RT1345: Gender and Sexuality: Islamic Perspectives
| School | Religion |
| Department Code | SHARE |
| Module Code | RT1345 |
| External Subject Code | 100796 |
| Number of Credits | 20 |
| Level | L6 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | Dr Saira Malik |
| Semester | Double Semester |
| Academic Year | 2013/4 |
Outline Description of Module
The module will analyse the issues of gender and sexuality in the Islamic tradition (particularly in the medieval period) as the lens through which to demonstrate the diversity and complexity of ideas and discussions that have shaped the maturation of the Islamic Tradition. In doing this, the course aims to show that a ‘settled’ Islamic Tradition has been informed by forces far beyond those that can be attributed solely to the Islamic religious canon of the Quran and Hadith
On completion of the module a student should be able to
On completion of the module a student should be able to:
1. Describe and analyse how gender and homosexuality have been conceived and negotiated in pre-modern Muslim societies
2. Apply and evaluate theory on ‘tradition’ to the pre-modern Islamic tradition
How the module will be delivered
1. Lectures and seminars based on a range of textual and AV sources
2. Group presentations
Skills that will be practised and developed
1. Describe, synthesize and analyse information from a range of multi-disciplinary primary and secondary sources
2. Evaluate and critically assess a range of arguments
3. Apply theoretical concepts to particular cases
4. Produce work that is clearly written and which develops evidence based arguments within a set time-frame
5. Present a piece of scholarly work to peers in a 10 minute presentation prepared in advance
How the module will be assessed
The syllabus will be covered by a combination of lectures (supplemented by printed/AV material) which will impart descriptive content and ‘seminar/workshop style’ sessions devoted to analysis of primary source material, Q&A and discussion. Students will be expected to actively participate in the latter
|
Coursework: |
Two 2000 word essays which will require students to draw upon the whole course content. |
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Assessment | 50 | Essay 1 | N/A |
| Written Assessment | 50 | Essay 2 | N/A |
Syllabus content
sharia: persons and epistemology
the legal system
shariasocietyWeek
justice
Tradition
Introduction to gender
Marriage and single women
Divorce and money
Power and society
Homosexuality and society
Imitation and assimilation
Eroticism and homosexuality
Essential Reading and Resource List
INDICATIVE READING LIST
El-Rouayheb, K. Before Homosexuality in the Arab-Islamic World (Chicago, 2005).
Hallaq, W. B. An Introduction to Islamic Law (Cambridge, 2009).
Macintyre, Alasdair. Whose Justice? Which Rationality? (London, 1988).
Murray, S. O. and Roscoe, W. Islamic Homosexualities (New York, 1997).
Powers, D. Law, Society and Culture in the maghrib, 1300-1500 (Cambridge, 2002).
Rapoport, Y. Marriage, Money and Divorce in Medieval Islamic Society (Cambridge, 2007).
Schmidte, S. ‘Homoeroticism and homosexuality in Islam: a review article’, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 62 (1999) 260-266.
Tucker, J. E. Women, Family and Gender in Islamic Law (Cambridge, 2008).