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A History of Sexualities (HIST30004)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
How have sexual practices and identities evolved, been represented and expressed from prehistory to the present? Where do our modern ideas about sexual orientation, gender and morality come from? In this subject we look at beliefs and practices around sexuality from prehistoric and ancient Greece, through the middle ages and early modern period, right up to the end of the twentieth century. We study the origins of the three major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, to work out why their sacred texts present sex and gender in the way they do. We look at the intersection of race and sexuality in the colonial and postcolonial world, and study the influence of Freud and psychoanalysis on ideas of sexuality. Key moments like the sexual revolution and the AIDS crisis allow us to examine the history of political activism around sexuality. We take categories of classification and identity including transgender, cisgender, heterosexuality, bisexuality and homosexuality, and apply them to historical case studies. By charting a historical genealogy of sexual practices and ideas about sexual practices, the subject will show how the gendered body and sex have been simultaneously linked to social liberation and control. On completion of this subject, you should understand the ways in which sexualities have multiple histories and how they remain highly contested in the majority of cultures. The final assessment allows you to choose your own research question (with help from your teacher) on any topic that you’ve found intriguing on the subject.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who have completed this subject should be able to:
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the ways in which sexual practices and sexual identities are historically constructed;
- demonstrate a critical understanding of how scholars have theorised sexuality, in particular the intersections between sexuality, race, class and gender;
- use bibliographical and research skills to locate and gather primary and secondary sources; and
- reflect critically on the ways in which meanings of sexualities are historically constructed.
Last updated: 22 November 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 22 November 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Tutorial participation (10%) | From Week 2 to Week 12 | 10% |
A mini research essay
| Mid semester | 35% |
A research essay
| During the examination period | 55% |
Hurdle requirement Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. | From Week 2 to Week 12 | N/A |
Last updated: 22 November 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Una McIlvenna Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 12 x 1.5 hour lectures and 11 x 1 hour tutorials Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 22 November 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available in a hard copy reader format.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major History Major Gender Studies - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 22 November 2023