University of Essex

SC291-5-SP-CO:
Sociology of Sexualities

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Sociology

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 15 January 2024

End date: Friday 22 March 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 14 June 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

The prime concern of this course is to provide an introduction to sexuality studies. A theoretical background of constructionism will be used. Term two looks at contemporary developments through citizenship, globalisation, heteronormativity, and gender.

Module aims

One of the key aims of the module will be to consider the sociologically significant developments around the study of sexuality, rights and citizenship, including changes in lesbian and gay equality.

Module learning outcomes

To gain an insight into sociology of sexualities

Module information

Provisional Overview:
Introducing Queer Theory; Sexuality and feminism; Queering Kinship: Rethinking Transgression; Sexing Citizenship: Sexual Dissidence and the Nation-State; Homo Economics: Sexuality, Employment and the Pink Economy; Sexuality and Space: Beyond the Queer Metropolis; The Heteronormative Gaze: Contemporary Queer Representations; Sexuality and Globalization; Researching Sexualities: Notes from the Field

Learning and teaching methods

The course will be taught in the format of a weekly lecture followed by a class. In the first session we will develop our arrangements for work during the term. Typically there will be a lecture followed by a discussion and some student presentations.

Bibliography

Aggleton, P. (ed.) (2012) Understanding global sexualities: new frontiers. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=473893.
Plummer, K. (2003) Intimate citizenship: private decisions and public dialogues. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt130hj4x.
Fischer, N. and Seidman, S. (eds) (2016a) Introducing the new sexuality studies. Third edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1271655.
Sullivan, N. (2003a) A critical introduction to queer theory. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctvxcrwj6.
‘HOME | RebelDykes’ (no date). Available at: https://login.learningonscreen.ac.uk/wayfless.php?entityID=https%3A%2F%2Fidp0.essex.ac.uk%2Fshibboleth&target=https%3A%2F%2Flearningonscreen.ac.uk%2Fondemand%2Findex.php%2Fprog%2F3BF82F1B%3Fbcast%3D136999591.
‘Private view’ (no date). Available at: http://violetpictures.co.uk/private-view/.
‘Esther Newton Made Me Gay’ (no date). Available at: https://www.wmm.com/catalog/film/esther-newton-made-me-gay/.
Fischer, N. and Seidman, S. (eds) (2016b) Introducing the new sexuality studies. Third edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1271655.
Richardson, D., McLaughlin, J. and Casey, M.E. (2006) Intersections between feminist and queer theory. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=194617.
Jagose, A. (1996b) Queer theory: an introduction. New York: New York University Press.
McCann, H. and Monaghan, W. (2019) Queer Theory Now. 1st ed. 2020. Macmillan Education UK. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6234860.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Essay	21/03/2024	100%
Exam	Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
Exam	Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
50%	50%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
50%	50%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Prof Roisin Ryan-Flood, email: rflood@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Róisín Ryan-Flood

Contact details: Email: socugrad@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

Further information

Department website: Sociology

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Module Directory

SC291-5-SP-CO:Sociology of Sexualities