2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ITAL3200 ‘Femminismi’. Theories and practices of gender in the Italian context

20 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Olivia Santovetti
Email: o.santovetti@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

Successful completion of Level 2 or at the discretion of the module leader

Module replaces

ITAL3310 Italo Calvino and the Novel

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module aims at introducing students to Italian feminist thinking and practices as a vibrant, interdisciplinary, and diverse field of study. Students will develop an appreciation of: a) the changing role of women in Italian society (from emancipation to fights for equal rights, up to queer theory and non-binary identities); b) the variety of feminist intellectual, cultural and artistic productions; and c) how they intersect and nourish major social and cultural changes of the century. Knowledge of Italian is not required.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will have developed an understanding of the main phases of the fights for women’s rights in the context of major social changes occurring in the Italian long twentieth century. The Italian case study will offer the opportunity to explore the evolution of debates on gender, and to grasp ideas that have proven to be influential onto feminist theories beyond national borders, at European and global level, as well as to analyse from a feminist perspective relevant cultural production.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to do the following:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main historical phases characterising Italian feminism, and their role in the unfolding of national/international history.
2. Show an understanding of key concepts and terminology related to feminism and gender studies in general.
3. Engage critically with theoretical frameworks, critical approaches, and apply them to the work of feminist writers and artists.
4.Conduct independent research
5. Engage in team-based research and interactive group discussion
6. Demonstrate sophisticated oral and written communications skills with the support of digital means as appropriate.
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Syllabus

Focusing on Italy as its case study, the module explores the role of feminist thinking and practices in the twentieth and twenty-first century: from women’s emancipation to the fights for equal rights, up to queer theory and non-binary identities.
The module combines historical contextualization (unified Italy, Fascism, republican times, and the protest movements of the 1960s-1970s) with feminist thinking and literary and artistic productions, including popular culture.
It highlights how theoretical reflections and the fightsfor women’s rights intersect and nourish major social and cultural changes of the century.
It exposes students to a variety of approaches and viewpoints which have been influential both in Italy and at a global level (scholars, movements, schools of thought, writers, and artists).

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Regular formative feedback will be provided in class, especially in seminars. Further opportunities will be available in one-to-one essay tutorials
Students will receive feedback on their presentations before they write their essays.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	Group presentation / leadership of seminar discussion. 15-minutes / 1 hour	30.00
Essay	3,000 words	70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

For the assessed presentation and seminar discussion, students will work in groups. The task involves preparation and delivery of a 20-minute group presentation on a new topic followed by class discussion, with appropriate material of their choice. Resit of the group presentation is available in the form of a commented PPP (with voice recording), either in group (20 minutes) or individually (10 minutes). For the essay, in addition to essay titles students will have the possibility to agree with the tutor a title of their choice. Resit will be an essay submitted in August.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:41:45

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