This module investigates the following questions: How does law affect gender and how does gender affect law? As a result of taking part in this module, students will develop the necessary critical thinking skills to recognise how law and state structures in general influence and are influenced by gender. Using critical analysis skills and feminist theories we will investigate how individuals from disadvantaged groups in terms of their gender and sexuality as well as some other characteristics, such as race, disability, or immigration status, could be disenfranchised by law.
Teaching of this module will begin with a set of introductory lectures on schools of feminism. These will be followed by subject specific lectures applying feminist theory to a specific context. These will be taught by a team of lecturers with expertise in that particular area. Specific fields offered might change from one academic year to another depending on staff availability.
Assessment will be based on group presentation and an essay.
As a result of taking part in this module, students will become aware of covert ways in which law, even when it is seemingly impartial, could result in or exacerbate inequalities. The module will also help students to develop research, presentation, group work, communication and critical argumentation skills due to the teaching, learning and assessment methods used in the module.