Module: Gender, Race, Class & Politics

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Gender, Race, Class & Politics
Module Code	POL1042 (ITS: LG340)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module introduces students to the key issues on gender and politics in Ireland and internationally.

Learning Outcomes

1. understand and engage with the key academic debates on women in politics
2. examine and explain regional differences in womens role in representational politics
3. analyse womens social movement activity and the position of the womens movement today.
4. discuss key issues relating to gender and politics in Ireland and internationally.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	101	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11411	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Alexandra Richardson	Module Teacher	Karen Devine, Tanya Ní Mhuirthile

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	essay topics and other asignments will be distributed in week one	100%	Week 1

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

Lecture outline weeks 1-3
Conceptual Issues - why is gender and politics an important aspect of political studies? o what is gender and why is it central to understanding politics?o Destabilizing the status quo: feminism and political theoryo Feminism as a social movement for political equality

Lectures 4-6:
Women and Representative Politicso Brief history of the enfranchisement of womeno Explaining levels of women's engagemento Women and Irish Politicso The Role of the Party and Candidate Selectiono What is the future of women in political institutions?

Lectures 7-9:
Women in International Politics: Debates and Opportunitieso Emerging International Norms on Women's Rights and their impact Opportunities presented by international institutionso Gender mainstreamingo Feminism and International Relations: is there a voice for women?

Lectures 10-11:
Women and Islamo Can Islam be feminist?o Is there a role for religion in female political emancipation?

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Eisenstein: 1993, The Radical Future or Liberal Feminismo,
Elshtain: 1997, Real Politics: at the center of everyday life,
Galligan, Ward and Wilford: 1999, Contesting Politics: women in Ireland, North and South,
Galligan, Yvonne: 1998, Women and Politics in Contemporary Ireland,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

additional readings: additional readings will be posted on moodle each week,