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Unit of study_

GOVT3986: Gender, Security and Human Rights

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit offers a gender perspective on human rights, with a focus on gender and insecure international contexts. The unit covers themes related to the challenges of pursuing human rights, violations of human rights, and the role of civil society groups in advocating human rights. Attention will be given to the gendered nature of human rights and to specific issues that impact men and women differently when it comes to human rights protection and promotion.

Unit details and rules

Unit code GOVT3986
Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
GOVT2336
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Politics or 12 credit points at 2000 level International Relations or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Diversity Studies or 12 senior credit points from Government and International Relations
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Caitlin Biddolph, caitlin.biddolph@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Caitlin Biddolph, caitlin.biddolph@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Doris Asante, doris.asante@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation hurdle task group assignment Group presentation
Group presentation plus written reflection. See Canvas.
10% - 40 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5 LO4 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Take-home Final Assessment
3000 word written assignment
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 21 Nov 2022 at 12:00
3,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task hurdle task Reading Quiz #1 (Week 2)
See Canvas.
10% Week 02 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
Online task hurdle task Reading Quiz #2 (Week 4)
See Canvas
10% Week 04 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
Online task hurdle task Reading Quiz #3 (Week 7)
See Canvas
10% Week 07 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
Online task hurdle task Reading Quiz #4 (Week 10)
See Canvas
10% Week 10 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Group assignment with individually assessed component = group assignment with individually assessed component ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.’

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

See rubric for each assessment on Canvas.

Distinction

75 - 84

See rubric for each assessment on Canvas.

Credit

65 - 74

See rubric for each assessment on Canvas.

Pass

50 - 64

See rubric for each assessment on Canvas.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Concepts of gender, security, and human rights Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 02 Global governance of gender, security, and human rights Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 03 Problematising the subject of security and human rights Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 04 Feminist approaches to gender, security, and human rights Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 05 Feminist approaches part 1: The Women, Peace, and Security agenda Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 06 Feminist approaches part 2: Feminist economics and the security/development nexus Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Indigenous, decolonial, and postcolonial approaches to gender, security, and human rights Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 08 Indigenous, decolonial, and postcolonial approaches part 1: Black Lives Matter and abolitionist/anti-carceral politics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 09 Indigenous, decolonial, and postcolonial approaches part 2: Climate justice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 10 Queer approaches to gender, security, and human rights Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 11 Queer approaches part 1: Terrorist assemblages Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 12 Queer approaches part 2: International law and transitional justice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 13 Alternatives and solutions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lectures: Lecture content will be recorded.
  • Tutorials: Weekly, 60 minutes
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an advanced knowledge of leading scholarship and debates on gender, security, and human rights
  • LO2. critically examine current events and apply or relate theoretical debates to these events
  • LO3. demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills
  • LO4. consider innovative alternatives and solutions to pressing global issues related to gender, security and development
  • LO5. engage with scholarship that crosses several disciplines, including international relations, security studies, gender studies, and Indigenous studies.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Students are expected to attend/view all lectures and tutorials. This is the first time this unit has been offered by this teaching team and we welcome your feedback.

 

  • Additional details are provided on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.