EDED14330 Gender as a Social Justice Issue

An ability to study and understand issues of gender is an increasingly important skill. The social and cultural patterns of conduct within Australian society, including beliefs and practices within educational institutions, have historically operated to present particular roles for women and men as `natural'. However, this course suggests that the dominant forms of femininities and masculinities are socio-cultural products of the societies from which they emerge. Through the critical study of the social construction of gender, the course encourages students to view such constructions as problematic, requiring their exploration and analysis. Further, students are challenged to consider educational issues of pedagogy and curriculum that are gender conscious.