The University of the West Indies, at Mona, Jamaica Homepage

The University of the West Indies

at Mona, Jamaica

Teaching

Undergraduate Courses 2007/2008

Semester One

  • GS35A — Philosophy of Gender (NEW)
  • AR20A — Gender in Caribbean Culture I
  • AR21A — Introduction to Women’s Studies II
  • SY37G — Sex, Gender and Society
  • FD12A Gender, Science and Technology (with FPAS)
  • Guest Lectures

Semester Two

  • GS35B Philosophy of Gender in Caribbean Thought (NEW)
  • AR20B — Gender in Caribbean Culture II
  • AR21B — Introduction to Women’s Studies II
  • AR20M — Introduction to Men and Masculinity in the Caribbean
  • SY37 — Sex, Gender and Society
  • FD12A Gender, Science and Technology (with FPAS)

Prerequisites

There are few academic prerequisites for admission to these courses. Students pursuing gender courses must be willing to do at least two gender courses in the academic year. A good grounding in first year courses in the Social Sciences or in History prepares students to handle the subject material. Preference is given to students who are doing other gender related courses, modules or research papers in this discipline.

AR20A — Gender in Caribbean Culture I: Theoretical Issues, History and Theology
This course focuses on the construction of masculinity and femininity in Caribbean culture. It explores the perception of gender as a ‘natural’ social phenomenon and how gender is constructed as a social category in culture.
AR20B — Gender in Caribbean Culture II: Linguistic, Popular Culture and Literature
This course is the second part of AR20A, and is offered in Semester II. The concepts introduced in Semester I are further explored through an examination of the various forms of popular Caribbean culture.
AR21A — Introduction to Women Studies I: Theoretical, Historical and Educational Perspectives
This course offered in the first semester enables students to understand feminist theory . It introduces them to the history of the women’s movement in the Caribbean region, equips them to understand the situation of women relative to men through an examination of the representation of women in history and also provides a critical examination of the structure of the education system.
AR21B — Introduction to Women’s Studies II: Sociology and Cultural Issues
This course is offered in the second semester as a follow-up to AR21A. It continues the application of feminist theoretical approaches to the study of women in society, equips students to understand and analyse women’s subordinate situation in society particularly in relation to male and female sexuality, and Caribbean family structures. The course also examines the contribution of feminist studies and women’s studies to development in the Caribbean.
AR20M — Introduction to Men and Masculinity in the Caribbean
This course is offered in the second semester and explores the construction of Caribbean masculinities using gender as an analytical category. It introduces to the sub-discipline of masculinities as a distinct area of gender studies. Students are expected to have a working knowledge of the key concepts and ideas which have shaped the development of Gender Studies throughout the years.
SY37G — Sex, Gender and Society
In response to popular demand, this Level 3 course is offered through the Faculty of Social Sciences in Semester1 and Semester II as well as in Summer School. It provides a theoretical and methodological framework for examining the emergence of Gender Theory, the Feminist Movement. It also debates issues of sexuality, sexual difference as well as the construction of masculinity and femininity in Caribbean society.
GS35A — Philosophy of Gender (NEW)
This is a new Semester 1 course being offered by the CGDS Mona Campus Unit in partnership with the Faculty of Humanities and Education. It grapples with the intellectual challenges and gains of introducing gender into the academy. It takes on board how we think about gender in a selected set of discourses within mainstream philosophy. It traces both the intersection of feminist thought with popularly received ideas of philosophy as well as its digression from these ideas. The course blends popular issues with academic discourse and adopts a problem solving approach. Questions related to each topic are discussed in relation to specific Caribbean readings and are examined in relation to current debates on everyday issues that affect our societies and the Region. The course is designed to equip students with critical skills of debates and abstract thinking and requires considerable but interesting reading. It provides a solid foundation for students planning to pursue graduate studies in gender, philosophy, theology, other social sciences, humanities or in education.
GS35B — Philosophy of Gender in Caribbean Thought (NEW)
This course will be offered in Semester 2 AY2007/2008 by the CGDS Mona Campus Unit in partnership with the Faculty of Humanities and Education. It attempts to look at how gender studies and feminist thought has contributed to the reconstruction of knowledge and to the societal identification and achievement of the goals of sex and gender equality and justice for all. It attempts to contextualize, in particular, how Caribbean Feminist scholarship has provided an implicit critique of past knowledge and perspectives to present alternatives for ongoing thought and action in the region. The course is highly recommended for undergraduate students who intend to pursue the Ph.d, M.Phil or MSc. in Gender and Development Studies, as well as undergraduate students in other disciplines who intend to use gender as a category of analysis in their graduate research.

Major in Gender and Development

The new Major in Gender and Development requires 30 Credits from Levels 11 and 111 in the area of specialisation (see details on the Major in Gender and Development page).

Minor in Gender Studies (15 Credits)

The CGDS Mona Unit offers a Minor in Gender Studies which requires students to take a minimum of five (5) gender courses. To qualify students may take at least three (3) of the above CGDS courses, and two (2) gender courses offered by other Faculties/Departments.

Prize for Best Undergraduate Students in Gender and Development Studies

The Dorian Powell Prize for Gender and Development is offered annually to students enrolled at the University of the West Indies doing a minimum of three (3) courses in Gender and Development Studies offered through the Mona Campus Unit. An independent committee comprised of a panel of lecturers chosen by the Gender Board of Studies Mona, reviews academic results, and prepares a shortlist of candidates who are then interviewed to select a student for the award. Eligible students are judged on knowledge of the gender, competence in handling written materials, creativity of thought and ideas, general participation in the gender courses and performance throughout the academic year as well s their knowledge of the work of the late Mrs Dorian Powell, eminent Jamaican Sociologist and pioneer in gender studies at UWI. The student selected is awarded a monetary prize of a minimum of J$10,000.00.

Summary of Courses Offered & Student Registration

The Mona Unit offered six (6) undergraduate courses during the two semesters of Academic Year 2006/7, and three courses were taught in Summer School 2007. Below is student registration for courses taught:

Course Codes Course Titles Male Female Stud. Regn
GEND 2001 (AR20A) Gender in Caribbean Culture I (SEM 1) 13 57 70
GEND 2101 (AR21A) Introduction to Women’s Studies I (SEM1) 2 13 15
SOCI 2019 (SY37G) Sex, Gender and Society (SEM 1) 11 91 102
GEND 2002 (AR20B) Gender in Caribbean Culture II (SEM2) 4 17 21
GEND 2102 (AR21B) Introduction to Women’s Studies II (SEM 2) 1 8 9
GEND 2013 (AR20M) Introduction to Men and Masculinities in the Caribbean (SEM 2) 6 50 56
SOCI 2019 (SY37G) Sex, Gender and Society (SEM 2) 14 95 109
GEND 2001 (AR20A) Gender in Caribbean Culture I (SEM 3) 6 18 24
GEND 2013 (AR20M) Introduction to Men and Masculinities in the Caribbean (SEM 3) 5 16 21
SOCI 2019 (SY37G) Sex, Gender and Society (SEM 3) 10 30 40
Total   72 395 467

Other Teaching

Diploma and Postgraduate Teaching:

Lecturers in the Mona Unit also teach on courses in the Diploma and MSc. in Gender and Development Programme offered through the CGDS Regional Coordinating Unit. During the year these included:

Diploma
Course Codes Course Titles Male Female Stud. Regn
GS10D Research Project 8 8 16
Total       16
MSc
Course Codes Course Titles Male Female Stud. Regn
GS60A Theories and Development of Feminism 1 6 7
GS66A Gender & Dev. and Human Society 1 5 6
GS63B Gender, Education Training & Work (Module on Women & Work) 1 7 8
Total   3 18 21

GUEST LECTURES

Dr Dunn delivered over twelve (12) Guest Lectures to six (6) UWI departments and three (3) institutions outside the UWI. She was the Guest speaker at the 11th Derek Gordon Seminar in the Faculty of Social Sciences on January 27 2007.

Dr Marshall delivered a Guest Lecture for the FD12A course.