Department of European Studies & Modern Languages, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
EU30441: Gender and politics in Europe |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Honours |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| CW 33%, EX 67% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description:
| Aims: The aim of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of the relationship between gender and politics in contemporary Europe; to examine some areas of political theory in relation to gender and to explore a number of thematic case studies. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit students should be able to: * apply a basic theoretical knowledge of the relationship between gender and politics; * explain the position of women in relation to power in European politics; * critically evaluate the realities of women's involvement in politics across Europe. Skills: Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are developed and assessed in this unit. CIT skills are developed in this unit. Content: This unit will first introduce some of the major debates in contemporary feminist political theory. It will then move into a comparative analysis of the relationship between gender and the political processes in Europe by examining women's feminist mobilisation and a number of issues around gender and political participation including voting patterns, participation in government and political parties, as well as social policy issues. It will further explore the European Parliament and the Welsh Assembly as case studies. Key texts: Valerie Bryson, Feminists debate issues of theory and political practice (Macmillan, 1999), Wendy Stokes, Women in Contemporary Politics (Polity, 2005). |