SOC 7107: Gender and Social Inequality (CU=4)

SOC 7107: Gender and Social Inequality (CU=4)

Course Description:

Structural inequality and rural development: the interaction between/of class, age, race and gender. Gender and development; gender and power. Changing theoretical frameworks in the gender discourse; gender issues in East African societies; social protection (risk and vulnerability assessment and social protection measures). The modules include Theoretical frameworks for Gender and inequality analysis (Revisiting the gender discourse; the Theories of Minority Studies). Identities, Vulnerability and Networking: and Social Security and Social Protection (mainstreaming of Gender and minority groups, and gender and equity budgeting in Development).

Course Objective:

To enable students understand the place of gender in the broader context of social inequality and how it impacts on rural development.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, the students should be able to:

·  Have and internalised definition of concepts and bases of social inequality.

·  Understand the role of gender in the spheres of life and broader social inequality

·  Evaluate and address different forms of social inequalities in societies.

Methods of Course Delivery

·  Class Lectures and Guest lectures

·  Seminars and Group discussions

·  Self Study Assignments

Course Outline

·  Introduction

·  Theoretical framework for analyzing social inequalities

·  Social inequalities as a development issue

·  Discourses on power (Dominant discourses on power - Insider/outsider (emic/etic)

·  Class conflict and power – Marx;

·  Knowledge and power – Foucault

·  Challenges to the dominant discourse

·  Feminist and other responses

·  Roles of individuals in reproducing the dominant male discourse

·  Gender Analysis Framework)

·  Case Studies of Power and Inequality (Youth issues, socialization and social reproduction

·  The family, Education and Adolescent sexuality

·  Women, the family and Marriage

·  Social inequalities in the Public Domain

·  Power and political participation

·  Social inequalities in the Public Domain (Power and political participation )

·  Resistance to discriminatory practices: A case study of the Women’s Movement

·  Social Inequalities and the Development Process (Politics of culture and their influences on development; Empowerment for all; Frameworks for empowerment (A case study of the Women’s Empowerment Framework and Practical and Strategic needs)

·  Science, Technology and Power in Africa; and, Power relations in the workplace: a case study

·  Conclusion (Visions of a more equal society References)

Method of Assessment

o  Term Paper (7500 words) 20%

o  Written Test 15%

o  Class Participation (Attendance and Quizzes) 5%

o  Final Examination (3 Hours) 60%

o  Total Course Mark 100%

Basic Reading List

Bhasin, K. 1994. What is Patriarchy? Kali for Women. New Delhi.

Brett, A. 1991. Why Gender is a Development Issue. In T. Wallace & C. March (eds.) Changing Perceptions: Gender and Development. Oxfam, Oxford.

Chambers, R. 1993. Challenging the Professions: Frontiers for Rural Development

Chambers, R. 1997. Whose Reality Counts? IT Publications, London.

Kabeer, N. 1994, Reversed Realities, Verso, London.

Young et al (eds). 1981. Of Marriage and the Market. Routledge, London.

Mandala, N. 1994. Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus, London

Mathabane, M. (1994) African Women–Three Generations. London: Harper Collins.

Robertson, a. 1991. Beyond the Family: The Social Organization of Human Reproduction. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Republic of Uganda. 1995. The Constitution of Uganda

Warner, M., et. Al. 1997. Beyond Gender Roles? Conceptualizing the Social and Economic Lives of Rural Peoples in sub-Saharan Africa. Development and Change, Vol.28 No. 1.