Critical Perspectives on Nordic Gender Equalities, 15 credits
Law: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Contents
This course deals with gender equality as political ideal and practice in the Nordic region. Taking a historical departure the course will address questions such as: How and when was the issue of gender equality put on the political agenda in the Nordic countries? How is gender equality understood and practised today? Are Nordic countries still to be conceived as egalitarian? Drawing on various research fields such as post-structuralist feminist theory, postcolonial theory as well as critical perspectives on violence, class and sexuality the course will explore the ideal of gender equality from different angles. Special emphasis is put on examining the ways in which present day Nordic societies in general and gender equality in particular are marked by processes of postcoloniality, heteronormativity and neoliberalism. This is a cross-disciplinary course and will be able to enrich and complement courses in many different programmes. The course is organized around active student participation and consists of lectures, learning activities and written examinations.
Expected learning outcomes
Module 1: Gender and Politics in the Nordic countries (7,5 ECTS)
After the course the student shall be able to
- describe the history of Nordic politics of gender equality as well as be able independently identify and compare central divisions in Nordic feminist research on gender equality and politics.
- orally and in writing present an independent and critical analysis of different conceptualisations of gender equality.
Module 2: Critical Perspectives on Nordic Gender Equality (7,5 ECTS)
After the course the student shall be able to
- describe and independently compare the different feminist analytical positions presented during the module.
- orally and in writing present an independent and critical analysis of Nordic gender equality related to processes of heteronormativity, colonialism, class and neo-liberalism.
Added to this, the student should be able to contribute to qualified analytical comments at seminars and lead discussions.
Required Knowledge
To be admitted to the course applicants must have completed three semesters of full time studies, equivalent to 90 ECTS, of which at least 15 ECTS must be an independent project or four semesters of full time studies equivalent to 120 ECTS.
English proficiency equivalent to English A/6 from Swedish Upper secondary education.
Form of instruction
The course is a full time on-line course in English. The course is taught entirely through an electronic Learning Management System where the student takes part in lectures, mandatory assignments and other learning activities. The studies are characterized by a high degree of independent and active search for knowledge, and critical reflection, both individually and in groups
Examination modes
The course will be examined through current active participation in learning activities, in group and individually. The examination of module 1 furthermore consists of one written assignment. The examination of module 2 furthermore consists of one individually written assignment. For both modules and the course as a whole, the following grades are given: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with distinction (VG). In order to be awarded Pass for the entire course, it is necessary that all examinations and all compulsory teaching sessions have been passed. In order to achieve Pass with distinction on the whole course, this grade is demanded on module one and two. In case of specific reasons, the examiner has the right to decide upon other forms of examination.
A re-examination can be offered at the earliest ten days and at the latest three months after publishing information about the first examination. One more examination will be offered within the next year. A student who has passed the examination is not eligible for a new examination to raise grades. The option of a re-examination based on the original course syllabus will be available for at least two years after a student registered for the course. All in all, a student is given five chances of fulfilling the course examination. A student has the right to change examiner after failing two examinations for a course module, unless there are strong arguments against this. Course diplomas will be issued within 60 days after a passed examination.
Academic credit transfer
This course cannot be credited for other courses in gender studies at Umeå University. A course with the same name (7,5 ECTS), given during Autumn 2006, can be given credits for in this course corresponding to 7,5 ECTS. For further information we recommend contact with the director of studies.
Literature
Valid from: 2020 week 1
        Borchorst Anette
        
        
            Women-friendly policy paradoxes? Childcare policies and gender equality visions in Scandinavia
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
    
    
    
                Bristol : 
                Policy : 
                2008 : 
                xi, 244 s. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
        Reading instructions: pp 27-42
        
             The claim of economic citizenship: the concept of equality in a historical context
            
        
        
        Carlsson Wetterberg Christina, Melby Kari
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
    
    
    
                Bristol : 
                Policy : 
                2008 : 
                xi, 244 s. : 
    
