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Sex and Gender in the Sciences (HPSC20023)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 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
Please refer to the specific study period for contact information.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The science of sex and gender has always been contested and controversial. And, running through the empirical debates, are two competing concerns. One is that science continues its ugly tradition of embedding cultural biases and stereotypes of females and sexual and gender minorities into its theories, hypotheses, methods and interpretations. But an opposing concern is that the progressive politics of some scientists, academics and activists are undermining the integrity of science, by rejecting particular findings, theories or scientists because they find them politically unpalatable, rather than on intellectual grounds.
This subject explores contemporary debates – such as whether there are ‘male brains’ and ‘female brains’, and the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sport – through the lens of history and philosophy of science, tackling issues such as:
- How cultural assumptions about sex and gender influence scientific questions, methods, analysis and interpretation
- Appropriate and inappropriate roles for political values in science
- The nature of scientific objectivity
- Tensions between academic freedom and diversity and inclusion
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject students will:
- Be able to locate contemporary gender debates in a scientific context.
- Begin to develop an understanding of the empirical, methodological, epistemological, and social and cultural foundations of controversies in science and scientific practice.
- Begin to develop an understanding of the role of socio-political values in science.
- Acquire skills in clear, coherent and persuasive written presentation.
Last updated: 4 February 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: 4 February 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
3 summaries of key concepts and/or articles (200 words each, 10% each)
| From Week 1 to Week 6 | 30% |
A paper identifying the assumptions about sex in a scientific article, and explaining their influence on the research.
| Week 8 | 40% |
A "The Conversation" style piece (1000 words) that provides a critical assessment of a contemporary gender debate informed by scientific research. This is to be supplemented with an annotated bibliography providing references and brief justifications for claims made in the piece (400 words).
| During the examination period | 30% |
Hurdle requirement Hurdle requirement: students must attend a minimum of 75% of lectorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted in order to pass this subject. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 4 February 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Cordelia Fine Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 34 hours: a 1-hour lecture and 2-hour tutorial per week 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
Last updated: 4 February 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- 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
- 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: 4 February 2023