Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2024 - GSWS 433 D900

Gender, Violence, Resistance (4)

Class Number: 3140

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 8 – Apr 12, 2024: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units, including six units in GSWS or WS or GDST.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A seminar-based, interdisciplinary course providing a gendered analysis of violence and resistance, to violence, focusing on political states, conflict and war, individual experiences, and institutional situations through feminist and critical masculinities lenses. Students with credit for special temporary topics (STT) course GDST 303 Gender, Violence and Resistance may not complete this course for further credit

COURSE DETAILS:

This seminar-based course provides a gendered analysis of violence and resistance to violence.  It ranges from a gendered understanding of political states through to individual experiences, institutional situations and militarized aspects.  We will address violence and resistance through feminist perspectives and use theories from critical studies of masculinity to come to an interdisciplinary understanding of the course themes.  We will examine violence and resistance in the home, in the streets, in communities, in discourses and during conflict and war. Some cases will be historical other contemporary. Throughout we will explore the constructions of gender, women, men, transgender and the interplay of ethnicity and sexuality.  In doing so we will question assumptions, such as women are more peaceful, and problematize essentialist paradigms. The material in this course is difficult and sometimes upsetting.

This course comprises of several themes, including:

  • Gender and states of conflict
  • Engendering states and nation
  • Gender and nationalism
  • Inter and intra state conflict
  • Post conflict
  • Interpersonal violence
  • Sexual violence
  • Peace and resistance

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

For more detailed information please see the GSWS website: http://www.sfu.ca/gsws/undergraduate/courses/Educational_Goals.html

Grading

  • Artifact Responses 20%
  • Midterm 30%
  • Research Essay 30%
  • Film Response 10%
  • Participation 10%

NOTES:

Artifact Responses 20%

I will offer a number of materials to stimulate discussion. For four of these you will provide a written or creative (poem; sculpture; poster etc.) response for the next class. Maximum length is 500 words.  The cumulative value of these responses is 20% of your grade.

Midterm 30%

There will be a midterm, in-class assignment. The questions will be based mostly on the contents of the required readings. This is worth 30% of the final grade.

Research Essay 30%

An essay on a topic selected by you (and agreed with me in advance) incorporating both course material and your own research (research will be secondary, there will be no primary data collected).  In addition to course readings you should aim to include at least two further academic sources and one other external source (could be a policy document, media source, website, e.g. UN site).  Length should be around 2,500 words. APA referencing required. The grade is worth 30% of the overall mark.

 

 

Film Response 10%

We will watch a number of documentaries throughout the course. You are required to write a short description for one, discuss it in context of this course and your own personal response. Due one week after your chosen film was shown in class. Length is 1000 words. 10% final grade.

Participation 10%

The grade for participation is based not just on speaking lots in class, though being active is encouraged, but also on the nature of that participation.  Contributions that advance discussion, facilitate others and treat the views and opinions of others with respect will be rewarded.  This is worth 10% of your grade.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

  • Gurm, B., Salgado, G., Marchbank, J., & Early, S. D. (2020). Making Sense of a Global Pandemic: Relationship Violence & Working Together Towards a Violence Free Society. Kwantlen Polytechnic University: Surrey, BC. Free Ebook https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/nevr/
  • Readings on Canvas
  • Electronic journal articles and online reports – available through your SFU library account.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html