Learning objectives
At the end of the course, students are able to understand and analyze key concepts in gender and sexuality studies; to critically analyze the factors that contribute to mantain gender roles and stereotypes; to understand the processes through which differences result in inequality and discrimination; and the intersections between identity positions (gender, sexuality, but also ethnicity, class, dis/ability, etc.) and systems of oppression; to understand the role played by policies in both maintaining and deconstructing asymmetries .
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
In recent decades, social studies on gender and sexuality have challenged multiple common-sense assumptions about the organization of society by emphasizing how differences (and inequalities) between men and women, as well as between heterosexual and LGBT+ people, are the result of a process of social construction and not the outcome of a natural process that assigns greater opportunities to some at the expense of others. First, the course will critically analysis of some of the key concepts in these studies -identity, difference and intersectionality; stereotyping and socialization; sexual identity, heteronormativity and homotransfobia; and then challenge them in critically reading the policies of two social institutions: the school and the family.
Full programme
- The first part of the course is devoted to the analysis of some key concepts in this field of study that are particularly relevant to understanding contemporary society: identity, difference and intersectionality; stereotypes and socialization; sexual identity, heteronormativity and homotransfobia.
- The second part of the course is devoted to the analysis of two particularly challenging case studies in the contemporary Italian context: gender and sexuality education at school and LGBT+ parenting. From empirical research and audiovisual material students and students will be invited to measure themselves against these issues and investigate the role played by both social norms and public policies in processes of discrimination or promotion of equity.
Bibliography
Raewyn W. Connell (2011, seconda edizione) Questioni di genere. Bologna, Il Mulino [CAPITOLI 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 e 8]
- Beatrice Gusmano e Giulia Selmi (2023) Aspettando Godot. Cittadinanza e diritti LGBTQ+ in Italia. Milano, Mimesis.
Teaching methods
The course will combine moments of face-to-face teaching, aimed at critically exploring the concepts and lexicon of gender and sexuality studies, with workshops in which students will be called upon to engage in cooperative and creative work to analyze and discuss the issues addressed during the lectures. In addition to textual resources -the articles and books in the bibliography-the course will use audio and video materials (both films and songs and video clips) as a repertoire for critical analysis of dominant social models.
Integral to the course materials are the slides used in class that will be uploaded weekly by the lecturer to the Elly platform, along with any other audio-video materials used. Non-attending students are reminded to check the platform to stay updated on the progress of the course.
Assessment methods and criteria
For attending students, the exam will be structured as follows:
- A group critical paper on one of the two case studies aimed at assessing the mastery of the vocabulary on gender and sexuality, the ability to decline it in the analysis of social phenomena and to elaborate one's own critical opinion;
- An interview with open-ended argumentative questions aimed at assessing the knowledge learned, the mastery of its critical and intersectional use in the analysis of social phenomena and policies analyzed during the course, as well as the ability to make connections and reflections between the symbolic-cultural dimension of gender and sexuality and the political-institutional dimension.
The grade in thirtieths will be composed 50% by the evaluation of the group critical paper and 50% by the outcome of the oral examination.
For non-attending students, the profit exam will be an interview with open-ended argumentative questions that will focus on the texts indicated in the bibliography plus the lecturer's slides and materials uploaded on Elly and will be aimed at assessing the knowledge learned, mastery of specialized vocabulary, ability to critically elaborate on the texts studied and to make connections between the symbolic-cultural dimension of gender and sexuality and the political-institutional dimension.
Other information
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