Women's and gender studies

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 1	Joyce Gwendoline Peronne Gourdin	Esade	ENG

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 2	Joyce Gwendoline Peronne Gourdin	Esade	ENG

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 3	Joyce Gwendoline Peronne Gourdin	Esade	ENG

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 4	Joyce Gwendoline Peronne Gourdin	Esade	ENG

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
"Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the
challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good
governance." - Kofi Annan
Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that explores critical questions
about the meaning of gender in society. Each class provides a theoretical framework,
as well as examples of gendered-related situations that are controversial today, in
order to make students reflect on our contemporary society, and create a debate.
As a result, students not only learn how to use gender as a frame of analysis, but also
think about the manifestation of gender in their own lives, leading to a range of
personal and intellectual discoveries.
This course analyses themes of gendered performance in a range of diverse social
spheres: history, education, economy, politics, law and marketing.
Throughout the semester, we will "question gender" in multiple ways:
- What is the difference between sex and gender? Why does gender matter?
- Why don't we have a women's History? What lives did our female ancestors
have?
- What does ?being a woman in the 21st century' mean? How can intersectionality
help us to understand women's experiences?
- How do gendered structures of power operate in politics and at work?
- What are the different kinds of feminism?
- How is gender taken into account in the political agenda?
- How is the current visual industry an obstacle towards more gender equality?

CONTENT

1. Women in History (1): from the Roman Empire to the French Revolution The evolution of women¿s roles in History has to be understood in order to get a clearer view of women¿s current situation. At every point in our world History, there were powerful women ¿ even when their rights were not guaranteed. From the influential Roman courtesans to the revolutionary women who invaded the Bastille in 1789, without forgetting the role of the catholic moral during the Middle Age, a large panel of women¿s stories will be covered.
2. Women in History (2): The three waves of feminism (from the 19th century to today) The term feminism describes movements that aim to establish equal rights for women. There were three waves of feminism The first wave, occurring in the 19th, was concerned with women¿s right to vote. The second wave, which took place in the 1960s, was about women willing to get social rights. The third wave, beginning in the 1990s, sees women¿s lives as intersectional, demonstrating how race, class, and gender are all significant factors when discussing feminism.
3. Being a woman in our 21st century world: different cultures, different situations. Gender in education Global and regional data, from international organisations (such as the gender index), will be analysed to understand that women have different experiences depending on their class, nationality and culture.
4. Gender in family, at work, and in religion Women are still victims of discrimination which prevent them from having the career they want. They do more domestic work, they suffer from the glass ceiling, and in the worst case they are victims of sexual harassment. A change has been noticed over the last decades, new laws and projects have been implemented to protect, but more progress needs to be done.
5. Gender in politics and the different kinds of feminism The sex-typing characteristic of most institutions in the modern world cannot be denied and we¿ll analyse how gender shapes the ways people look at politics. However, some changes have occurred in this field, for example Europe has never had so many women as country¿s leaders. Nevertheless, some challenges remain. The first wave of feminism was liberal: women wanted equal rights. From the 1960s, new ideologies started to appear, and nowadays feminism refers to more than 7 different possible views: radical feminism, cultural feminism, black feminism¿
6. Gender in our visual culture and gender at a digital age Even if gender has been taken more seriously into account over the last decades, the visual industry (TV shows, magazines, novels, advertisement, and videogames) keeps objectifying women. This marketing strategy makes it almost impossible to fight against the prejudices about women, in terms of jobs, personalities, and selfdevelopment.
7. Matriarchal societies A matriarchal society is a social system in which one or more women exert authority over the community as a whole. We¿ll analyze the organization of different matriarchal societies around the world, such as the Mosuos in China, the Bribris in Costa Rica and the Minangkabau in Indonesia.
8. Women and conflict (Ukrainian war and women in Afghanistan) ¿It has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed conflict.¿ (Major General Patrick Cammaert, former UN peacekeeping commander) Conflicts and situations of instability exacerbate pre-existing patterns of discrimination against women and girls, exposing them to heightened risks of violations of their human rights. We¿ll analyze more specifically the situation of women¿s rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban rule, and the role of women in the Ukrainian-Russian War.
9. Women and resistance (against fascism in France, Italy and Germany) In this chapter, we¿ll uncover the stories of women who resisted fascism in France, Italy, and Germany during the 1940s, and we¿ll analyze the change of mentality that resulted from their actions.
10. Women and art (theater, literature, and paintings) Although women artists have been involved in the making of art throughout history, their work, when compared to that of their male counterparts, has been often overlooked and undervalued.

1. Women in History (1): from the Roman Empire to the French Revolution

The evolution of women¿s roles in History has to be understood in order to get a
clearer view of women¿s current situation. At every point in our world History, there
were powerful women ¿ even when their rights were not guaranteed. From the
influential Roman courtesans to the revolutionary women who invaded the Bastille in
1789, without forgetting the role of the catholic moral during the Middle Age, a large
panel of women¿s stories will be covered.

2. Women in History (2): The three waves of feminism (from the 19th century to today)

The term feminism describes movements that aim to establish equal rights for women.
There were three waves of feminism The first wave, occurring in the 19th, was
concerned with women¿s right to vote. The second wave, which took place in the
1960s, was about women willing to get social rights. The third wave, beginning in the
1990s, sees women¿s lives as intersectional, demonstrating how race, class, and
gender are all significant factors when discussing feminism.

