Over the course of the semester we will look at a wide range of different forms of gender violence. Understanding the nature of diverse forms of gender violence will be an important part of this course, but our focus will go beyond ‘facts and figures’ to explore some of the complex and, at times, controversial, dynamics and effects of gender violence and its place in relation to everyday gender relations. We will also examine some key questions, theories and debates in gender violence research, primarily through a critical feminist lens. This includes recognising the intersection of gender with other key social categories and processes, as well as the interconnections between violence and more everyday forms of gendered power and inequality.
Our discussions will draw on interdisciplinary sources. As well as psychology research, we will read and/or discuss work from anthropology, criminology, education, gender studies, history, Indigenous studies, law, Māori studies, media studies, nursing, philosophy, psychiatry, public health, sociology and so on. Drawing across these fields, we will focus our attention on work that recognises the ways that individual people are inherently embedded in sociocultural (and historical) contexts that afford different degrees of power, agency and 'space for action'. We will also be attentive to the forces that shape knowledge production, such that some bodies of knowledge are taken-for-granted as authoritative and influential, while others have traditionally been silenced or marginalized. In the classroom context, this means being aware of our own positions and sensitive to questions about who should have the right to speak about what issues, and how – and balancing this with open, respectful discussion.
The knowledge and skills gained through this class will be useful to those working in professional, community, research and policy roles related to gender and/or violence and abuse.
This is a discussion-based course, which requires active student participation in class and weekly reading outside of class.