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SP30129: Sexual violence: explanations, responses & debates

[Page last updated: 04 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • CW 100% (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
SP30129 - Reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must take SP10044 AND take SP20050
Aims:
* To analyse key theoretical explanations of adult rape and sexual assault
* To examine competing definitions of what constitutes sexual violence
* To outline debates around the extent of adult rape and sexual assault
* To explore the experiences of victim-survivors of these crimes
* To critically assess voluntary sector and other support service responses to these crimes
* To critically assess police responses to these crimes
* To critically assess Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and court responses to these crimes
* To analyse contemporary debates about the effectiveness of perpetrator treatment programmes
* To understand and engage with the debate on alternative (e.g. non-criminal justice, kaleidoscopic justice, parallel justice) responses to sexual violence
* Outline and discuss sexual violence as an international concern.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, students should be able to:
* Outline and analyse key historical and contemporary explanations for sexual violence
* Critique official and non-official statistics on the extent of sexual violence
* Access a range of sources of information about sexual violence and service provision in the UK
* Critically assess key theoretical debates on the causes of and responses to sexual violence
* Outline and evaluate changing statutory response to rape and sexual assault in the UK
* Outline and evaluate changing voluntary sector and other support service responses to rape and sexual assault in the UK
* Contextualise UK debates within an international framework.

Skills:
* To think creatively and analytically.
* To communicate an argument.
* To evaluate others' arguments and research.
* To learn independently and be able to assess own learning needs (i.e. identify strengths and improve weaknesses in methods of learning and studying).
* To place local debates within an international and global context.
* To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information.
* To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (i.e. library, web-based, archives etc.).
* To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge.
* To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding.
* To utilise problem solving skills.
* Study and Learning skills (note taking, avoiding plagiarism, using the library, gathering and using information, constructing a bibliography, referencing)
* Basic Information and Computing Technology skills (word processing, email, using the web to search for information)
* Essay/policy brief research, preparation and writing skills
* To construct a bibliography
* Time-management and administrative skills
* Communication and debating skills
* To reflect upon own academic and professional performance and take responsibility for personal and professional learning and development.

Content: Explanations and extent of sexual violence; rape and sexual assault (including male rape); police responses; CPS and court responses; voluntary sector and other support service responses; working with offenders (sex offender treatment programmes).

Programme availability:

SP30129 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB14 : BSc(Hons) Applied Social Studies (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AFB22 : BSc(Hons) Criminology (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.