From the Stonewall Riots to SlutWalk, this course examines how and why sex and sexual imagery has come to occupy a central role in contemporary Western culture. It traces the development of discourses around sex, sexuality and feminism in order to establish a “sex critical” way of analysing cultural phenomena, especially complex issues of gender and identity. What are the effects of sexual imagery in mainstream culture? Is sex empowering or disempowering? What do feminist and queer writers think about the current condition? This course explores the “sexualisation” of contemporary life starting with the second wave feminist and gay liberation movements of the 1970s onwards. It considers the impact of these early movements on subsequent feminist and queer perspectives and follows their continuing legacies and debates. Some of the topics the course covers include post-feminism, the pornography debates, the rise of raunch culture, issues surrounding consent and sex work, the impact of HIV/AIDS, the emergence of queer and trans identity politics, and the multi-dimensional linkages between race, sex, gender, sexuality and pleasure.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:- describe, compare, and evaluate feminist and queer discourses that inform current representations of public sex and sexual practices;
- construct an interpretation using Gender Studies concepts, themes, and theoretical tools and apply these methods to specific case studies;
- comprehend, analyse, and synthesise ideas from a range of classical and contemporary feminist and queer readings related to discourses of sex and sexuality;
- develop critical skills of argumentation, exposition, and reflection through sustained written and oral practices.
Indicative Assessment
Short Response questions, 4 x 300 words (20%) [Learning Outcomes 1-4]Essay 1, 1750 words (35%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4]
Essay 2, 1750 words (35%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4]
Tutorial preparation and participation (10%) [Learning Outcomes 3, 4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials; and b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.Requisite and Incompatibility
Preliminary Reading
Attwood, Feona, ed. Mainstreaming Sex: The Sexualisation of Western Culture. London: I.B. Tauris, 2009.
Levy, Ariel. Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture, Melbourne: Schwartz, 2005.
Siegel, Deborah. Sisterhood Interrupted: From Radical Women to Grrls Gone Wild, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
Sullivan, Nikki. A Critical Introduction to Queer Theory. New York: New York University Press, 2003.
Assumed Knowledge
Basic grasp of sociology and/or gender studiesFees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $3180 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $4890 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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