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Unit outline_

GCST5211: Girls and Boys: Gendered forms of youth

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

An interdisciplinary unit on research into girlhood, boyhood, and girl and boy cultures, and the constitution and complication of distinctions between boys and girls. Topics include: girls, boys, and feminism; education and schooling; gendered play and leisure; popular representations of boys and girls; age-based media regulation; race, youth and intersectionality; the politics of age and development; trans and non-binary youth; young sexualities; risk and harm-reduction policies; youth, harm and violence. Students will develop a critical understanding of the formation of discourses on girls and boys and how this structures the opportunities and experience of young people today.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Gender and Cultural Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Catherine Driscoll, catherine.driscoll@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Major Project
Independent research project.
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 25 Nov 2022 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Short critical reflection 1
A short critical reflection on one week's themes and materials.
25% Week 07
Due date: 16 Sep 2022 at 23:59
1000 word
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Short critical reflection 2
A short critical reflection on one week's themes and materials.
25% Week 11
Due date: 21 Oct 2022 at 23:59
1000 word
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3

Assessment summary

  • 1000wd critical reflection x 2 – respond to one selected weekly theme and class materials demonstrating comprehension and analytic skills.
  • 2500wd Major project – using one of the critical reflection tasks as a starting point, develop and complete an independent research project informed by the unit as a whole.

Assessment criteria

This unit uses standards-based assessment for award of assessment marks. Your assessments will be evaluated solely on the basis of
your individual performance. General advice on grade descriptors are available on the University of Sydney Current Students website:
https://sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.html

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Normally, late penalties will be applied at 1% per working day.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introductions – Meet the Team and the Curriculum (Catherine Driscoll, Finola Laughren and others). Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 The Gendered Idea of “Youth” (Catherine Driscoll) Lecture (2 hr)  
The Gendered Idea of “Youth” Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 03 Parenting, Play, and Gendered Childhood (Jessica Kean) Lecture (2 hr)  
Parenting, Play, and Gendered Childhood Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 04 The “Potential” of Girlhood (Catherine Driscoll) Lecture (2 hr)  
The “Potential” of Girlhood Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 05 The “Energy” of Boyhood (Catherine Driscoll, Prudence Black) Lecture (2 hr)  
The “Energy” of Boyhood Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 06 Trans studies of Youth and Non-binary Youth (Shawna Tang) Lecture (2 hr)  
Trans studies of Youth and Non-binary Youth Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 07 Race, Intersectionality and Youth (Timothy Steains, Sarah Graham) Lecture (2 hr)  
Race, Intersectionality and Youth Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 08 Policies of Protection and Regulation (Liam Grealy, Sophie Gilfeather-Spetere) Lecture (2 hr)  
Policies of Protection and Regulation Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 09 Contemporary Sexual Politics (Grace Sharkey, Finola Laughren) Lecture (2 hr)  
Contemporary Sexual Politics Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 10 Popular Representation of Boys (Timothy Laurie, Grace Sharkey) Lecture (2 hr)  
Popular Representation of Boys Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 11 Popular Representation of Girls (Catherine Driscoll) Lecture (2 hr)  
Popular Representation of Girls Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 12 Feminism, Girls, and Boys (Catherine Driscoll) Lecture (2 hr)  
Feminism, Girls, and Boys Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 13 Workshop on Gender and Youth Research (Timothy Steains, Finola Laughren and others) Workshop (2 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the analytics ‘sexuality’ and ‘gender’, drawing on critical theories and methodologies.
  • LO2. Demonstrate strong knowledge of critical theories and methodologies that have been used to apprehend complex social and cultural realities.
  • LO3. Confidently apply knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches to real-world concerns.
  • LO4. Produce critically reflexive responses to address complex real events.
  • LO5. Critically reflect on the challenges and possibilities of the conditions of everyday living.
  • LO6. Develop an ethics of care and social responsibility to marginalised communities.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.