This advanced undergraduate course introduces students to major strands of philosophical research in the field of gender. In particular, the course examines feminist epistemology, which has had a wide-ranging influence; feminist discourses on power that seek to interpret gendered phenomena in public and private contexts; and theories of the nature and reality of gender. Philosophers have been among the leading theorists of gender (Simone de Beauvoir, Judith Butler, Elizabeth Grosz, for instance) and have advanced important theories of knowledge and power to which gendered relations are central. By paying attention to the explicitly philosophical context from which our most influential accounts of gender arise, students will gain depth and subtlety in their capacity to interpret the nuances of gendered realities.
This course will therefore be of interest to students with a background or interest in gender studies as well as to philosophers. It encourages students to think about the complexities of gender, gendered relations, embodiment, inequality and power as these impact how we understand wider questions of social and political order. By philosophically exploring gender as an aspect of knowledge, self-hood, social institutions, and political hierarchy, students will be well placed to critically evaluate key debates around gender in the contemporary world.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- examine and describe philosophical issues, keywords and contemporary debates in the philosophy of gender and feminist theory;
- critically reflect on ideas in contemporary scholarship on gendered embodiment, feminist epistemology and theories of power;
- articulate and defend written arguments for and against positions using rationally persuasive argumentation;
- demonstrate an understanding of how theories of gender can be applied in contemporary contexts and to real-world challenges; and
- engage in well-reasoned oral discussion and debate, substantiating viewpoints with justified arguments.
Indicative Assessment
- Short essay, 1300 words (20) [LO 1,2,3]
- Long essay, 3200 words (60) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Tutorial Presentation, 5 minutes, approx equivalent to 600 words (10) [LO 1,2,5]
- Tutorial Participation (10) [LO 1,2,4,5]
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) 35 hours of contact (over 12 weeks): 24 hours of lectures and 11 hours of tutorials.
b) 95 hours of independent student research, reading and writing
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Reading will be set at the start of the course and be available on WATTLE.
Preliminary Reading
All relevant readings will be posted in WATTLE.Fees
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 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2971 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |