Course Catalogue

Gender, Sexualities and Law LAW4154

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Law
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This interdisciplinary course covers a range of theoretical approaches to the study of gender and law and will equip students with the critical tools to apply a gender critique to established legal concepts, cases, and reasoning in a variety of contexts. The course covers the genealogy of feminist social and political thought and key philosophical debates between different feminist schools of thought. This prepares students to develop the required analytical tools to engage in the application of feminist critique in a number of areas of law (e.g. public international law, family law, employment law) and society (e.g. sex work debate, transgender rights) throughout the course.

Timetable

10 x 2-hour seminars in Semester 1.

Requirements of Entry

This course is only available to LLB students.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None.

Assessment

5,000 words essay on a relevant topic to be approved by the course convenor.

Course Aims

This course aims to introduce students to a range of theoretical approaches to the study of gender and law and to equip them with the critical tools to apply a gender critique to established legal concepts, categories and reasoning in a variety of contexts.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the relevance of gender issues in law and public policy and the relevance of legal interventions in gender issues;

• Articulate coherent arguments in support of theoretical positions on gender and law issues;

 • Illustrate the application of gender and law considerations in regard to specific areas of law and develop arguments in favour of reform;

• Take an informed position on relevant social and political issues;

 • Write a critically informed essay demonstrating their understanding of theoretical concepts and their ability to apply them in certain contexts.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions