Unit Outline
HGA372
Gender, Culture and Identity
Semester 1, 2025
Peta Cook
School of Social Sciences
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Peta Cook
Email: Peta.Cook@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
How do we learn to 'do' gender? Is gender 'natural'? In this unit, you will develop a critical lens through which to understand the social forces and structures of power that shape us as gendered individuals and construct the world in which we live, drawing on feminist and sociological research. The ways in which gender is mediated by social groups, systems and institutions will be of particular concern. Drawing from classic and contemporary scholarship, films, images, and popular culture, we will explore a range of topics from the gendering of children's products to cyborgs.
The unit content requires you to use the sociological imagination to understand, interpret and critically evaluate the connections between gender, culture and identity. This unit focuses on making sociology ‘real’ – the content will illustrate how social forces interact with and shape everyone regardless of individual sex, genders, and sexualities. The unit engages your learning through two modules, and the topics explored therein will draw on sociological and feminist research, evidence, theory, concepts, frameworks, and examples.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1
Outline the main features of feminist and sociological disciplinary perspectives as relevant to gender.
2
Critically apply contemporary feminist and sociological scholarship to examine gendered lives, viewpoints and expressions.
3
Analyse how gender intersects with social groups, systems, and institutions.
4
Communicate your ideas clearly in written and/or verbal form.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
25 points at introductory level in any discipline in any faculty
Alterations as a result of student feedback
This unit was last taught in 2023. In 2023, a thorough review of the unit was undertaken that resulted in a new format. This was well received from students. The teaching team appreciate your constructive feedback as part of unit review.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
The learning content for this unit is delivered online. This includes lectures and other learning resources which may include videos, news websites, music, case studies, and so on. Note that regardless of your enrolment mode, you will be required to regularly access online content to complete this unit.
For on-campus students, you are required to attend a minimum of seven tutorials. For off-campus students, you are required to respond to the set weekly Discussion board topic in your own thread and/or attend the online tutorial, for at least seven weeks. Note that active participation – whether that be at in-person tutorials (on-campus students), online tutorials (online students) or on the Discussions (online students) - is required for the successful completion of this unit.
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Online quiz
Week 5
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Major essay
Week 7
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Tutorials and/or Discussion Posts
Week 12
10 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:
Examination - take home
Week 13
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Online quiz
Task Description:
There are two quizzes in this unit, which are designed to facilitate your timely engagement with the unit content.

Each quiz is worth 10% of your final grade in this unit.

Quiz content can include the weekly online learning content and the required readings (content from the workshops are excluded).

The quizzes are open book assessment tasks, though you need to be knowledgeable and up to date with unit content to do well.

Each quiz may consist of a mix of multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, true or false, and multi-select questions.
Task Length:
 
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Outlines relevant sociological concepts, theories and arguments as related to gender, culture and identity.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Application of sociological concepts, theories and arguments to issues in contemporary culture related to gender, culture and identity.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3
Identification of appropriate sociological language.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 2: Major essay
Task Description:
Choose ONE of the following questions:

(i) What does it mean to ‘perform’ masculinity or femininity? (as part of your response, you must critically analyse arguments about the performative nature of gender).
(ii) How useful is queer theory or trans theory for thinking about gender and identity? (as part of your response, you must provide a critical analysis of the theoretical framework).
(iii) Critically explore the relevancy of the ‘post-gay’ argument for contemporary Australian society (as part of your response, you must critically analyse homonormativity/ respectability politics arguments).
(iv) Critically explore how and why transgender visibility in popular media is important. (as part of your response, you must critically discuss relevant unit materials including trans theory).
(v) Thinking critically about gender, what are the positives and negatives of cyborg symbolism? (as part of your response, you must critically analyse Haraway’s cyborg framework and any conceptual limitations)

Regardless of the question you respond to in your essay, you must include contemporary examples. These could be drawn from news articles and events in 2025, popular culture (for example, film) and your own personal experiences. Note that you must have at least two examples, which must be different sources (ie - these cannot be the same news article, or only personal experiences).
Task Length:
2000 words (excluding references)
Due Date:
Week 7
Weight:
40 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Critical engagement with a wide range of the theories and concepts related to gender, culture and identity
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Clear articulation of a coherent argument that is supported by literature, and expresses authors’ own sociological perspective.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3
Critical evaluation of the key sociological issues related to gender as relevant to the essay question.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
4
Integration of gender/feminist/sociological disciplinary perspectives.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
5
Correct and consistent application of appropriate language and Harvard referencing style.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Tutorials and/or Discussion Posts
Task Description:
This assessment task examines your participation (not attendance) in tutorials and/or Discussions (MyLO), as dependent on your enrolment mode.

For on-campus students, you will be assessed on your participation during in-person tutorials (on-campus students).

For off-campus students, you will be assessed on your participation during the Zoom tutorial and/or Discussions (MyLO).

Further details on this assessment task will be provided on MyLO.
Task Length:
Participation in Tutorials and/or Discussion Posts
Due Date:
Week 12
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Engagement with a wide range of different sociological concepts, theories and arguments as examined during the unit.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Application of sociological concepts, theories and arguments to issues in one’s everyday life and/or contemporary culture as relevant to gender.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3
Use of appropriate language and expression.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 4: Examination - take home
Task Description:
This is an open book (take home) exam.
You will be provided with a list of questions during Week 12.
More information about the exam will be provided on MyLO.
Task Length:
2000 words (approx.)
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Critical engagement with a wide range of different sociological concepts, theories and arguments, as profiled in the unit.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Presents a well- developed argument that is supported by literature, and expresses authors’ own sociological perspective.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3
Application of sociological concepts, theories and arguments to issues in one’s everyday life and/or contemporary culture as related to gender.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
4
Use of appropriate language and expression.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.
Academic progress review
The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
Required textbook: Holmes, M. (2007) What is gender? Sociological approaches. London: Sage
 
This textbook is available through University of Tasmania library, including as an e-book. Other required readings will be detailed on MyLO. 
 
Recommended reading materials
If you have not recently studied sociology, a sociology dictionary and first-year textbook will be helpful. There are many that are available through the library.
I recommend sociology dictionaries published by Penguin (edited by Nicholas Abercrombie, Stephen Hill and Bryan S. Turner) and Oxford (edited by John Scott and Gordon Marshall). Sociology dictionaries can be found in the University of Tasmania library or you can purchase one. Do not use a non-sociological dictionary.
Recommended readings may be provided in the weekly learning content on MyLO. Some of these recommended readings can be accessed through the University of Tasmania library via the Reading List.
 
Other required resources