Research methods on gender issues

Teacher(s)

Degavre Florence coordinator; Zanone Damien;

Language

French

Prerequisites

Please visit: https://uclouvain.be/prog-2017-genr2mc.pdf

Main themes

Gender plays a major role in structuring societies. It is also an innovative concept that grasps sexual differentiation and the reproduction of inequalities between men and women in an increasingly numerous and varied number of fields. The development of a genuine interdisciplinary approach around these questions has contributed to the emergence of an impressive range of theories and methods. However, the plurality of institutional contexts in which gender is mobilized as well as its privileged but complex relationship with the different branches of feminist theorization and practice make it sometimes difficult to use. If, in theory, any situation or phenomenon is likely to be the subject of a gender analysis, the choice and establishment of a method is certainly an issue in itself. The aim of this course is to introduce students to research methods in gender studies. It teaches different ways of mobilizing the concept in order to produce a critical and emancipatory knowledge. It also examines the epistemological challenges of the research process in the context of gender studies. The aim is to equip students so that they can carry out their own reflections on a subject of their choice. The course also examines whether and how research methods involving gender lead to doing research in a "different" way.
 

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of the course, you will be able to:  Read thoroughly, understand and explain the content of articles and studies that mobilize the concept of gender Formulate a research question by mobilizing the concept of gender Choose a method for collecting the data needed to carry out your research and anticipate the risks associated with not considering gender Identify relevant literature (bibliography), select concepts and justify their relationship to gender theories Identify the challenges raised by the subject/methods chosen in relation to feminist epistemology and clarify your posture vis-à-vis these challenges Write an essay using scientific language in a gender-neutral style

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Content

The course:

• Gives an overview of the different ways in which the concept of gender can be mobilized within the major families of disciplines and their implications for research,
• Addresses methodological issues and challenges arising from research using gender as a concept,
•  Introduces students to feminist epistemological questioning

Teaching methods

The course will be built on lectures covering the various themes mentioned above. You'll be given a selection of texts which should be analyzed before each session according to given instructions.

Evaluation methods

Students will produce a scientific work on a topic that is related to the main themes of the course. It will be peer reviewed (first version), improved and returned to the professors (final version) for the exams session (17 points). We ask you to choose a topic that is related to cases dealt with during the course or with the interests of the teaching team. Length requested between 10 and 15 pages in font 12, 1.5 space between lines.
Students are expected to attend all sessions, participate and do all the required readings (3 points). For each unjustified absence, one point will be removed. In case of justified absence (certificate), inform the teacher by e-mail. We also ask you to turn off your phones before entering the audience and to keep with you only what is needed to take notes.

Online resources

Teaching Support and Online Resources
A general bibliography, a portfolio of articles and reading guides will help you to participate to the collective reflection. The material will be progressively made available on Moodle.

Bibliography

Bibliographie générale (d'autres textes seront progressivement disponibles sur moodle)
Buikema A., Griffin G. Lykke N., 2011, Theories and Methodologies in postgraduate Feminist Research. Researching Differently, Routledge.

Fougeyrollas-Schwebel D., Planté C., Riot-Sarcey M. et Zaidman C. 2003, Le Genre comme catégorie d'analyse. Sociologie, histoire, littérature, dir., Paris, L'Harmattan.

Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. 2008. The Craft of Research, Third Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Faculty or entity

FIAL