ASOA15046U Migration and Gender (SUMMER 2017)

Volume 2016/2017
Content

This course offers an introduction into some of the intersectional perspectives on gender in the sociology of migration. Because the field is so large and growing, I refer to “introduction” rather than “providing an overview” of perspectives. Sociologists have studied the relationship between migration and gender in a multiplicity of different ways focusing on the agency, choices, and structural conflicts experienced by migrants in relation to their gendered and social positionality, nationality, ethnicity, and material realities. How do gendered representations and expectations influence migrants, refugees, and members of sexual or ethnic minorities in the process of transferring to a new society and political context? What role does gender play within violent conflicts, economic injustice, and other contexts that force people to leave their countries? What institutional and structural patterns facilitate cultural integration and social inclusion within host societies? In our readings we will combine theoretical discussion with empirical investigation in order to understand big debates about migration, identity and belonging, social inclusion, and transnational practices of citizenship. Second, we will apply sociological concepts and methods of intersectional analysis to shed light on dynamics that are central to other subfields of gender. This means balancing classical texts with contemporary ones, theoretical readings with empirical ones, and explicitly sociological pieces with ones drawn from media research, political science, and feminist studies.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

The course will provide the students with knowledge of

- an introduction into the some of the interdisciplinary perspectives on gender and migration in the field of sociology

- familiarity with the recent literature on intersectionality and gender in the context of migration studies, focusing specifically on qualitative approaches, and on narrative, ethnographic, comparative and transnational research perspectives. 

 

Skills:

Students will have trained their ability to

- compare and contrast key theoretical perspectives that are central to the wider MA specialization in Knowledge, Organisation and Politics and Culture, Lifestyle, and Everyday Life.

- identify significant historical and contemporary developments in research on gender and migration.

- review and reflect on the research literature on gender and migration acquiring insights into a number of different disciplines and their conceptualization of the themes we discuss as well as their state of the art. 

 

Competencies:

In carrying out the presentations, projects, and short written assignments students demonstrate that they have acquired competencies that allow them to independently

- identify and analyze cases and settings where individual trajectories of migration, gendered power structures and transnational politics shape or influence people’s lives and identifications. They demonstrate that they are able to analyze case studies and research on gender and migration reflecting about different national, political and cultural contexts.

 

This involves to

- develop ideas for adequate empirical case studies and critical analytical questions, assessed in written form and to be presented in class,

- to reflect methodologically on how to critically analyse empirical research on the issues we discuss during the exercises and written assignments.

Finally, students should also be able to

- assess and discuss the practical and broader theoretical implications of their project ideas for key actors, issues, and problems within and across different national and cultural contexts and the relevant fields of research on gender and migration analyzed.

Readings are comprised of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and discursive data including news articles, and digital media publications. Students are responsible for 600-700 pages of reading for 7,5 ECTS and 800 pages for 10 ECTS.

No specific and non-standard competences are required for attending this course. Knowledge of sociological theory and method at (or equivalent to) the BA level is expected.
Lectures, class discussions, student presentations, exercises and short written assignments based on the readings. The presentations include project work (either individually or in groups). Students are expected to contribute actively to discussion of core theoretical-analytical tools as well as the more specific analytical examples and case studies. In their short written assignments, students are expected to identify their own analytical questions and demonstrate their capacity to critically assess and analyze empirical data based on the examples and case studies we discuss in class.
Dette kursus har adgangsbegrænsninger. Kurset vil som udgangspunkt ikke blive udbudt igen. Du kan således ikke planlægge efter, at det udbydes i senere semestre, end hvad der fremgår af denne kursusbeskrivelse.

WORKLOAD - see below - Workload is specified for the 7,5 ECTS course.

10 ECTS:
Lectures: 28
Course preparation: 150
Exercises: 56
Project work: 20
Exam Preparation: 21
Total: 275

The number of lecture hours are the same for both 7,5 and 10 ECTS courses
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Course Preparation
  • 97
  • Exam Preparation
  • 11
  • Exercises
  • 70
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Active participation
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

-

Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Active participation
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

-