Course

Transnational perspectives on Nordic gender equality and welfare (GEN330)

The Nordic countries are recognised as some of the most gender equal countries in the world. This course gives an overview of how the Nordic countries work for gender equality and how this policy area is linked to policies concerning biopolitics, work-life balance, social welfare, immigration and in general the Nordic welfare state regimes. The course will improve the students' understanding of the historical development of Nordic models for gender equality and welfare, and contribute to a critical assessment of contemporary goals and challenges for gender equality and diversity in the Nordic countries.  


Course description for study year 2018-2019. Please note that changes may occur.

Semesters

Facts

Course code

GEN330

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Time table

View course schedule

Content

The Nordic countries have extensive welfare states and have developed their politics for equality over several decades. This course outlines how gender equality is a particular policy area that connects to family policies, biopolitics, work-life policies and policies for social distribution. The main objective for the course is to discuss and analyse the organisation of the Nordic welfare states in light of their gender equality policies, and to make visible current goals and challenges to gender equality and diversity, such as highly a gender-differentiated labour market, economic inequalities and gender based violence. Increased immigration, multiculturalism, a wider range of family models and a broader recognition of different sexual orientations also contribute to ongoing developments of policies for equality and diversity. The purpose for this course is to critically analyse and asses questions of equality in the Nordic welfare states in a multi-dimensional perspective.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

Upon completion of the course, students should have:

  • Knowledge about Nordic policies for equality in relation to gender, sexuality, ethnicity and ability.
  • Knowledge about similarities and differences between the Nordic countries.
  • Knowledge about the historical and political processes of the Nordic models for gender equality and welfare policies.

Skills:

  • Analyse and critically discuss characteristics of Nordic policies for gender equality and how these policies relate to the Nordic welfare-state model.
  • Analyse and asses challenges to gender equality and diversity.
  • Analyse how Nordic models of gender equality and welfare have been developed and implemented in the Nordic Countries, and how these policies have been received on a global scale.
  • Analyse and discuss the Nordic approaches to gender equality and welfare in a comparative context.

Competences:

  • Understand and analyse gender equality in light of politics and policy-making.
  • Apply perspectives on gender equality and diversity in professional and educational situations.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid Exam system Withdrawal deadline Exam date
Termpaper 1/1 1 Semesters Letter grades Inspera assessment 18.11.2018 —


The exam is a digital, individual home-exam (duration 4 days). Students will be asked to write a paper of 2000 words that will be graded A-F.

Coursework requirements

Hand-ins
This course requires active participation, and students will be asked to hand in 3 short texts (á 500 words each) during the semester, which will receive an approved/not-approved assessment. Comments to the papers will be given in a plenary session. Students will have to pass this 3-part compulsory assignment in order to qualify for the final exam.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Maja Brandt Andreasen

Method of work

The course consists of weekly sessions. These sessions will include lectures, seminars, group work and individual work - adapted to different modes of study. All students are expected to read the syllabus and participate in group discussions and thereby develop analytic reflections in a productive environment with fellow students. This will be done on and off campus and the course coordinator will facilitate a digital learning platform (Canvas). The working language for this course is English.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Nordic models for gender equality and welfare (BSS330_1) , Transnational perspectives on Nordic gender equality and welfare (GEN330_1) 10
Transnational perspectives on Nordic gender equality and welfare (GEN330_1) , Transnational perspectives on Nordic gender equality and welfare (GEN530_1) 10

Open for

All study programs at the University of Stavanger.

Exchange students.

Course assessment

Student evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Faculty of Social Science evaluation system.

Literature

The literature for this course consist of books and a collection of articles. The curriculum consists of approximately 700 pages. The article-collection will be made available before the course starts.

Books

Sümer, S. (2009) European Gender Regimes and Policies: Comparative Perspectives, Farnham: Ashgate, chapter 1, 2, 3 and 6. (pages 1-65 and 111-123).

Information about the article collection and the final curriculum can be found on Canvas before the start of the course.

Contact

Course coordinator:

Maja Brandt Andreasen

Offered by

Faculty of Social Sciences

Department of Media and Social Sciences

The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1