Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) 332

Overview

WGST 332 course explores the relationship between women and unions from a global perspective. It explores the importance of trade unions for women workers, the impact of women's organizing on union transformation, and challenges and difficulties women face with regard to union representation and participation. It will explore these issues with reference to historical struggles in different countries, while also discussing them within the context of current union activity. The course will also examine strategies used by women unionists to advance equity inside and outside the union movement, such as separate organizing and activities aimed at improving diversity within trade unions. The last three units will investigate some of the new challenges facing unions and women workers as a result of globalisation and related processes of workplace restructuring.

Outline

• Unit 1: Women and Patterns of Unionisation
• Unit 2: Gender and Union Activities: Representation, Participation and Union Leadership
• Unit 3: Separate and Autonomous Organizing
• Unit 4: Economic Restructuring and the Changing Relationship between Women and Unions
• Unit 5: Minority Group Women and Diversity Struggles
• Unit 6: New Directions in Organizing and Transforming Unions

Evaluation

To receive credit for WGST 332, you must complete five written assignments and achieve an overall grade of “D” (50 percent) or better for the entire course. Your final grade is determined by a weighted average of the grades you receive on these assignments for credit. The weightings for each assignment are as follows:

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

Course Materials

The course materials also include a study guide and a reading file.

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 332 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form