Intersectionality: Critical perspectives on Inequality and Power (GEN360)
The course will introduce the concept of intersectionality and how it has been used as a critical analytic to produce knowledge on interconnected structures of power and domination, such as sexism and racism. During the course we will also analyse the concept of intersectionality itself by examining recent discussions about the potentialities and limitations of the concept.
Course description for study year 2018-2019. Please note that changes may occur.
The course will focus, in particular, on how structures of inequality may be analysed through an intersectional perspective which is sensitive to how multiple axes of difference, such as gender, race, and nationality, create oppression as well as resistance and agency in people's everyday lives. The legacy and influence of black feminist theory and critical race studies on intersectional thinking will be emphasized throughout the course, but Scandinavian contributions to the concept will also be included. The course is relevant to students who are interested in studying the complex relationality between individual and society, subject and structure.
Please note that the course will not run in spring 2019, as it will be moved to the autumn term 2019.
Learning outcome
Upon completion of this course, the students should:
Have acquired knowledge of the historical trajectory of intersectionality as a theoretical concept
Have acquired knowledge of how intersectionality is used as a method and analytical perspective across the human and social sciences
Have acquired knowledge of how multiple axes of differentiation, such as gender, race, sexuality, age, class, intersect and how these may be articulated and discussed in complex ways
Skills:
Students should be able to understand and analyze intersectionality as a theoretical concept
Students should be able to apply intersectionality as an analytical tool
Students should be able to discuss and critically assess the politics of intersectionality
Competences:
After completing the course, students are expected to have acquired theoretical knowledge about the concept of intersectionality and use intersectionality as an analytical toolkit.
Students are expected to be able to apply an intersectional perspective in professional and educational situations.
Required prerequisite knowledge
None
Exam
Coursework requirements
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.
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)
Intersectionality: Critical perspectives on Inequality and Power (GEN360_1)
,
Intersectionality: critical perspectives on Inequality and Power (GEN560_1)
The course will be assessed every year in line with standard procedures for course evaluation at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Literature
Books:
Collins, Patricia Hill and Sirma Bilge (2016) Intersectionality. London and New York: Polity Press
The literature for this course consist of one main book and a collection of articles. The curriculum consists of approximately 700 pages.
Information about the article collection can be found on Canvas before the start of the course. Any changes to the curriculum will be announced on Canvas before the start of the course
The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1