Epistemologies of gender studies research

lgenr2100  2020-2021  Bruxelles

Epistemologies of gender studies research
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change, in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
5 credits
24.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Degavre Florence (coordinator); Zanone Damien;
Language
French
Main themes
Gender plays a major role in structuring societies. It is also an innovative concept that grasps sexual differentiation and the reproduction of inequalities between men and women in an increasingly numerous and varied number of fields. The development of a genuine interdisciplinary approach around these questions has contributed to the emergence of an impressive range of theories and methods. However, the plurality of institutional contexts in which gender is mobilized as well as its privileged but complex relationship with the different branches of feminist theorization and practice make it sometimes difficult to use. If, in theory, any situation or phenomenon is likely to be the subject of a gender analysis, the choice and establishment of a method is certainly an issue in itself.
The aim of this course is to introduce students to research methods in gender studies. It teaches different ways of mobilizing the concept in order to produce a critical and emancipatory knowledge. It also examines the epistemological challenges of the research process in the context of gender studies. The aim is to equip students so that they can carry out their own reflections on a subject of their choice. The course also examines whether and how research methods involving gender lead to doing research in a "different" way.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 Read thoroughly, understand and explain the content of articles and studies that mobilize the concept of gender;
 
2 Formulate a research question by mobilizing the concept of gender;
 
3 Choose a method for collecting the data needed to carry out your research and anticipate the risks associated with not considering gender;
 
4 Identify relevant literature (bibliography), select concepts and justify their relationship to gender theories;
 
5 Identify the challenges raised by the subject/methods chosen in relation to feminist epistemology and clarify your posture vis-à-vis these challenges;
 
6 Write an essay using scientific language in a gender-neutral style.
 
Content
The course:
  • Gives an overview of the different ways in which the concept of gender can be mobilized within the major families of disciplines and their implications for research; 
  • Addresses methodological issues and challenges arising from research using gender as a concept; 
  •  Introduces students to feminist epistemological questioning.
Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The course will be built on lectures covering the various themes mentioned above.
Online resources
A general bibliography, a portfolio of articles and reading guides will help you to participate to the collective reflection. The material will be made available on UCLine.
Bibliography
Bibliographie générale (d'autres textes seront progressivement disponibles sur moodle) :
Buikema A., Griffin G. Lykke N., 2011, Theories and Methodologies in postgraduate Feminist Research. Researching Differently, Routledge.
Fougeyrollas-Schwebel D., Planté C., Riot-Sarcey M. et Zaidman C. 2003, Le Genre comme catégorie d'analyse. Sociologie, histoire, littérature, dir., Paris, L'Harmattan.
Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. 2008. The Craft of Research, Third Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Faculty or entity
FIAL


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Advanced Master in Gender Studies