Psychology (PSYC) 345

Overview

This course takes an intersectional approach to analyzing a variety of topics related to the psychology of sexuality and gender, as it is mediated by diverse identities, social locations, and life experiences. Students will become adept at critically evaluating the theories and methods used by psychologists that ultimately work to shape contemporary beliefs about sexuality and gender. By considering crucial social and political issues such as colonization, research paradigms, stereotypes, violence, identity, relationships, and mental health, students will enrich their understanding of feminist approaches to psychology. This course focuses on the gendered impacts of power, privilege, and oppression while drawing upon a wide breadth of theoretical lenses, including queer theory, critical race theory, Indigenous approaches, and critical disability studies.

Outline

Section I: Foundations

Unit 1: Situating the Study of Gender and Sexuality

Unit 2: Patriarchy, Intersectionality, and Colonization

Unit 3: Paradigms and the Politics of Knowledge Production

Section II: Stereotypes, Violence, and Resistance

Unit 4: Stereotypes and Minority Stress

Unit 5: Violence and Prevention

Section III: Development, Identity, and Relationships

Unit 6: Childhood and Identity Formation

Unit 7: Relationships—From Friends to Family

Unit 8: Sex and Sexuality

Section IV: Consequences of Categorization

Unit 9: Gender, Jobs, and Income Inequality

Unit 10: Mental Health and Well-Being

Section V: Looking Ahead

Unit 11: Putting It All Into Practice

Learning outcomes

After you have completed this course, you should be able to:

• evaluate psychological theories and methods with an awareness of the impact that gender, sexuality, power, and diversity have on scientific knowledge,
• explain how diversity, oppression, and social justice shape gendered experiences across the lifespan,
• demonstrate how psychological research on gender and sexuality is enriched when examining multiple levels of analysis, social context, and attention to structural oppression,
• analyze the ways in which gendered power dynamics affect the mental health, well-being, and life trajectory of diversely situated individuals and groups,
• evaluate the myriad ways gender and sexuality interface with issues related to income and employment, violence, stress and coping, stigma and prejudice, sex and relationships, family planning and parenting, and mental health and well-being, and
• clearly communicate the importance of applying critical feminist theories, including intersectionality and decolonization, to the study of gender and sexuality.

Evaluation

To receive credit for Psychology 345: The Psychology of Gender and Sexuality, you must complete all six assessment activities and achieve a minimum overall weighted grade of D (50 percent) or better for the entire course. The weightings for each activity are as follows:

Activity	Weight
Paradigm Paper	15%
Midterm Assignment	20%
Project Proposal Assignment	15%
Media Engagement Assignment	15%
Final Project	25%
Participation and Engagement Assignment	10%
Total	100%

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

Materials

Other Resources

All other learning resources, including a Study Guide, journal articles, book chapters, and audiovisual material, will be available online.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The Challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you 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 about Challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

The PSYC 345: The Psychology of Gender and Sexuality challenge for credit option has two components: a major research paper and an invigilated online examination. To receive a passing grade for credit for this course, you must complete both components and achieve a grade of 50 percent or higher on each. Credit will be awarded as either pass or fail.

Activity	Weight
Research Paper	50%
Online Exam	50%
Total	100%

Challenge for credit course registration form

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