module specification

Through this module, you will be introduced to feminist approaches to gender, sexuality and crime, and you will learn to critically examine theoretical, conceptual and explanatory frameworks. From an intersectional framework, you will learn about forms of sexual violence in childhood and adulthood; incidence, prevalence and reporting; impacts and meaning for victims/survivors; and sexual violence within different contexts such as the workplace, universities and conflict zones. You will learn about research on perpetrators and approaches to prevention. You will be taught about the criminal justice system, legal reform and the development of policies and support services. Specific lectures will reflect on the cultures and norms or conducive contexts – such as media representation and the sexualisation of popular culture - that support and legitimise sexual violence within the contemporary globalised world. Throughout the module you will also learn about the specific dimensions for minoritised women in the UK – in terms of their intersecting experiences of racism and sexism in the criminal justice system or cultural norms and barriers that suppress or penalise disclosure – as well as the way that sexual violence is implicated in histories of colonisation and slavery.

None.

Available for Study Abroad? NO

Theory, concepts and boundaries [LO 1,3,4]
Sociological, psychological and biological theories of sexuality and sexual crime, with an emphasis on feminist perspectives; definitions and overlaps between rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual abuse or the ‘continuum of sexual violence’; boundary issues between consent and non-consent, acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, including in the context of changing sexual cultures or ‘conducive contexts’.  Theorising the specific experiences of minoritised women/children in the UK and/or women/children subjected to histories of colonisation.

Prevalence, impact and meanings [LO 1,3,4]
Prevalence studies - methods and findings; debates on legal and experiential definitions of rape; reporting and seeking help; the framings of victim/survivor, trauma and harm; cultural constructs of honour, stigma and self-blame; constructions of identity in the aftermath of sexual violence and how women and children create personal safety.

Law and the Criminal Justice Systems [LO 2]
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 will form a framework for exploring law reform, and comparative data on attrition will provide a basis for explorations of commonalities and differences in international approaches to adult rape and sexual abuse in childhood.

Support services in historical and comparative contexts [LO 2,3]
Emergence and constitution of rape crisis centres, sexual assault referral centres, and survivors’ groups within the UK and internationally.  The themes of professionalisation, assimilation and social change will be addressed, alongside what we know about good practice.

Perpetrators and prevention [LO 1,4]
The normalisation of aspects of the continuum of sexual violence will be contrasted with social constructions of sex offenders, especially the 'paedophile' and 'serial rapist' and particular racialised representations of sexual offenders. Links between media victim blame / responsibilisation, sexualisation, pornography and sexual violence will be explored. A final session will address prevention, with a focus on international campaigns and approaches.

This module is delivered over 6 days,10am -5pm, two days at a time, three times over the teaching semester.  A structured programme of formal but interactive lectures and specialist guest lectures provides the framework for teaching and learning.  Small group seminars tied to online reading materials and recordings (available through the virtual learning environment) offer students the space to digest and reflect on key learning from the module. Two workshop spaces also give students an opportunity to understand the assessment requirements and gain feedback on their choice of topic. Students may obtain further guidance on plans for their presentations and their essays through email contact and bookable 1-to-1 tutorials. 

To support students with disabilities, lecture slides and recordings are available in advance through the virtual learning environment and we work with the library to ensure that as much of the material is available as e-books or internet downloads as possible.

By the end of the module students should be able to:

1. Develop and present an argument using key concepts and contemporary research data.

2. Critically assess changing legislative, policy and practice frameworks.

3. Recognise the similarities and differences between a range of forms of sexual violence in childhood and adulthood.

4. Draw on and apply explanatory frameworks and social science concepts.

There are two assignments – a Presentation and an Essay – and students must pass on aggregate by gaining an overall mark of 50% across the two.

For the 10 minute presentation students will choose from a list of statements reflecting populist positions and are required to use concepts and research data to address the accuracy of the assertion.   The presentation will be assessed against learning outcome1. 

For the essay, a list of topics will be made available at the very start of the module and will be assessed against learning outcomes 1 to 4.  The essay should be between 3,500-4,000 words.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/34E30E6A-3B45-B706-68A0-BF01618EA701.html?lang=en

Journals:
Child Abuse Review
Critical Social Policy
Feminist Media Studies
Feminist Review
Feminist Theory
Journal of Gender Based Violence
Journal of Sexual Aggression
Violence Against Women
Women’s Studies International Forum

Websites:
Centre for Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse https://www.csacentre.org.uk/
Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit http://cwasu.org/
End Violence Against Women Coalition http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/
European Institute for Gender Equality http://eige.europa.eu/
Imkaan https://www.imkaan.org.uk/
Nia Project http://www.niaendingviolence.org.uk/
Open Democracy 50:50 http://https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050
Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/
Rape Crisis England and Wales https://rapecrisis.org.uk/
Rights of Women http://rightsofwomen.org.uk/
The Consent Collective https://www.consentcollective.com/

Electronic Databases:
Academic Search Complete
Care Knowledge
JSTOR
Lexis Library
Oxford Journals Archive
PsycARTICLES
PsycINFO
Sage journals online
Science Direct
Social Care Online
Web of Science
Zetoc

Social Media Sources
#MeToo
#TimesUp