Module description
This module examines feminist politics through the lens of comparative politics, using examples from diverse regions and historical periods to analyze similarities and differences across cases. It addresses key topics in the study of women, gender, and politics, examining issues such as women’s participation in social movements and political parties, their roles as voters, candidates, representatives, and leaders, as well as women’s descriptive and substantive representation. The module also covers gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and feminist policies, including gender quotas, reproductive rights and combating violence against women. By comparing political outcomes across varied cultural contexts at national and sub-national levels, this module offers a comprehensive exploration of critical issues in feminist comparative politics.
Assessment details
3,000 word essay (100%)
Educational aims & objectives
- Introduce students to concepts and debates in the field of women and politics.
- Develop their skills in systematic comparison and methodology that will add rigour to their research and help achieve valid and well-founded generalizations.
- Examine feminist policies including gender quotas, reproductive rights, combating violence against women and girls and sexual harassment
- Highlight the importance of conceptual and theoretical analysis.
- Equip students with a good knowledge of issues in comparative politics examined from a gender perspective.
- Provide students with a thorough understanding of political representation and public policies promoting women’s interests.
- Analyse the issue of gender politics in countries around the world.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will:
- have an enhanced understanding of the main debates in the field of women and politics
- critically evaluate the impact of gender on politics
- be able to approach the study of women and politics in a systematic, comparative and social-scientific way
- examine key issues in gender politics in different countries around the world
- be able to apply different theoretical frameworks and analytical toolkits using case studies and focused comparisons and reflect critically on the strengths and weaknesses of comparative methods.