Module:  PET6102-20 Making Sex

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Paul Reid-Bowen

Module Tutor Contact Details: p.reid-bowen@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module gives you an opportunity to concentrate upon sex, gender and sexuality, demonstrating their significance for religions, philosophies and ethics. It draws upon feminist, queer and trans-perspectives to scrutinise essentialist and constructionist interpretations of sex, gender and sexuality. It problematises the heritage of the academic disciplines from a gender perspective before applying a gender-sensitive hermeneutic to these disciplines. The module explains how religions shape both individual gender identities and collective values about sex and sexuality, exploring spiritualities that are particularly sensitive to questions of sex, gender and sexuality. This module also considers recent feminist and gender-sensitive approaches in philosophy and ethics, introducing and evaluating such concepts and topics as feminist epistemology, gender equality and social justice, sexual discrimination and sexual ethics.

It aims to:

• Evaluate various models and theories related to sex, gender and sexuality;

• Examine the role and impact of feminist, queer and trans critiques of religions and their study;

• Analyse the conceptualisation of sex, gender and sexuality in contemporary feminist philosophy and ethics; and

• Promote appropriately critical but empathetic academic discussion and debate of sex, gender and sexuality in religions, philosophies and ethics.

2.Outline syllabus

This module will include an introduction to models of sex, gender and sexuality, considering gender ideology in the history and practice of, alongside feminist, queer and trans approaches and their relevance to, Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics. It addresses the role of religions in defining and regulating sex, gender and sexuality, and developments in Theology, Thealogy and Queer Theology. It examines arguments and debates in feminist epistemology, metaphysics and ethics, with a focus on feminist social and sexual ethics, such as institutional sexism, pornography, sex work and reproductive technologies.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Learning is facilitated by workshops in which lecturers will introduce major theories and arguments together with key concepts and case studies. There will be opportunity for discussion of these issues in student-led sessions.

You will be expected to do some preparatory reading and thinking following the guidance in the module handbook, to engage actively with lectures and contribute fully to debate.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Critical Analyses (2,000 words)

• % Weighting: 40

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Research Project (3,000 words)

• % Weighting: 60