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Overview

Course Prescription

What does it mean to say that violence is gendered? How does a gender analysis shape our understanding of the nature of problems like sexual violence, domestic violence, street harassment and online abuse? And how does it guide our responses to the harm of violence and our strategies for prevention? This course will bring a critical feminist lens to understanding key questions, theories and debates in research on gender violence.

Course Overview

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.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course. Following University workload guidelines, this represents approximately 150 hours of study across the semester. For this course, you can expect a 3-hour class most weeks, with the balance of time spent reading, researching and engaging with course materials, working on assignments and preparing for the exam.


Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is required at all scheduled classes, as coursework credit is directly related to in-class activities.
  • The course is discussion-based, and these will not be recorded.
  • Weekly classes are scheduled according to the timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

The issues we address in this course can be controversial and the material covered is sensitive and can be personally affecting. Please carefully consider if this topic of study is likely to be suitable for you. If you have any queries or concerns related to this, please contact the Course Coordinator.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Special Requirements

This is a discussion-based course, which requires active student participation. It requires a steady workload across the semester, including weekly reading for class activities. On-campus attendance is required at weekly classes.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

This course is supported by the Tuākana in Science Programme, which facilitates the success and wellbeing of our Māori and Pacific students. The foundation of the Tuākana Programme is the Tuākana-Teina principle an integral relationship in which older or more expert Tuākana (traditionally brother, sister or cousin) guides a younger or less expert Teina (traditionally younger sibling or cousin). This is a reciprocal relationship which fosters safe learning and teaching environments. Read more here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.