Connecting Our Futures

This course considers the intersection of gender, generation, and leadership in theory and practice. It also cultivates research, writing, and critical thinking skills building on the key objectives of the Gender Studies Program. We begin with student reflections on their own “leadership stories,” then expand class discussions to think about community and global leaders in light of key insights from gender and leadership studies scholarship. In addition to considering how identity and institutional formations shape each other we will draw on gender studies perspectives to historicize and interrogate workplace buzzwords and legal terms including “glass” and “bamboo ceilings,” “leaky pipelines,” “diversity and inclusion,” “affirmative action/positive discrimination,” and “unconscious/implicit bias.” Intersectional analysis of leadership will illuminate the barriers to power and position that exist when gender intersects with racial, ethnic, gender, economic, sexual, geographic, or religious discrimination (or any combination of the aforementioned) We will discuss case studies of transformative leaders who have shaped policies, institutions, and localities in gendered and gender-conscious ways. Throughout the term we will pay special attention to leadership and change in Hong Kong, China, and Asia today, drawing on the expertise of selected guest lecturers who are leaders in various settings and workplaces here in the region. Learners will combine reading and reflection with active participation in class discussions, small-group projects, and leadership training seminars.

Prerequisite: GEND1001 or CLIT1002 (for students admitted in 2017-18 or before).

Assessment: 100% coursework.

What will the future of work look like, and how do we prepare for our future careers? If in the future every industry will be touched by automation, what transferrable skills does Gender Studies and the Humanities offer that robots and AI cannot replicate? How do we translate the unique knowledge and experiences of a Gender Studies major into a career? Students will explore how Gender Studies scholars examine such workplace problems as the gender pay gap and unconscious bias and will develop skills for navigating their own career journey, from building a professional network to negotiating a first job. Final year Gender Studies majors are strongly encouraged to take this course.

Prerequisites:   GEND1001 or CLIT1002 (for students admitted in 2017-18 or before), and at least one 2000-level Gender Studies course.

Assessment:     100% coursework.

The Gender Studies internship offers students an opportunity to take their classroom knowledge into the community. Drawing on previous coursework in Gender Studies, students will apply a critical and intersectional knowledge of gender and sexuality to an experiential learning endeavor that demonstrates a real impact on society. An internship proposal must be submitted to the course supervisor the semester before the proposed start of internship. The student must pass an interview with the organization before being allowed to register for this course. The duration of the internship will depend on the arrangement between the student and the organization, but should involve at least 40 contact hours of service for the organization. Students will check-in with the supervisor at least twice to discuss internship progress. Students will complete a written report and critical reflection on the internship experience, signed by the organization.

Prerequisites: GEND1001 or CLIT1002 (for students admitted in 2017-18 or before), and at least one 2000-level Gender Studies course.

Assessment: 100% coursework (graded on a pass/fail basis).