Swedish name: Critical Perspectives on Nordic Gender Equalities
This syllabus is valid: 2022-11-07 and until further notice
Course code: 2KC036
Credit points: 15
Education level: Second cycle
Main Field of Study and progress level:
Gender Studies: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Grading scale: Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail
Responsible department: Umeå Centre for Gender Studies (UCGS)
Established by: Director of Umeå Centre for Gender Studies (UCGS), 2022-09-19
Revised by: Director of Umeå Centre for Gender Studies (UCGS), 2022-11-29
This course deals with gender equality as political ideal and practice in the Nordic region. Taking a historical departure the course will address questions such as: How and when was the issue of gender equality put on the political agenda in the Nordic countries? How is gender equality understood and practised today? Are Nordic countries still to be conceived as egalitarian? Drawing on various research fields such as post-structuralist feminist theory, postcolonial theory as well as critical perspectives on violence, class and sexuality the course will explore the ideal of gender equality from different angles. Special emphasis is put on examining the ways in which present day Nordic societies in general and gender equality in particular are marked by processes of postcoloniality, heteronormativity and neoliberalism. This is a cross-disciplinary course and will be able to enrich and complement courses in many different programmes. The course is organized around active student participation and consists of lectures, learning activities and written examinations.
Module 1: Gender and Politics in the Nordic countries (7,5 ECTS)
After the course the student shall be able to
- describe the history of Nordic politics of gender equality as well as be able independently identify and compare central divisions in Nordic feminist research on gender equality and politics.
- orally and in writing present an independent and critical analysis of different conceptualisations of gender equality.
Module 2: Critical Perspectives on Nordic Gender Equality (7,5 ECTS)
After the course the student shall be able to
- describe and independently compare the different feminist analytical positions presented during the module.
- orally and in writing present an independent and critical analysis of Nordic gender equality related to processes of heteronormativity, colonialism, class and neo-liberalism.
Added to this, the student should be able to contribute to qualified analytical comments at seminars and lead discussions.
To be admitted to the course applicants must have completed three semesters of full time studies, equivalent to 90 ECTS, of which at least 15 ECTS must be an independent project or four semesters of full time studies equivalent to 120 ECTS.
English proficiency equivalent to English A/6 from Swedish Upper secondary education.
The course is a full time on-line course in English. The course is taught entirely through an electronic Learning Management System where the student takes part in lectures, mandatory assignments and other learning activities. The studies are characterized by a high degree of independent and active search for knowledge, and critical reflection, both individually and in groups
Examination takes place through fulfillment of two parts:
1) Mandatory assignments during the course
2) Individual written assignment.
The examination of module 1 furthermore consists of one written assignment. The examination of module 2 furthermore consists of one individually written assignment. For both modules and the course as a whole, the following grades are given: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with distinction (VG). In order to be awarded Pass for the entire course, it is necessary that all examinations and all compulsory teaching sessions have been passed. In order to achieve Pass with distinction on the whole course, this grade is demanded on module one and two. In case of specific reasons, the examiner has the right to decide upon other forms of examination.
A re-examination can be offered at the earliest ten days and at the latest three months after publishing information about the first examination. One more examination will be offered within the next year. A student who has passed the examination is not eligible for a new examination to raise grades. The option of a re-examination based on the original course syllabus will be available for at least two years after a student registered for the course. All in all, a student is given five chances of fulfilling the course examination. A student has the right to change examiner after failing two examinations for a course module, unless there are strong arguments against this. Course diplomas will be issued within 60 days after a passed examination.
Academic credit transfer
This course cannot be credited for other courses in gender studies at Umeå University. A course with the same name (7,5 ECTS), given during Autumn 2006, can be given credits for in this course corresponding to 7,5 ECTS. For further information we recommend contact with the director of studies.
Borchorst Anette
Women-friendly policy paradoxes? Childcare policies and gender equality visions in Scandinavia
Included in:
Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
Bristol : Policy : 2008 : xi, 244 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp 27-42
The claim of economic citizenship: the concept of equality in a historical context
Carlsson Wetterberg Christina, Melby Kari
Included in:
Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
Bristol : Policy : 2008 : xi, 244 s. : pages 43-62 :
Mandatory
Currell Susan
Introduction
Included in:
Popular eugenics
Athens, Ohio : Ohio University Press : c2006. : x, 406 p. : pages 1-16 :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: p 1-16
Esping-Andersen Gösta
The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism
Included in:
The welfare state
Cambridge : Polity Press in association with Blackwell : 2000 : xi, 403 s. : pages 160-174 :
Mandatory
Esping-Andersen Gøsta
Families in the 21st century
1. uppl. : Stockholm : SNS förlag : 2016 : 113 s. :
ISBN: 9789186949815
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Eugenics and the Welfare State : Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland
Michigan State University Press : 2005 :
Mandatory
Langvasbråten Trude
A Scandinavian Model? Gender Equality Discourses on Multiculturalism.
