HSRV407-24S1 (C) Semester One 2024

The Policies and Politics of Sex

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 19 February 2024
End Date: Sunday, 23 June 2024
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 3 March 2024
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 12 May 2024

Description

This course provides students with an interest in human service practice the opportunity to investigate shifting socio-cultural constructions of sexuality with an emphasis on the contradictions and complexities in the social regulation of sexuality and the contours of state control. Issues relating to human service practice explored in the course include: reproductive rights; law reforms, queer culture and homophobia; local and international control of prostitution; the emergence of sexual rights; pornography and eroticism; sex education and the hidden curriculum; sex and harassment; sexual violence; safe sex and the HIV/AIDS era; sexuality and ageing; cultural sexualities; the medicalisation of sexuality and the transgendered body.

This course provides students with an interest in human services the opportunity to investigate shifting socio-cultural constructions of sexuality, and to develop an appreciation for how sexual identities are constructed through culture and discourse. The course offers the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the social and political consequences of privileging certain sexual identities and practices while marginalising/stigmatising others. Students will explore some of the contradictions and complexities in the social regulation of sexuality and engage with a wide variety of theories, discourses and approaches. Topics explored within the course include: the politics of sexual identity; the medicalisation of sexuality; the transgendered body; sexuality and ageing; pornography and eroticism; the politics of sex work; sex education and the hidden curriculum.

Learning Outcomes

  • On successful completion of the course, the student will be able to demonstrate:

  • Ability to think critically, and to carry out independent research.
  • Critical analysis and reflexive skills in relation to understanding the complex social-cultural constructions of sexuality and sex.
  • An understanding of theories, concepts, histories, methodologies, and activism
  • Ability to articulate connections between theoretical perspectives, personal experiences and wider social institutions and structures.
  • To communicate an understanding and knowledge of cultural diversity and sexuality
  • Advanced information literacy skills to undertake literature searches, and capacity to assess the relevance of literature to topics/issues under consideration.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Restrictions

Equivalent Courses

Course Coordinator

Maria-Victoria Perez Y Perez

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Class Participation 10% Weekly
Literature Review 22 Mar 2024 30%
Class Presentation 20%
Research Essay 31 May 2024 40%

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $2,046.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All HSRV407 Occurrences

  • HSRV407-24S1 (C) Semester One 2024
  • HSRV407-24S1 (D) Semester One 2024 (Distance)