Course

Intersectionality: critical perspectives on Inequality and Power (GEN560)

The course serves as an introduction to the concept of intersectionality and how it has been used as a critical analytic to produce knowledge of the ways in which structural inequality and oppression continues to organize human life. Intersectionality suggests that inequality is never (only) shaped by single axis division, such as gender, but rather that inequality must be understood as the effect of multiple and overlapping axes of division grounded in histories of colonialism and exploitation. Intersectional frameworks emerge from and is indebted to black feminist theory, critical race studies, and in particular the activist labour of black women and women of color. Today intersectionality is both a widely used concept in scholarship, policy making, and activism, and a contested concept, for example, in public debates about feminism, anti-racism, and identity politics in the Nordic countries.


Dette er emnebeskrivelsen for studieåret 2019-2020. Merk at det kan komme endringer.

See course description and exam/assesment information for this semester (2024-2025)

Semesters

Fakta

Emnekode

GEN560

Vekting (stp)

10

Semester undervisningsstart

Spring

Undervisningsspråk

English

Antall semestre

1

Vurderingssemester

Spring

Timeplan

Vis timeplan

Content

During the course we will acquire knowledge of how intersectionality emerges from black feminist theory and critical race studies anchored in a US context, but the course will also emphasize and bring forward intersectional knowledge production from Northern European contexts. The class will investigate how intersectional thinking from the onset sought to undo the whiteness of feminist knowledge production, and how intersectionality has travelled across (academic) geographies initiating new discussions of whether these processes have resulted in a depoliticization of the concept. The course is relevant for students who are interested in the theoretical and analytical potentialities of intersectionality in relation to themes such as feminist knowledge production, racism, activism, the legacy of colonialism, reproductive justice, and identity politics.

Learning outcome

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:

  • Students should acquire knowledge about intersectionality as a theoretical and analytical framework.
  • Students should acquire knowledge of how multiple axes of social division such as gender, race, sexuality, age, class, intersect and how these may be articulated and discussed in complex ways.
  • Students should acquire knowledge of contemporary debates around intersectionality and how the concept is used to promote to social change.

Skills:

  • Students should be able to analyse and critically discuss intersectionality as a theoretical framework.
  • Students should be able to analyse inequality as the effect of multiple axes of social division through an intersectional lens.
  • Students should be able to discuss the politics of intersectionality and assess its potentiality for initiating social change.

Competences:

  • After completing the course, students are expected to be familiar with core texts on intersectionality.
  • After completing the course, students are expected to have acquired theoretical knowledge about intersectionality and use intersectionality as an analytical perspective.
  • After completing the course, students are expected to be able to apply intersectional perspectives in educational and vocational settings as well as their everyday lives.

Forkunnskapskrav

Completed bachelor-degree

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid Exam system Withdrawal deadline Exam date
Home assignment 1/1 8 Days Letter grades Inspera assessment 07.11.2019 —


This course has a home exam over 8 days: an individual written essay (3000 words) to be handed in electronically. The exam will be graded A-F.

Vilkår for å gå opp til eksamen/vurdering

Mid-term essay and group presentation, One activity, one written essay and one group presentation, Two compulsory assignments
This course requires active participation: Students will be asked to hand in a mid-term essay (1500 words) and prepare a group presentation about a given topic, which will receive a pass/fail assessment. Comments to the essays and the group presentations will be given in a plenary session. Students will have to pass this two-part compulsory assignment in order to qualify for the final exam.

Fagperson(er)

Course coordinator:

Lene Myong

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

Emne Reduksjon (SP)
Intersectionality: Critical perspectives on Inequality and Power (GEN360_1) , Intersectionality: critical perspectives on Inequality and Power (GEN560_1) 10

Åpent for

Admission to Single Courses at the Faculty of Social Sciences
Admission to Single Courses at the Faculty of Science and Technology
Admission to Single Courses at Faculty of Arts and Education
Sustainability Studies - Master's Degree Programme Change Management - Master's Degree Programme International Hospitality Management - Master's Degree Programme English and Literacy Studies - Master's Degree Programme Societal Safety - Master's Degree Programme Social Studies - Master's Degree Programme
Exchange programmes at UIS Business School
Exchange programme at Faculty of Social Sciences

Emneevaluering

Student evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the evaluation system at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Litteratur

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. 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 curriculum consists of approximately 1000 pages.

Kontakt

Course coordinator:

Lene Myong

Tilbys av

Faculty of Social Sciences

Department of Media and Social Sciences

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