3. Being a woman in our 21st century world: different cultures, different situations. Gender in education

Global and regional data, from international organisations (such as the gender index),
will be analysed to understand that women have different experiences depending on
their class, nationality and culture.

4. Gender in family, at work, and in religion

Women are still victims of discrimination which prevent them from having the career
they want. They do more domestic work, they suffer from the glass ceiling, and in the
worst case they are victims of sexual harassment. A change has been noticed over the
last decades, new laws and projects have been implemented to protect, but more
progress needs to be done.

5. Gender in politics and the different kinds of feminism

The sex-typing characteristic of most institutions in the modern world cannot be denied
and we¿ll analyse how gender shapes the ways people look at politics. However, some
changes have occurred in this field, for example Europe has never had so many
women as country¿s leaders. Nevertheless, some challenges remain.
The first wave of feminism was liberal: women wanted equal rights. From the 1960s,
new ideologies started to appear, and nowadays feminism refers to more than 7
different possible views: radical feminism, cultural feminism, black feminism¿

6. Gender in our visual culture and gender at a digital age

Even if gender has been taken more seriously into account over the last decades, the
visual industry (TV shows, magazines, novels, advertisement, and videogames) keeps
objectifying women. This marketing strategy makes it almost impossible to fight
against the prejudices about women, in terms of jobs, personalities, and selfdevelopment.

7. Matriarchal societies

A matriarchal society is a social system in which one or more women exert authority
over the community as a whole. We¿ll analyze the organization of different matriarchal
societies around the world, such as the Mosuos in China, the Bribris in Costa Rica and
the Minangkabau in Indonesia.

8. Women and conflict (Ukrainian war and women in Afghanistan)

¿It has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed
conflict.¿ (Major General Patrick Cammaert, former UN peacekeeping commander)
Conflicts and situations of instability exacerbate pre-existing patterns of discrimination
against women and girls, exposing them to heightened risks of violations of their human
rights. We¿ll analyze more specifically the situation of women¿s rights in Afghanistan
under the Taliban rule, and the role of women in the Ukrainian-Russian War.

9. Women and resistance (against fascism in France, Italy and Germany)

In this chapter, we¿ll uncover the stories of women who resisted fascism in France, Italy,
and Germany during the 1940s, and we¿ll analyze the change of mentality that resulted
from their actions.

10. Women and art (theater, literature, and paintings)

Although women artists have been involved in the making of art throughout history,
their work, when compared to that of their male counterparts, has been often
overlooked and undervalued.

Methodology

METHODOLOGY

To actively question the meaning of gender in our community, this course is structured
in a format that mixes lecture and discussion. It is thus important that students come
to class on time, and that they complete the reading and writing tasks by the assigned
dates.

Many issues that we'll address in the course are controversial. Students will have
different viewpoints and perspectives, therefore it's crucial that they respect one
another's experiences so that our classroom is a safe and supportive space to debate.
Active participation is required to receive full credit for the attendance and participation
component of the final grade (20%).

Assessment criteria

Assessment criteria

The writing:
Each student will be responsible for submitting a writing assignment over the course
of the semester. Students are free to choose the topic they want, as long as it's related
to one of the chapters of the course. A list of topics is available in the Moodle to inspire
the students, but it's not mandatory to choose it from this list.
The essay should demonstrate understanding of key concepts in the course, and have
an introduction, parts and subparts with clear titles, and a conclusion.
Each essay should be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, with
one-inch margins; one page equals 250 words.
The essay should be between 1250 and 1500 words (around 5-6 pages), bibliography
excluded.

The gender studies case:

Each student will also be responsible for submitting a case. A list of
questions/statements is available in the Moodle, all chosen because of their genderedrelated and controversial appearance in the newspapers,
To make students reflect on our contemporary society, they'll have to choose a
question/statement and answer it by developing a precise argument. There's no good
or wrong answer, the objective of this task is to use gender as a frame of analysis,
and to develop a strong case based on examples seen in class (authors, statistics, ?)
The case should be between 750 and 1000 words (around 3-4 pages), bibliography
excluded.

For example: The student has chosen the statement ?Men are better in sciences while
women are better in the humanities'.

He/she must argue to defend his/her point of view, using examples seen in class or
during his/her research. After presenting different ideas, he/she'll make a clear
conclusion

Type:	OPT	Curs:	1,2,3,4	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	2 ECTS

Women's and gender studies (2235.YR.014475.1)

General information

Type:

Curs:

Period:

ECTS Credits:

Teaching Staff:

Prerequisites

Previous Knowledge

Workload distribution

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

Course Learning Objectives

CONTENT

1. Women in History (1): from the Roman Empire to the French Revolution

2. Women in History (2): The three waves of feminism (from the 19th century to today)

3. Being a woman in our 21st century world: different cultures, different situations. Gender in education

4. Gender in family, at work, and in religion

5. Gender in politics and the different kinds of feminism

6. Gender in our visual culture and gender at a digital age

7. Matriarchal societies

8. Women and conflict (Ukrainian war and women in Afghanistan)

9. Women and resistance (against fascism in France, Italy and Germany)

10. Women and art (theater, literature, and paintings)

Methodology

Assessment criteria

Bibliography

Timetable and sections

Timetable Year 1

Timetable Year 2

Timetable Year 3

Timetable Year 4