JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

Overview

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course offers an introduction to Gender Studies, an interdisciplinary field that asks critical questions about the meanings of sex and gender in society. The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with key issues, questions and debates in Gender Studies, both historical and contemporary. It draws on multiple disciplines – such as literature, history, economics, psychology, sociology, philosophy, political science, anthropology and media studies – to examine cultural assumptions about sex, gender, and sexuality.

This course integrates analysis of current events through student presentations, aiming to increase awareness of contemporary and historical experiences of women, and of the multiple ways that sex and gender interact with race, class, caste, nationality and other social identities. This course also seeks to build an understanding and initiate and strengthen programmes combating gender-based violence and discrimination. The course also features several exercises and reflective activities designed to examine the concepts of gender, gender-based violence, sexuality, and rights. It will further explore the impact of gender-based violence on education, health and development.

Objectives of the Course:

• To develop students’ sensibility with regard to issues of gender in contemporary India.
• To provide a critical perspective on the socialization of men and women.
• To introduce students to information about some key biological aspects of genders.
• To expose the students to debates on the politics and economics of work.
• To help students reflect critically on gender violence.
• To expose students to more egalitarian interactions between men and women.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will have developed a better understanding of important issues related to gender in contemporary India.
• Students will be sensitized to basic dimensions of the biological, sociological, psychological and legal aspects of gender. This will be achieved through discussion of materials derived from research, facts, everyday life, literature and film.
• Students will attain a finer grasp of how gender discrimination works in our society and how to counter it.
• Students will acquire insight into the gendered division of labour and its relation to politics and economics.
• Men and women students and professionals will be better equipped to work and live together as equals.
• Students will develop a sense of appreciation of women in all walks of life.
• Through providing accounts of studies and movements as well as the new laws that provide protection and relief to women, the textbook will empower students to understand and respond to gender violence.

UNIT - I: UNDERSTANDING GENDER

Introduction: Definition of Gender-Basic Gender Concepts and Terminology-Exploring Attitudes towards Gender-Construction of Gender-Socialization: Making Women, Making Men - Preparing for Womanhood. Growing up Male. First lessons in Caste.

UNIT - II: GENDER ROLES AND RELATIONS

Two or Many? -Struggles with Discrimination-Gender Roles and Relations-Types of Gender Roles- Gender Roles and Relationships Matrix-Missing Women-Sex Selection and Its Consequences- Declining Sex Ratio. Demographic Consequences-Gender Spectrum: Beyond the Binary

UNIT - III: GENDER AND LABOUR

Division and Valuation of Labour-Housework: The Invisible Labor- “My Mother doesn’t Work.” “Share the Load.”-Work: Its Politics and Economics -Fact and Fiction. Unrecognized and Unaccounted work. - Gender Development Issues-Gender, Governance and Sustainable Development-Gender and Human Rights-Gender and Mainstreaming

UNIT - IV: GENDER - BASED VIOLENCE

The Concept of Violence- Types of Gender-based Violence-Gender-based Violence from a Human Rights Perspective-Sexual Harassment: Say No! -Sexual Harassment, not Eve-teasing- Coping with Everyday Harassment- Further Reading: “Chupulu”. Domestic Violence: Speaking OutIs Home a Safe Place? -When Women Unite [Film]. Rebuilding Lives. Thinking about Sexual Violence Blaming the Victim-“I Fought for my Life….”

UNIT - V: GENDER AND CULTURE

Gender and Film-Gender and Electronic Media-Gender and Advertisement-Gender and Popular Literature- Gender Development Issues-Gender Issues-Gender Sensitive Language-Gender and Popular Literature - Just Relationships: Being Together as Equals Mary Kom and Onler. Love and Acid just do not Mix. Love Letters. Mothers and Fathers. Rosa Parks- The Brave Heart.

Note

Since it is Interdisciplinary Course, Resource Persons can be drawn from the fields of

English Literature or Sociology or Political Science or any other qualified faculty who has expertise in this field from engineering departments.

• Classes will consist of a combination of activities: dialogue-based lectures, discussions, collaborative learning activities, group work and in-class assignments. Apart from the above prescribed book, Teachers can make use of any authentic materials related to the topics given in the syllabus on “Gender”.  ESSENTIAL READING: The Textbook, “Towards a World of Equals: A Bilingual Textbook on Gender” written by A. Suneetha, Uma Bhrugubanda, Duggirala Vasanta, Rama Melkote, Vasudha Nagaraj, Asma Rasheed, Gogu Shyamala, Deepa Sreenivas and Susie Tharu published by Telugu Akademi, Telangana Government in 2015. ASSESSMENT AND GRADING:
• Discussion & Classroom Participation: 20%
• Project/Assignment: 30%
• End Term Exam: 50%