The Body (Autumn Term) (L4028)
The Body: sex, gender, power, and politics (Autumn Term)
Module L4028
Module details for 2009 cohort.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, a successful student should be able to:
demonstrate an understanding of the body as a socially and historically constructed concept
evaluate a variety of feminist and sociological perspectives for understanding the politics of the body
demonstrate an awareness of the importance of bodies as sites for oppression and regulation
assimilate and evaluate empirical material which is of relevance to the theoretical frameworks covered in the course
show knowledge of several of the substantive themes of the course.
Module Outline
The body has recently become a key focus for sociological theorising and research. Much of this work has focused on defining the body as a socially constructed phenomenon, and exploring how it is produced through various social and cultural practices and discourses, and categories such as gender, class, 'race' and sexual orientation. However, the body is also highly politically charged; a key site at which oppression is meted out and a focus of regulation and governance at individual, group, national and international levels. Bodies, and particularly women's bodies, are also at the nexus of some of the most controversial debates of our time.
This course will look at the politics of the body from a sociological point of view, exploring themes of embodiment and power through a variety of controversial issues such as HIV/AIDS, sexual violence, sex work, abortion, cosmetic surgery and eugenics. Students will think through various debates in relation to a broad canon of theories from feminism and sociology, around notions such as rights, bodily autonomy and integrity, structures and discourses, and the formation and regulation of identities. Gender will be a central thread throughout, and attention will be paid to how it intersects with other social categories such as class, 'race', sexual orientation, age, and (dis)ability.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Thesis (6000 words) | Spring Term Week 1 Mon 16:00 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
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