Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: LG5023)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

This module combines analysis of current law with a critical exploration of the structures, potential, and limits of law and legal reform. The focus of the module is law, both as a legal regime with specific application to bodily issues that raise ethical questions, and as a political sphere within which issues relating to corporeality are negotiated. The module includes discussions of domestic, European, and international developments. As such, this module provides grounding in the key issues of gender, sexuality, bodies and human rights discourse whilst ensuring that learners will gain an understanding and appreciation of those issues which are at the cutting edge of these discussions.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of issues of ethics, the body and law
2. Apply advanced theoretical knowledge and in depth critical thinking to suggest credible and creative solutions to various issue identified in the field of ethics, the body and law.
3. Establish a systematic integrated and critical awareness of the possibility of deploying Human Rights Law to achieve equality while simultaneously demonstrating an awareness of the limitation of rights discourse in achieving such an aim.
4. Synthesise and conceptualise a holistic picture of the dissonance between ostensible legal protection as evidenced in domestic laws, regional laws and international treaties and the enjoyment of Human Rights protections on the ground in relation to ethics, the body and law.
5. Distil complex and disparate sources of research and data in the field of ethics, the body and law and express same with clarity and coherence.
6. Develop advanced reasoned arguments, challenging assumptions and reaching sound informed judgments about ethics, the body and law issues
7. Communicate ideas orally in an effective manner and argue, advocate, present and persuade with clarity and accuracy

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	136	No Description
Assignment Completion	90	No Description
Total Workload: 250

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Completion of online activity	Submit an abstract for Research Paper	20%	n/a
Presentation	Defend proposition in research paper before lecturer and peers	30%	n/a
Research Paper	Submit a detailed research paper on an area of law reform relating to ethics, law and the person building on feedback from abstract and presentation	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Alston, P., and Goodman, R.,: 2012, International Human Rights, Oxford University Press,
Charlesworth, H., and Chinkin, C.M.: 2000, The boundaries of international law: a feminist analysis, JurisPublishing,
Mullally, S.: 2006, Gender, Culture and Human Rights: Reclaiming Universalism, Hart Publishing,
Butler, J.: 1993, Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of Sex, Routledge,
Cornell, D.: 1998, At the Heart of Freedom : Feminism, Sex, and Equality, Princeton University Press,
Fineman, M., Jackson, J.E., and Romero, A.P.: 2009, Feminist and Queer Legal Theory: Intimate Encounters, Uncomfortable Conversations, Ashgate,
Hunter, R., McGlynn, C., and Rackley, E.: 2010, Feminist Judgments: From Theory to Practice, Hart Publishing,

Articles:

Phillips, A.: 2001, ‘Multi Culturalism, Universalism and the Claims of Democracy’, Democracy, Governance and Human Rights, Programme Paper No 7, United Nations Research Institute for Social , 517522
2012: Born Free and Equal: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in International Human Rights Law, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,

Other Resources

None