2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LING3180 Language and Gender

20 creditsClass Size: 18

Module manager: Ruth Payne
Email: R.Payne@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

ENGL2024 Language in Society
OR
LING1100 Language: Meaning and Use

This module is mutually exclusive with

LING2380

Language and Gender

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module explores the following aspects of the relationship between language, gender and sexualities: a) sexist language and potential differences between male/female language usage b) the construction of masculine and feminine identities through spoken and written textsc) the impact of heteronormativity on the construction of sexual identities.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Explain historical and theoretical developments in the field of language and gender research in relation to issues of both language structure and language usage, including the so-called 'move to discourse' and post-structuralism.
2. Understand the role played by language in the construction of gendered identities in a variety of spoken and written contexts.
3. Employ a range of concepts for analysing written texts in relation to the representation and construction of gender and sexuality.
4. Apply their understanding of language in relation to the representation and construction of gendered identities by drawing on their own experiences.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module students should be able to critically assess a range of texts for the reflection of culturally-related assumptions about gender.

Students should also understand the development of research relating to language and gender and the move away from early discussions about 'women's language', towards approaches that explore gender as a cultural construct.

Syllabus

The first part of this module focuses on research undertaken primarily in the 1970s and 1980s. Here we will be looking at the question of 'sexist language' as well as some of the possible differences that were proposed between male and female language usage.

We then go on to consider developments in this field since the 1990s. Around this time, language and gender researchers began to pay attention not only to the study of feminine identities but also masculinities. Here we will also explore the so-called 'move to discourse' where gender became increasingly seen as a social category that is actively constructed through the use of language as opposed to simply 'reflected' by it. We will also consider the rapidly growing field of language and sexual identities.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.50	15.00
Tutorial	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

- Preparation for seminars (5 x 2) 10 hours
- Private reading 50 hours
- Preparation for written assignment: 70 hours
- Preparation for exam: 50 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Monitoring of progress will take place through:
- Written feedback from coursework assignment, which will be returned to students before the examinations
- Monitoring of contributions to seminar tasks.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,000 word coursework assignment	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 23/02/2017

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