Body politics from feminist perspectives

The course is a freestanding course. It may be included in H2GPR Gendering Practices.

Admission to the course requires a Bachelor degree.

The aim of this course is to study 1) how historical and contemporary discourses of for example sex, gender, class, dis/ability, race and anthropocentrism shape cultural conceptions of bodies and stratify living conditions; 2) how professions, fields of knowledge and conceptions of knowledge production itself are gendered in
intersectional ways. The course will take departure in theoretical perspectives that explore different aspects of body politics, ranging from conceptualizations of the relation between discursive and material power, to critical investigations of the notion of the sovereign subject in liberal humanism, and lived experience as sites of resistance towards normative discourses. The course readings include empirical studies of arenas such as health care, state governance and social movements on for example climate change and trans rights, and during the course students are expected to carry out analysis of an empirical case related to the overarching themes of the course.

After passing the course, students shall be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• exhibit knowledge of historical and contemporary discourses of body politics as exemplified in the curriculum,
• critically assess how professions, fields of knowledge and conceptions of knowledge production itself are gendered in intersectional ways,

Competence and skills

• show proficiency in analyzing and comparing different theoretical perspectives on body politics in collaboration with others,
• communicate these analyses, orally and in writing, and relate them, in an independent way, to broader scholarly discussions in feminist and gender theory,
• independently analyze empirical cases using feminist theoretizations of body politics,

Judgement and approach

• develop and operationalize a reflexive approach to their own process of knowledge production,
• consider ethical implications of body politics, in relation to both theoretical text and empirical cases,
• situate their own analytical work in the course examination.

Lectures, seminars and workshops.

*Lan*guage of instruction: English

The course will be examined through active participation in seminars, oral presentations and individual written work.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U)

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

Aspects of gender equality and equal treatment will be considered in the content, the literature, the teaching, and the evaluations of the course.

This is a translated version of the Swedish original. In case of differences between the Swedish version and the English translation, the Swedish original shall prevail.