Literature And Gender
- Arts
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 150 pages
- 17 units
This course is designed to acquaint students with the conceptualization of gender issues as portrayed in literature. It is a one-semester, three-credit course suitable for beginners and those with intermediate knowledge of gender. The course consists of 17 units, covering gender conceptualizations, feminism, womanism, masculinities, and queer theory. The material is developed for students in Africa, with a particular focus on Nigeria, providing both theoretical and practical approaches to gender issues.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 200 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ENG816, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ENG816 · Unit 1
Sex refers to the biological aspects of being male and female. Gender typically refers to behavioral, social, and psychological characteristics of men and women. Sex is considered a natural phenomenon, which is determined by biology, anatomy and reproductive functioning. On the other hand, gender is determined socially; it is the societal meaning assigned to male and female.
What you should be able to do
- Discuss the concept of gender and its distinction from sex
- Explain the history and forms of feminism
- Describe the evolution and features of womanism
- Analyze literary texts using feminism, womanism, masculinity, and queer theory
- Explain masculinity, emasculation, and queer theory
What it prepares you for
- Literary Critic
- Gender Studies Researcher
- Social Commentator
- Policy Advisor
- Activist
- Education
- Media
- Government
- Non-profit
- Arts and Culture
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- MODULE 2: FEMINISM
Unit 4 Feminist Literary Critical Methodology
Requires understanding of complex theoretical frameworks and their application to literary texts.
- MODULE 5: MASCULINITY AND QUEER THEORY
Unit 3 Queer Theory
Exploration of non-normative sexual identities and challenges to traditional gender binaries can be conceptually challenging.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 102 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1MODULE 1: CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATIONS ON GENDER
Unit 1: The Construction of Gender · 4 hours
Read the introduction to understand the construction of gender.. Differentiate between sex and gender.. Identify how gender roles are formed..
Unit 2 Gender Concepts · 4 hours
Define gender equality, equity, and gender gap.. Understand gender analysis, awareness, blindness, and mainstreaming.. Explore gender roles and stereotypes..
- Week 2MODULE 2: FEMINISM
Unit 1 Definition of Feminism · 4 hours
Define feminism and its core principles.. Understand the historical context of feminism.. Identify key figures in feminist thought..
Unit 2 History of Feminism · 4 hours
Explore the history of feminism from its origins to the present day.. Examine the contributions of key feminist thinkers.. Understand the evolution of feminist thought..
- Week 3MODULE 2: FEMINISM
Unit 3 Types and Diversities of Feminism · 6 hours
Identify the different types of feminism.. Understand the diversities within feminist thought.. Recognize the nuances of each type of feminism..
- Week 4MODULE 2: FEMINISM
Unit 4 Feminist Literary Critical Methodology · 8 hours
Learn feminist literary critical methodology.. Apply feminist techniques to analyze literary texts.. Understand how to identify gender bias in literature..
- Week 5MODULE 2: FEMINISM
Unit 5 Major Statements · 8 hours
Study major statements from canonical feminist critics.. Understand the key arguments of influential feminist thinkers.. Analyze how these statements have shaped feminist thought..
- Week 6MODULE 3: WOMANISM AND RACIAL FEMINIST VARIANTS
Unit 1 Evolution and Concept of Womanism · 4 hours
Understand the evolution and concept of womanism.. Explore the origins of womanism as a racial variant of feminism.. Identify key figures in womanist thought..
Unit 2 Distinguishing Characteristics of Womanism · 4 hours
Identify the distinguishing characteristics of womanism.. Understand how womanism differs from feminism.. Recognize the unique aspects of womanist thought..
- Week 7MODULE 3: WOMANISM AND RACIAL FEMINIST VARIANTS
Unit 3 African Women and the Rejection of Feminism · 8 hours
Explore African women's reactions to feminism.. Understand the reasons behind the rejection of feminism by some African women.. Identify alternative perspectives on gender in Africa..
- Week 8MODULE 3: WOMANISM AND RACIAL FEMINIST VARIANTS
Unit 4 Ideological Position of African Female Writers/Critics in Gender Discourse · 8 hours
Analyze the ideological positions of African female writers and critics in gender discourse.. Understand the diverse perspectives on gender in African literature.. Identify key themes and issues in African women's writings..
- Week 9MODULE 4: GENDER DISCOURSE IN AFRICAN FEMALE FICTION
Unit 1 Gender Politics in African Literature · 8 hours
Understand gender politics in African literature.. Analyze how gender roles are portrayed in African texts.. Identify the power dynamics between men and women in African literature..
- Week 10MODULE 4: GENDER DISCOURSE IN AFRICAN FEMALE FICTION
Unit 2 Common Themes in African Women"s Writings. · 8 hours
Identify common themes in African women's writings.. Explore the recurring motifs and issues in African female fiction.. Understand the key concerns of African women writers..
- Week 11MODULE 4: GENDER DISCOURSE IN AFRICAN FEMALE FICTION
Unit 3 African Women Writers and Gender Issues · 8 hours
Analyze how African women writers address gender issues in their works.. Understand the perspectives of African female authors on gender equality.. Identify the strategies used by African women writers to challenge gender norms..
- Week 12MODULE 5: MASCULINITY AND QUEER THEORY
Unit 1 The Notion of Masculinity · 8 hours
Define the notion of masculinity.. Explore the concept of manhood and its social construction.. Understand the various traits associated with masculinity..
- Week 13MODULE 5: MASCULINITY AND QUEER THEORY
Unit 2 The Concept of Emasculation · 8 hours
Understand the concept of emasculation.. Explore the various forms of emasculation.. Analyze the effects of emasculation on men's lives..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all unit objectives and ensure comprehension
- Create a glossary of key terms and concepts
- Practice analyzing literary texts using different gender theories
- Focus on understanding the distinctions between feminism, womanism, masculinity, and queer theory
- Prepare well-structured essay outlines for potential exam questions
- Allocate time to revise tutor-marked assignments and incorporate feedback
Questions students ask about this course
What is ENG816 about?
This course is designed to acquaint students with the conceptualization of gender issues as portrayed in literature. It is a one-semester, three-credit course suitable for beginners and those with intermediate knowledge of gender. The course consists of 17 units, covering gender conceptualizations, feminism, womanism, masculinities, and queer theory. The material is developed for students in Africa, with a particular focus on Nigeria, providing both theoretical and practical approaches to gender issues.
How many units does ENG816 have?
ENG816, Literature And Gender, has 17 units across 5 modules, over 150 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ENG816?
ENG816 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is ENG816 hard?
ENG816 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does ENG816 take to study?
About 200 hours of study, spread across its 17 units.
How is ENG816 assessed?
ENG816 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with ENG816?
Literary Critic, Gender Studies Researcher, Social Commentator, Policy Advisor and Activist.