                43-62 pages
        
        Mandatory
        Currell Susan
        
        
            Introduction
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Popular eugenics
    
    
    
                Athens, Ohio : 
                Ohio University Press : 
                c2006. : 
                x, 406 p. : 
    
                1-16 pages
        
        Mandatory
        
        Reading instructions: p 1-16
        Esping-Andersen Gösta
        
        
            The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        The welfare state
    
    
    
                Cambridge : 
                Polity Press in association with Blackwell : 
                2000 : 
                xi, 403 s. : 
    
                160-174 pages
        
        Mandatory
        Esping-Andersen Gøsta
        
        
            Families in the 21st century
            
        
    
    
    
                1. uppl. : 
                Stockholm : 
                SNS förlag : 
                2016 : 
                113 s. : 
    
    
        
            ISBN: 9789186949815
        
        Mandatory
        
        Search the University Library catalogue
        
            Eugenics and the Welfare State : Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland
            
        
    
    
    
    
    
                Michigan State University Press : 
                2005 : 
    
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        Langvasbråten Trude
        
        
            A Scandinavian Model? Gender Equality Discourses on Multiculturalism.
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Social politics
    
    
    
                Champaign, Ill. : 
                Published by the University of Illinois Press in cooperation with the Swedish Council for Social Research : 
                1994- : 
    
                15 (1) : 
                32-52. (20 pages) pages
        
        Mandatory
        Lewis Jane
        
        
            Gender and Welfare Regimes
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Social politics
    
    
    
                Champaign, Ill. : 
                Published by the University of Illinois Press in cooperation with the Swedish Council for Social Research : 
                1994- : 
                Vol. 1(1994)- : 
    
    
        
        Reading instructions: pp. 160-177
        McCarry Melanie
        
        
            Masculinity studies and male violence: Critique or collusion?
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Women's studies international forum
    
    
    
                Oxford : 
                Pergamon P. : 
                1982- : 
    
                30 : 
                404-415 pages
        
        Mandatory
        
            Women-friendly policy paradoxes?
                         : Childcare policies and gender equality visions in Scandinavia
        
        
        Melby Kari, Borchorst Anette
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
    
    
    
                Bristol : 
                Policy : 
                2008 : 
                xi, 244 s. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
        Reading instructions: pp. 27-42
        
            A nordic Model of gender equality? Introduction
            
        
        
        Melby Kari, Carlsson Wetterberg Christina, Ravn Anna-Birte
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia
    
    
    
                Bristol : 
                Policy : 
                2008 : 
                xi, 244 s. : 
    
                1-26 pages
        
        Mandatory
        
            National Strategy to Prevent Violence in Intimate Relations
            
        
    
    
    
    
    
                The Danish Government : 
    
    
    
    
        
            http://www.lige.dk/no_cache/gender-equality-work-in-denmark/news/single-news/artikel/national-strategy-to-prevent-violence-in-intimate-relation/
        
        Mandatory
        
            Trouble in Paradise: Exploring Patterns of Research and Policy Response to Men's Violence in Denmark and Sweden
            
        
        
        Pringle Keith, Balkmar Dag, Iovanni LeeAnn
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Nora
    
    
    
                London : 
                Taylor & Francis : 
                1998- : 
    
                18 : 
                105-121 pages
        
        Mandatory
        
            Approaches to gender mainstreaming: What's the problem represented to be?
            
        
        
        Bacchi Carol, Eveline Joan
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Mainstreaming politics
    
    
    
                Adelaide, S. Aust. : 
                University of Adelaide Press : 
                c2010. : 
                xviii, 368 p. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
            Mainstreaming and neoliberalism: a contested relationship.
            
