Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) 301

Overview

WGST 301 aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of the ways in which gender, identity and sexuality operate in contemporary North American society. The starting point of the course is that gender is socially constructed, not based in biology as commonly believed. Notions of "doing gender" and "gender performance" are central to the course. Students will engage with poststructuralist, postmodern, feminist and queer theory in order to critically examine not only gender norms but resistance and challenges to these norms. Femininity, masculinity, disability, as well as queer and transgender politics and identifications will be studied in a variety of contexts, including the family, education, recreation and leisure, the body and representation, media and popular culture and social justice activism.

Outline

• Unit 1: The Social Construction of Gender
• Unit 2: Children and Youth Perform Gender
• Unit 3: Performing Femininities
• Unit 4: Performing Masculinities
• Unit 5: Gender and Disability
• Unit 6: Gender Trouble

Each unit consists of a list of learning objectives; a list of unit activities, which includes assigned readings and video lectures; a critical reflection exercise; a self-test, and a list of references and supplementary materials.

Evaluation

To receive credit for WGST 301, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Note: To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Materials

All other course materials, including the online study guide, required readings and video lectures, are available on your course website.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the WGST 301 challenge registration, you must complete all four essays and achieve a composite grade of “D” (50 percent) or higher on the challenge assignment. Credit will be awarded as either a pass or a fail.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form