Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) 270
Introduction to Gender Studies (Revision 1)
WGST 270 is permanently closed, effective June 27, 2013.
WGST 270 replaced with WGST 301.
Delivery Mode: Individualized study online
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Social Science
Prerequisite: None
Precluded Course: WMST 270. (WGST 270 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for WMST 270.)
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Women's & Gender Studies home page
WGST 270 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Overview
WGST 270 aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of the workings of gender in contemporary North American society. It will begin by challenging the notion that gender roles are dualistic, fixed, and rooted in biology. This will entail familiarizing students with social constructionist theories of “doing” gender and postmodern theories of gender as a performance. Both feminine and masculine identities and representations will be studied. The course will also examine gender and disability as well as queer and transgender sexualities.
Outline
Unit 1: Understanding Gender: Beyond Nature versus Nurture
Unit 2: Pink is for Girls, Blue is for Boys?
Unit 3: Performing Femininities
Unit 4: Performing Masculinities
Unit 5: Gender and Disability
Unit 6: Gender Trouble
Each unit consists of an introduction; a list of learning objectives, so that you will know exactly what you should achieve by the end of the unit; assigned readings; commentaries in the form of audiovisual presentations, which provide additional information on the subjects covered by the readings; a review quiz, and a list of supplementary readings and references.
Evaluation
To receive credit for WGST 270, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Assign. 1 Oral Review | Assign. 2 Reflections on Gender Representation | Assign. 3 Research Essay Proposal | Assign. 4 Research Essay | Assign. 5 Final Take-home Essays | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15% | 20% | 5% | 30% | 30% | 100% |
Note: To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Lorber, J., & Moore, L. J. (2007). Gendered bodies: feminist perspectives. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing.
Kimmel, M. S., Aronson, A., & Kaler, A. (2011). The gendered society reader (2nd Canadian ed.). Toronto: Oxford University Press.
DVD
Murderball. (2005). Directed by H. A. Rubin & D. A. Shapiro. USA: THINKFilm, Inc.
Other Materials
The course materials include a digital reading file and an online study guide.
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 270 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
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 1, March 1, 2009.