Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2024 - LBST 330 D100

Selected Topics in Labour Studies (3)

Gender, Labour and Public Policy

Class Number: 3321

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Strongly Recommended: LBST 101 and/or 301.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Selected topics in areas not currently offered within the undergraduate course offerings. Students may take more than one offering of LBST Selected Topics courses for credit, as long as the topic for each offering is different.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course topic: Gender, Labour, and Public Policy

Public policy and government actions in different countries have made significant progress in addressing long-standing gender inequalities of the labour market. However, while institutionalized inequality in work and employment is declining, women still face unequal outcomes. Women from low-income and other socially marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ2+ community and racialized immigrants, face particular challenges in their working lives. 

This policy analysis course will explore and assess how public policies shape working people’s diverse labour market experience from a gendered and intersectional perspective. Utilizing examples from Canada and other developed countries under the context of globalization, we will explore a variety of public legislation and policies that are directly relevant to gender and labour on topics including employment, wage, parental leave, child care, workplace harassment as well as labour disputes.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand how women’s work, including both paid and unpaid labour, is shaped by public policy, government actions, and global issues.
  2. Critically analyze policy influences on people’s employment experiences and outcomes based on gender, race, class and age.
  3. Understand the ways in which feminist movements and labour movements have influenced and reshaped public policy.
  4. Develop critical thinking of how policies and laws can improve gender equity and create a more equitable future for workers.

Grading

  • Attendance and participation 15%
  • Presentation and facilitation 20%
  • Midterm Test 25%
  • Policy report 40%

NOTES:

Notes: All assignments in this course must be completed for a final grade to be assigned.

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Labour Studies Program follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T 20.01) and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10.01‐S10.04). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style.  It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

  • Barbara Cameron and Meg Luxton (eds.) (2023) Feminism’s Fight: Challenging Politics and Policies in Canada since 1970. University of British Columbia Press. Online available through SFU library.
  • Jacquetta Newman, Linda A. White and Tammy Findlay (eds.) (2020) Women, Politics, & Public Policy: The Political Struggles of Canadian Women, third edition. Oxford University Press.
  • A selected list of additional required readings will be available through Canvas.

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