2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO2720 Religion, Gender and Society

20 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Kristi Boone
Email: K.L.Boone@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Does the Christian tradition hold that women are inferior to men because Eve was created from Adam's rib? Are Muslim women who wear the veil oppressed? Does Hinduism promote 'son preference'? What are the implications of such religious attitudes for gender relations in societies globally? In this module students will apply the tools of gender analysis in order to understand the ways in which religion contributes towards inequality between men and women in society. However, we will also use gender analysis to understand the ways in which religious resources have been used to tackle gender inequality (e.g. the emergence of 'religious feminisms' which seek to achieve women’s empowerment). The module will engage with more recent developments that examine the contribution of religions to men’s social role and identities. Students will become familiar with various methodological and theoretical frameworks including feminist theory and post-colonial critique. The module includes weekly lectures and seminars, including the opportunity to work on a group project where students will develop ways of applying their academic learning about gender and religion to meet the needs and interests of different non-academic stakeholders.

Objectives

- Apply the tools of gender analysis in order to understand the ways in which religion contributes towards inequality between men and women in society;
- Use gender analysis to also understand the ways in which religious resources have also been used to tackle gender inequality (e.g. the emergence of ‘religious feminisms’ which seek to achieve women’s empowerment);
- To examine the gendered experience of women, and also men, past and present, in a selection of the major world religions;
- To locate these discussions within the context of broader global processes and issues that impact upon women's lives, in particular, including post-colonial critique, human rights, sexual ethics, poverty and ecological concerns;
- Seek to encourage students to think of ways to apply their academic learning about gender and religion to meet the needs and interests of different non-academic stakeholders.

Learning outcomes
- In depth knowledge of attitudes towards women’s within a range of religious traditions;
- Knowledge about emergent forms of critical theory and praxis that aim to challenge the patriarchy inherent within religious traditions;
- Knowledge about and ability to apply critical and analytical tools to questions raised in the module (e.g. feminist critique, postcolonial critique etc…).
- Knowledge about how to apply academic knowledge for a non academic audience.

Skills outcomes
This module will enable students to develop analytical and methodological approaches essential to the study of religion in particular and other social sciences and humanities subject areas more broadly. Students will also begin to think about ways that they can apply their academic learning to meet the needs and interests of non-academic stakeholders.

Syllabus

This module will not only provide knowledge of attitudes towards women within a selection of religious traditions, but will also use the tools of gender analysis to understand the ways in which religions contribute towards inequality towards men and women in societies. However, religious resources often influence movements for gender equality and the module will examine a number of case studies, from different traditions and geographical locations globally, of 'religious feminism'. The module will also seek to examine and problematise the ways in which many 'public institutions' globally (e.g. political parties, international development bodies etc…) engage with ‘religion’ and the implications of this for gender relations. Following this, it will critically evaluate public discourses about gender and religion (e.g. about the significance and implications of the rise of fundamentalism for women's rights in Islam). The module will also engage with more recent developments that examine the contribution of religions to men’s social role and identities. Students will become familiar with various methodological and theoretical frameworks including feminist theory and post-colonial critique.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			179.00
Total Contact hours			21.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

5 hours a week preparing for seminars = 50 hours
5 hours a week background reading = 50 hours
Preparing group report and presentation = 40 hours
Preparing essay = 39 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Opportunity to (1) meet with tutor to talk over group presentation and group report; (2) to submit essay plan for feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	Group Presentation	10.00
Essay	2000 words	50.00
Report	Group Report 5000 words	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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: 07/08/2024

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