KFL2055 ¨C Gender, Race, Class and Sustainability

Course content

Gender, Race, Class and Sustainability?offers a historical and global perspective on the connection between global capitalism, the ecological crisis, social relations of gender, race, class, and sustainability. Economic growth is dependent on the unacknowledged reproductive labour of women, peasants, slaves, indigenous people and non-human nature. Simultaneously the ecological consequences associated with economic growth are unevenly distributed to poor and marginalised groups across the globe.? This course explores the relationship between the ecological crisis and the social system of capitalism, focusing on how the ecological crisis is linked to gendered, classed and raced divisions of labour. We will ask questions such as: How is challenging unequal social relations central for?envisioning sustainable futures? What are?the tensions?between individual preferences/habits/choices and collective action for social and ecological change? In fact, what is sustainable about social equality?? These are questions guiding the course, as we critically examine and discuss dominant understandings?of the problems and solutions to the ecological crisis. The course will, in addition to engagement with some theoretical resources, be organised around engagement with?examples from key sectors?such as agriculture, health and energy, questions of individual consumption, and social action exemplified through collective actions and unions.

Experts will be invited to give guest lectures.

Learning outcome

In this course you will gain?insight into the relationship between the global economy, gendered, raced and classed divisions of labour, social inequality, and sustainability. You will become familiar with the capitalist organisation of the exploitation/expropriation of nature and labour in ways that are unsustainable. You will become familiar with how this organisation happens through sectors that are key in facing climate change and the ecological crisis (e.g. agriculture/health/energy). You will, furthermore, be able to identify and discuss diverse strategies for solving problems associated with the ecological crisis and social inequality, focusing particularly on the strengths and weaknesses of, explicit and implicit assumptions behind, individual and collective action.??

Upon successful completion, the student will be able to?

• Account for the historical and global relationship between?capitalism, ecological destruction and social inequality?
• Identify and evaluate the ways in which this relationship plays out in different key sectors?
• Identify, evaluate and discuss different strategies for solving problems of ecological destruction and social inequality ?
• Develop skills in critical thinking ?
• Develop problem identification and - solving skills ?
• Improve argumentation skills?
• Practice oral and written communication at appropriate academic level ?

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

This course in part of the Sustainability Certificate.

Recommended previous knowledge

Recommended previous knowledge: Following or already completed the "Sustainability Certificate" Introductory Course, or equivalent knowledge.?

Teaching

The course is taught once per week for five weeks. Each session will be a three-hour session combining lectures and seminar. The course leader, and some visiting lecturers who are experts on their respective topics, will carry out the teaching. The students will play an important role by integrating the course components through participating in discussions. Students are expected to read the relevant literature and in groups prepare notes/questions prior to each seminar.

The course reading requirement is approximately 500 pages.

In order to take the exam students must have completed following mandatory requirements:?

• Mandatory participation?in 4 out of 5 classes

• Group preparation of questions for seminar discussions

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Read more about Compulsory activities at HF - University of Oslo

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Examination

Exam will consist of a written assignment of approximately 1800 words, on a course relevant topic chosen by the student. The topic must be approved by the course leader.

Evaluation will be based on criteria of: Knowledge, understanding and analytical ability, professional communicative ability, relevance and reliability.

Language of examination

You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.