Overview
Gender and sexual difference have been persistent mechanisms of political exclusion and outright discrimination in most political regimes, including Canada. Feminist and queer scholars and activists argue that particular groups of people were not absent-mindedly or haphazardly left out. Rather, political regimes and systems—including those of the Canadian settler-colonial state—have been built on and continue to exclude people based on race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status, and disability. At the same time, the state has been deeply involved in our gendered and sexual lives by regulating, for example,
- whether a fetus needs to be carried to term;
- what constitutes sexual assault;
- with whom and where people can have sex; and
- whether people can have gender-affirming surgeries.
In Political Science 350: The Politics of Gender and Sexuality, we ask why our gendered and sexual lives are so profoundly affected by politics, yet people have been excluded from engaging in political decision-making on the bases of their gender and sexuality. The study of gender and sexuality politics considers, challenges, and seeks to improve the ways in which the state and governments are deeply involved in our private, bodily, and intimate lives.
Through their examination of and advocacy in resistance to these exclusions, gender, sexuality, and politics scholars have shown us that gender and sexuality are at the root of foundational questions about political life:
- What is political?
- Who is allowed to participate in politics?
- Who can speak in political forums?
- Does political representation matter?
- Where does politics occur?
- Who deserves rights?
These questions continue to spark debate among feminist and queer scholars. In this course, students examine and analyze the varied causes, consequences, and solutions to these political exclusions in the Canadian settler state. To do so, students complete a key concepts map, oral review, and political issues project. The course Study Guide features commentary, academic writing, news and social media sources, videos, and podcasts.
Outline
POLI 350 consists of three units:
Unit 1: Who Is Included? Who Can Participate in Political Life?
Unit 2: Does Representation Matter?
Unit 3: Why and How Is Our Political System Built on Gendered and Sexual Relationships?
Evaluation
To receive credit for POLI 350, students must complete and submit all of the assignments, achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on each assignment, and an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) for the course.
Students will be evaluated on their understanding of the concepts presented in the course and on their ability to apply those concepts. The final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the following activities.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Key Concepts Map and Glossary | 30% |
| Assignment 2: Oral Review | 30% |
| Assignment 3: Political Issue Report | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
All course materials are available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the POLI 350 challenge registration, students must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the exam.
Challenge for credit course registration form