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GENDER STUDIES

NB: Only offered at postgraduate level.

Gender Theory - GEN4801
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Recommendation: It is recommended that GEN4801, GEN4802 and HMGEN80 be taken in year one and GEN403 and HRGEN81 in year two.
Purpose: Students are equipped with an interdisciplinary theoretical grounding in the various fields of feminism, sexuality studies, queer studies, and masculinity studies, thus increasing their motivation to and their capacity for acting as gender change agents. Develop the capacity to connect feminist theory, sexuality studies, queer studies and masculinity studies in their personal/local situation with the broader patriarchal and heteronormative social environment, thus facilitating their ability to engage with the theoretical and practical implications of gender critically and holistically. This module is part of the Honours programme in Gender studies that advances and empowers students to become social agents and activists working towards greater equality on the African continent and global context.
Gender in Context - GEN4802
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Recommendation: It is recommended that GEN4801, GEN4802 and HMGEN80 be taken in year one and GEN4803 and HRGEN81 in year two.
Purpose: Comprehensive and systematic knowledge and understanding of the complex debates and issues related to gender in the broader social reality, explicitly concerning health (particularly HIV/AIDS), gender-based violence, development, and religion at global, national, and local levels. Qualifying students will be able to reflect critically and engage with scholarly debates, make sound theoretical and epistemological-based judgements, deal with real-world complexities, and develop the capacity to give arguments and opinions. The module, as part of the Honours programme, advances scholars to empower students to become change agents and activists for greater gender equality in the African and global contexts in law, health, human resources, education, and economics.
Gender and Representation - GEN4803
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Recommendation: It is recommended that GEN4801, GEN4802 and HMGEN80 be taken in year one and GEN403 and HRGEN81 in year two.
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to help students acquire critical abilities for analysing and interpreting gender and sexuality relations in media and popular culture. This module provides a strong, interdisciplinary theoretical and conceptual foundation for the portrayal of gender and sexuality in our society, which boosts students' enthusiasm and abilities to explore these topics. Additionally, it aims to promote and foster critical thinking about gender and sexuality in individuals' personal and local contexts with respect to a wider social environment. The main goal of this study is to identify contexts-specific factors for gender and sexuality portrayals in local and national's media. Specifically, how representation and engagement in public life are reflected, replicated, and potentially shaped through media.
Research Methodology: Gender Studies - HMGEN80
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Recommendation: It is recommended that GEN4801, GEN4802 and HMGEN80 be taken in year one and GEN403 and HRGEN81 in year two.
Purpose: Firstly, students develop a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base of the specificities of Gender and Sexuality Studies approaches to research in social science as well as the critiques and debates surrounding these approaches. Secondly, understanding a range of methods of enquiry, including appropriate procedures, processes and techniques in the discipline of Gender and Sexuality Studies and their suitability for specific research tasks. Thirdly, advanced information retrieval and processing skills to locate, identify, analyse, synthesise, and evaluate information. Lastly, a working grasp of the ethical considerations in quantitative and qualitative research. The module is part of the Honours programme that advances and empowers students to become research-competent, change agents and activists working towards greater equality on the African continent and global context.
Research Report in Gender Studies - HRGEN81
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 36
Module presented in English Module presented online
Recommendation: It is recommended that GEN4801, GEN4802, and HMGEN80 be taken in year one and GEN4803 and HRGEN81 in year two.
Purpose: Equipping students with knowledge and skills to be able to engage with current research and scholarly literature in gender and sexuality studies based on approved proposal from HMGEN80; undertake an appropriate literature review and develop a gendered analysis of the identified research field; design a research report with an appropriate structure; and finally present research findings in the form of a research report using standard practices and conventions employed in gender and sexuality studies research. The module is part of the Honours programme that advances and empowers students to become research competent change agents and activists for greater equality on the African and global context.