Postgraduate Course: Gender, Politics and Representation (PGSP11542)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines the interconnections among gender, politics, and representation using a global approach. It incorporates concepts of gender and intersectionality in evaluating the implications of political representation of the margianlized groups for the broader society. By focusing on the role of gender in political representation and engagement, this course asks three main questions:
(1) to what extent do women and men think, believe, and act differently politically and what explains these differences?;
(2) why are women underrepresented in political institutions and to what extent do women political leaders make a difference?;
and (3) to what extent are different political institutions, structures, processes, and media gendered and how does such gendering shape the gender gap in political representation and engagement?
Specifically, this course takes an intersectional approach by paying attention to how women with varying identities, such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc., differ amongst themselves in the realm of politics. While the course focuses on gender and representation, students will also explore the relationship between feminist and mainstream ontological, epistemological, and methodological approaches of studying global politics by completing a research proposal. |
| Course description |
This course investigates the links among gender, politics, and representation, taking a global approach. Drawing on comparative analyses, the course takes context into consideration and introduces students to the previous gendered patterns, as well as the contemporary gendered state of political representation across the globe. Using a feminist lens, students will examine the systematic barriers to women¿s political representation, such as the role of regime types, electoral systems, political parties, quotas, among other things, in the gender gaps at the leadership level. Students will also explore the gender gaps in political participation, knowledge, and recruitment as obstacles to engendering politics. Students will investigate the substantive and symbolic impact of women as political leaders on policymaking, as well as beyond policymaking. In addition to critically engaging with concepts and theories related to representation, students will also be exposed to cross-cutting methodologies that empirically answer questions related to gender, politics, and representation. Through the course assessments, students will also be exposed to assessing the validity of research designs and gain skills to conduct research.
The course will take the form of weekly two-hour seminars. Students are expected to attend each class having completed the essential readings.
Seminar topics include: gender and intersectionality, descriptive, substantive, and symbolic representation, gendered political institutions, stereotypes and media, gender gaps in political participation, knowledge, ambition, and recruitment.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the gendered patterns of political representation and participation across the local, national, and global scales
- Communicate complex scholarly concepts and theories and apply them to contemporary politics
- Critically analyze the role of gendered institutions in shaping the gender gaps in political representation, as well as the impact of gendered political representation in and beyond the political realm
- Show a critical understanding of feminist and mainstream approaches to studying gender, politics, and representation
- Develop research and analytical skills that facilite independent thinking and project management
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Reading List
Doan, A. E., & Haider-Markel, D. P. 2010. The role of intersectional stereotypes on evaluations of gay and lesbian political candidates. Politics & Gender, 6(01), 63-91.
Kittilson, Miki Caul. 2008. Representing Women: The Adoption of Family Leave in Comparative Perspective. Journal of Politics, 70(2): 323-334.
O¿Brien, Diana and Krook, Mona Lena. 2012. All the President¿s Men? The Appointment of Female Cabinet Ministers Worldwide. Journal of Politics 74(3): 840-855.
Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie. 2006. ¿Still Supermadres? Gender and the Policy Priorities of Latin American Legislators.¿ American Journal of Political Science, 50(3):570-585.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
By the end of the course, students will strengthen their skills in the following, which will be particularly pertinent to developing their critical thinking abilities and employability:
1. Critically engage with issues related to gender, politics, and representation in a constructive manner
2. Communicate complex scholarly concepts and theories and apply them to contemporary politics
3. Construct an appropriate research design to answer a research question or empirically test a hypothesis
4. Evaluate the extent to which evidence supports arguments
5. Manage a project through creating a reasonable budget and timeline for project completion
6. Provide feedback in a collegial and professional manner |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sarah Liu
Tel:
Email: sarah.liu@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Casey Behringer
Tel: (0131 6)50 2456
Email: Casey.behringer@ed.ac.uk |
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