        
        
        Bacchi Carol, Eveline Joan
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Mainstreaming politics
    
    
    
                Adelaide, S. Aust. : 
                University of Adelaide Press : 
                c2010. : 
                xviii, 368 p. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        Brown Wendy
        
        
            Postmodern Exposures, Feminist Hesitations.
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        States of injury
    
    
    
                Princeton, N.J. : 
                Princeton University Press : 
                1995 : 
                xiii, 202 s. : 
    
                30-51. (21 pages) pages
        
        Mandatory
        Brown Wendy
        
        
            Suffering Rights as Paradoxes.
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Constellations
    
    
    
                Oxford : 
                Blackwell Publishers : 
                1997- : 
    
                Vol 7 : 
                230-241. (11 pages) pages
        
        Mandatory
        
            Representations of Equality
                         : Processes of Depoliticization of the Citizen-Subject
        
        
        Edenheim Sara, Rönnblom Malin
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Gendered Citizenship and the Politics of Representation
    
    
    
                London : 
                Palgrave Macmillan UK : 
                2016. : 
                XVII, 312 p. 2 illus. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
            Women's questions on the agenda
                         : the politicisation of gender equality in Sweden
        
        
        Florin Christina, Nilsson Bengt
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Different paths to modernity
    
    
    
                Lund : 
                Nordic Academic Press : 
                2005 : 
                368 s. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        Frazer Nancy
        
        
            Feminism, capitalism and the cunning of history
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        New left review.
    
    
    
                London,c 1960- : 
    
                1960- : 
    
                Vol. 56 : 
                20 s. pages
        
        Mandatory
        Honkanen Kattis
        
        
            Equality politics out of the subaltern
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Critical studies of gender equalities
    
    
    
                Göteborg ;a Stockholm : 
                Makadam : 
                2008 : 
                223 s. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
        Reading instructions: pp 204-219
        
            Discursive Dynamics in Gender Equality Politics: What about Feminist Taboos?
            
        
        
        Lombardo Emanuela, Meier Petra, Verloo Mieke
    
        
        Included in:
        
        The European journal of women's studies
    
    
    
                London : 
                Sage : 
                1999- : 
    
                17 : 
                105-123 pages
        
        Mandatory
        Magnusson Eva
        
        
            Conflict, danger and Difference. Nordic heterosexual couples converse about gender equality and fairness.
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Critical studies of gender equalities
    
    
    
                Göteborg ;a Stockholm : 
                Makadam : 
                2008 : 
                223 s. : 
    
                161-179. (17 pages) pages
        
        Mandatory
        Raevaara Eeva
        
        
            In the land of equality?
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Critical studies of gender equalities
    
    
    
                Göteborg ;a Stockholm : 
                Makadam : 
                2008 : 
                223 s. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
        Reading instructions: pp 75-93
        Rönnblom Malin
        
        
            De-politicising gender?
                         : constructions of gender equality in Swedish regional policy
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Critical studies of gender equalities
    
    
    
                Göteborg ;a Stockholm : 
                Makadam : 
                2008 : 
                223 s. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
        Reading instructions: pp 112-143
        
            Management and gender diversity
                         : intertwining categories and paradoxes
        
        
        Staunæs Dorthe, Søndergaard Dorte Marie
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Critical studies of gender equalities
    
    
    
                Göteborg ;a Stockholm : 
                Makadam : 
                2008 : 
                223 s. : 
    
    
        
        Mandatory
        
        Reading instructions: pp 135-160
        Stormhoj Christel
        
        
            Queering the family. Critical reflections on state regulated heteronormativity in the Scandinavian countries.
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Lambda nordica
    
    
    
                Stockholm : 
                Föreningen Lambda nordica : 
                1989- : 
    
                3-4 (8) : 
                38-56. (18 pages) pages
        
        Mandatory
        Törnqvist Maria
        
        
            From threat to promise. The changing position of gender quota in the Swedish debate on Women's Political representations.
            
        
    
        
        Included in:
        
        Critical studies of gender equalities
    
    
    
                Göteborg ;a Stockholm : 
                Makadam : 
                2008 : 
                223 s. : 
    
                75-93. (18 pages) pages
        
        Mandatory