The aim of this module is to equip learners with critical gender and social justice perspectives and analytical skills to enable them to interpret, research, confront and challenge the problematic interrelation between masculinities, care and equality in socio-educational contexts. The focus of the module is on the affective relations of love, care and solidarity in both private and public life, considering their gendered and intersectional dimensions and the benefits and burdens derived from them. The affective relations of masculinities are given particular attention, not only in terms of the relations between men/boys and women/girls, but in terms of relations amongst men/masculinities. The module is built around the threshold concepts of masculinities, care and equality. Whilst seeking to problematize toxic masculinities as sources of pain and power the module also aims to problem-solve gender relations from both an ethic of care and social justice perspective. The primary objective of the module is to critically explore the ambivalent relationship between masculinities and caregiving/receiving through the empirical and theoretical analysis of eight relational contexts: (i) professional caring, (ii) fathering and parenting, (iii) informal family caring, (iv) self-care and lifestyle, (v) mental health and emotional wellbeing, (vi) friendships and community, (vii) sexuality and intimacy, and (viii) domestic, sexual and gender based-violence.
Part One: Perspectives
Perspectives on Masculinities Perspectives on Care Perspectives on Equality
Part Two: Relational Contexts
Professional Caring Fathers and Parenting Informal Family Caring Self-Care and Wellbeing Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Friendships and Community Sexualities and Intimacy Violence and Abuse
The philosophy of the module is based on critical gender and care pedagogy which values developing dialogical skills, critical reflexivity and social constructionist learning perspectives. The module will be taught by means of interactive lectures (1 hour per week) in conjunction with exploratory group work/ discussions (1 hour per week).
Over a set number of weeks students will participate in group discussions of set readings and will each take turns in facilitating a group. All students will provide constructive peer feedback to others.
Students will also write an individual critical analytical academic paper on the intersection of masculinities, care and equality.
Brightspace is used as the virtual learning environment (VLE) tool.
Following each session, and at the end of the module, students will be offered the opportunity to give anonymous feedback which can be openly discussed in class. Additionally, students will complete a Q6A module evaluation form.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |