Application deadline

Type of course

The course can be taken as a single course. The course cannot be taken in combination with

STV-2046.

Admission requirements

Bachelor degree in a social science subject is required as a general rule.

The minimum average grade requirement is:

• C - for bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand
• B - for bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in all other countries

The course requires solid competence in reading and writing English.

Application code: 9371.

Course content

This course breaks down the sub-disciplinary barriers of "international" and "local" that often pervade the field of political science, by examining how gender and feminist perspectives illuminate challenges relevant across levels of analysis. In the course, students will be introduced to feminist and gender theories, women's political activism and intersectionality and heterogeneity among women, across the globe. With this as a point of departure we address women's movements, voting and elections, the rights to vote, voting behavior and quotas for women. We focus on political parties and electoral systems, women's role and achievements in parliaments and governments. The course proceeds to focus on the international and sub-national level were we discuss facilitators and constraints for women representation, and the contemporary state of women's political strength across diverse countries. Finally the course will address what global measures are being taken for women in the Women, Peace and Security agenda, springboarded by the United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (October 2000). 

The course is offered to students at the bachelor and master's levels. The themes of the course will be similar for both levels, however, master's students will receive an expanded reading list that further develops analytical skills, two additional seminars devoted to advanced analysis of the course material, and a more comprehensive final exam (in duration and content).

Objectives of the course

Students who have successfully completed the course should have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and comprehension

Knowledge of:

• Various models for women representation in politics, with a special focus on the Scandinavian/Norwegian approach
• Feminist theory and women's political activism
• Facilitators and constraints for women representation in diverse countries
• Facilitators and constraints for women representation in diverse local governments
• Women, Peace and Security agenda - what does this mean for women around the world? 

Skills:

• Can give an account of central features of the Scandinavian/Norwegian model, as well as other national models, for women representation in politics, feminist theory and women's political activism, facilitators and constraints for women in the subnational level in particular settings, and women representation in diverse countries.
• Is acquainted with some important sources of information regarding women and politics at the sub-national and national level.
• Can analyse academic literature and draw independent conclusions.
• Can discuss and assess the gains made in the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and current challenges that remain

Competence:

• Can communicate scholarly knowledge of women and politics in the sub-national, -  international level and Scandinavia/Norway well enough to be capable of discussing central issues in a scholarly context
• Have sufficient grasp of basic knowledge in this field, and how to access further sources, to be in a position to deepen his or her understanding though self-directed study.
• Has a sufficient grasp of theory and the different theories relevant to gender and feminist studies

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

The course consists of 8 x 2 hours of lectures (16 hours) and 4 x 2 (8 hours) hours of seminars.

Quality control of the course

The course will be evaluated once during a program period.

Assessment

Work assignment

One 10 minute power-point presentation on a given theme, with a preparation time of one week. Two students may work together. The grade is either "accepted" or "not-accepted" (fail). This assignment must be passed/accepted within a given date in order to take the course exam.

Assessment

The examination consists of one 6-hour school exam. The Grade-scale goes from A - E (pass) and F (fail).

A re-sit exam will be arranged for this course.

Recommended reading/syllabus

Pensum Stv 3046 Women and politics ( Master)

(*=Masterspesific)

Bürkner, H. J. (2012). Intersectionality: How gender studies might inspire the analysis of social inequality among migrants. Population, Space and Place, 18(2), 181-195.

Buskie, A 2013. How Significant is Feminism¿s Contribution to IR? Online

*Borchorst, A., & Siim, B. (2008). Woman-friendly policies and state feminism: Theorizing Scandinavian gender equality. Feminist Theory, 9(2), 207-224.

Celis, K., Childs, S., Kantola, J., & Krook, M. L. (2008). Rethinking women¿s substantive representation. Representation, 2, 99-110.

Dahlerup, D., & Freidenvall, L. (2005). Quotas as a `fast track¿to equal representation for women: Why Scandinavia is no longer the model. International Feminist Journal of Politics, 7(1), 26-48.

* Enloe, Cynthia. 2017. The Big Push: Exposing and Challenging the Persistence of Patriarchy. Myriad Editions. https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Big-Push/9780995590007

*Farrell, C., & Titcombe, S. (2016). Gender and the experiences of local elected members¿a focus on Wales. Local Government Studies, 42(6), 867-884.

Grosfoguel, R., Oso, L., & Christou, A. (2015). `Racism¿, intersectionality and migration studies: framing some theoretical reflections. Identities, 22(6), 635-652. doi:10.1080/1070289X.2014.950974

*Helmke, G., & Levitsky, S. (2004). Informal Institutions and Comparative Politics: A Research Agenda. Perspectives on Politics, 2(4), 725-740.

Hoogensen, G., & Rottem, S. V. (2004). Gender identity and the subject of security. Security dialogue, 35(2), 155-171.

Kenny, M. (2007). Gender, Institutions and Power: A Critical Review. Politics, 27(2), 91-100. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9256.2007.00284.x

*Kokkonen, A., & Wängnerud, L. (2017). Women¿s Presence in Politics and Male Politicians Commitment to Gender Equality in Politics: Evidence from 290 Swedish Local Councils. Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, 38(2), 199-220.

Lowndes, V. (2014). How are things done around here? Uncovering institutional rules and their gendered effects. Politics & Gender, 10(4), 685-691.

*Meyer, J. W., Boli, J., Thomas, G. M., & Ramirez, F. O. (1997). World society and the nation-state. American journal of sociology, 103(1), 144-181.

MacKenzie, M. (2009). Securitization and Desecuritization: Female Soldiers and the Reconstruction of Women in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone. Security Studies, 18(2), 241-261. doi:10.1080/09636410902900061

Myrttinen, H. (2017). Depictions and reflections: photographing visualizations of masculinities in Afghanistan and Democratic Republic of the Congo. International Feminist Journal of Politics, 1-7. doi:10.1080/14616742.2017.1364910

Norris, P. (1997). Choosing electoral systems: proportional, majoritarian and mixed systems. International Political Science Review, 18(3), 297-312.

Paxton, P., & Hughes, M. M. (2015). Women, politics, and power: A global perspective. CQ Press.

Parashar, S. 2016 Handbook on Gender in World Politics. Steans, J. & Tepe-Belfrage, D. (eds.). 1 ed. Cheltenham Glos UK: Edward Elgar Publishing,

Sainsbury, D. (2001). Gender and the Making of Welfare States: Norway and Sweden. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, 8(1), 113-143. doi:10.1093/sp/8.1.113

Sawer, M. (2002). The Representation of Women in Australia: Meaning and Make-Believe. Parliamentary affairs(55), 5-18.

Sinatti G 2014. Masculinities and Intersectionality in Migration: Transnational

Wolof Migrants Negotiating Manhood and Gendered Family Roles.D. Truong et al. (eds.), Migration, Gender and Social Justice: Perspectives on Human Insecurity, Hexagon Series on Human 215 and Environmental Security and Peace 9.

Skjeie, H., & Siim, B. (2000). Scandinavian Feminist Debates on Citizenship. Internationsal political Science Review, 21(4), 15.

*Wängnerud, L. (2009). Women in parliaments: Descriptive and substantive representation. Annual Review of Political Science, 12, 51-69.