Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective

This subject surveys recent developments in feminist theory and feminist methodology within a cross-cultural context. It explores issues involved in present-day debates about feminist epistemology and knowledge, including debates surrounding the relationship between western and other feminisms, the contributions of postcolonial feminists and queer theorists. The subject will consider the backlash against multiculturalism, framed largely in terms of the toleration of cultural beliefs and practices that contravene and impinge on the sovereign rights of individual members of particular groups, particularly women, sexual minorities and children. The issues highlighted in these contexts include religious fundamentalism, the veil, honour killings, and arranged marriage to name a few. Importantly, what do those who are situated at the centre of these controversies, the women and men themselves have to say, both to members of their own groups and to the those who consider them victims or perpetrators of unacceptable cultural practices. These controversies are considered in the context of tensions around secularism, religion, sexuality, the law, the individual and the group, individual freedom and cultural constraint, feminist critics of multiculturalism and multicultural critics of feminism.

比较不同文化背景下性别的社会建构和角色。

• 1Discuss key debates around gender, sexuality and cultural difference
• 2Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesis academic research in areas of gender and sexuality in cross-cultural contexts
• 3Formulate an original research question and research plan around a relevant case study
• 4Develop a sustained argument supported by current academic literature
• 5Communicate ideas and research findings to diverse audiences in both written and oral forms