop a critical approach to academic, media and policy texts 

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:  

• Use library and electronic sources and resources  

• Undertake and present independent research  

• Develop oral presentations and presentation aids  

• Improve their ability to communicate their ideas clearly and to an audience  

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:  

• Work independently to deadlines as well as working as part of a group  

• Summaries, evaluate and present data and ideas  

• Interpret and critically evaluate evidence using a variety of sources  

Formative assessment:

Non-assessed mid-term coursework - 1000 words max.

Summative assessment:

100% Exam - 2h

All sociology courses include both formative feedback - which lets you know how you're getting on and what you could do to improve - and summative feedback - which gives you a mark for your assessed work.  

Richardson, D. & Robinson, V. (2020) Introducing Gender and Women’s Studies. Fifth edition. London, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Beasley, C. (2005) Gender & sexuality: critical theories, critical thinkers . London: Thousand Oaks, CA :, SAGE.

Connell, R. (2015) Gender: in world perspective. Third edition. Cambridge:, Polity.

A. Cranny-Francis (ed.) (2003) Gender studies: terms and debates. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Jackson, S. & Scott, S. (2010) Theorizing Sexuality. Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill Education.

Brah, A. (1996) Cartographies of diaspora : contesting identities. London; Routledge.

Bradley, H. (2013) Gender . 2nd edition. Cambridge :, Polity.