Included in:
Social politics
Champaign, Ill. : Published by the University of Illinois Press in cooperation with the Swedish Council for Social Research : 1994- : 15 (1) : pages 32-52. (20 pages) :
Mandatory
Lewis Jane
Gender and Welfare Regimes
Included in:
Social politics
Champaign, Ill. : Published by the University of Illinois Press in cooperation with the Swedish Council for Social Research : 1994- : Vol. 1(1994)- :
Reading instructions: pp. 160-177
McCarry Melanie
Masculinity studies and male violence: Critique or collusion?
Included in:
Women's studies international forum
Oxford : Pergamon P. : 1982- : 30 : pages 404-415 :
Mandatory
Women-friendly policy paradoxes? : Childcare policies and gender equality visions in Scandinavia
Melby Kari, Borchorst Anette
Included in:
Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
Bristol : Policy : 2008 : xi, 244 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp. 27-42
A nordic Model of gender equality? Introduction
Melby Kari, Carlsson Wetterberg Christina, Ravn Anna-Birte
Included in:
Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
Bristol : Policy : 2008 : xi, 244 s. : pages 1-26 :
Mandatory
National Strategy to Prevent Violence in Intimate Relations
The Danish Government :
http://www.lige.dk/no_cache/gender-equality-work-in-denmark/news/single-news/artikel/national-strategy-to-prevent-violence-in-intimate-relation/
Mandatory
Trouble in Paradise: Exploring Patterns of Research and Policy Response to Men's Violence in Denmark and Sweden
Pringle Keith, Balkmar Dag, Iovanni LeeAnn
Included in:
Nora
London : Taylor & Francis : 1998- : 18 : pages 105-121 :
Mandatory
Approaches to gender mainstreaming: What's the problem represented to be?
Bacchi Carol, Eveline Joan
Included in:
Mainstreaming politics
Adelaide, S. Aust. : University of Adelaide Press : c2010. : xviii, 368 p. :
Mandatory
Mainstreaming and neoliberalism: a contested relationship.
Bacchi Carol, Eveline Joan
Included in:
Mainstreaming politics
Adelaide, S. Aust. : University of Adelaide Press : c2010. : xviii, 368 p. :
Mandatory
Brown Wendy
Postmodern Exposures, Feminist Hesitations.
Included in:
States of injury
Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press : 1995 : xiii, 202 s. : pages 30-51. (21 pages) :
Mandatory
Brown Wendy
Suffering Rights as Paradoxes.
Included in:
Constellations
Oxford : Blackwell Publishers : 1997- : Vol 7 : pages 230-241. (11 pages) :
Mandatory
Representations of Equality : Processes of Depoliticization of the Citizen-Subject
Edenheim Sara, Rönnblom Malin
Included in:
Gendered Citizenship and the Politics of Representation
London : Palgrave Macmillan UK : 2016. : XVII, 312 p. 2 illus. :
Mandatory
Women's questions on the agenda : the politicisation of gender equality in Sweden
Florin Christina, Nilsson Bengt
Included in:
Different paths to modernity
Lund : Nordic Academic Press : 2005 : 368 s. :
Mandatory
Frazer Nancy
Feminism, capitalism and the cunning of history
Included in:
New left review.
London,c 1960- : 1960- : Vol. 56 : pages 20 s. :
Mandatory
Honkanen Kattis
Equality politics out of the subaltern
Included in:
Critical studies of gender equalities
Göteborg ;a Stockholm : Makadam : 2008 : 223 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp 204-219
Discursive Dynamics in Gender Equality Politics: What about Feminist Taboos?
Lombardo Emanuela, Meier Petra, Verloo Mieke
Included in:
The European journal of women's studies
London : Sage : 1999- : 17 : pages 105-123 :
Mandatory
Magnusson Eva
Conflict, danger and Difference. Nordic heterosexual couples converse about gender equality and fairness.
Included in:
Critical studies of gender equalities
Göteborg ;a Stockholm : Makadam : 2008 : 223 s. : pages 161-179. (17 pages) :
Mandatory
Raevaara Eeva
In the land of equality?
Included in:
Critical studies of gender equalities
Göteborg ;a Stockholm : Makadam : 2008 : 223 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp 75-93
Rönnblom Malin
De-politicising gender? : constructions of gender equality in Swedish regional policy
Included in:
Critical studies of gender equalities
Göteborg ;a Stockholm : Makadam : 2008 : 223 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp 112-143
Management and gender diversity : intertwining categories and paradoxes
Staunæs Dorthe, Søndergaard Dorte Marie
Included in:
Critical studies of gender equalities
Göteborg ;a Stockholm : Makadam : 2008 : 223 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp 135-160
Stormhoj Christel
Queering the family. Critical reflections on state regulated heteronormativity in the Scandinavian countries.
Included in:
Lambda nordica
Stockholm : Föreningen Lambda nordica : 1989- : 3-4 (8) : pages 38-56. (18 pages) :
Mandatory
Törnqvist Maria
From threat to promise. The changing position of gender quota in the Swedish debate on Women's Political representations.
Included in:
Critical studies of gender equalities
Göteborg ;a Stockholm : Makadam : 2008 : 223 s. : pages 75-93. (18 pages) :
Mandatory