Gender Studies MRes

This module introduces students to the entire research process from initial literature reviewing through to presentation of findings. It allows students to identify their own research needs and requirements as they begin their Master's-level study. The module also expands students' understanding of generic and specific theories, methods and methodologies relating to postgraduate study. Research design issues concerned with each of these will be examined. The importance of considering ethical matters when designing and carrying out research will also be explored, and students will be able to apply this knowledge in applying for ethical approval for their own projects. Students will also be encouraged to investigate and reflect on how the skills they develop on this module are relevant to their future career plans, and how they could be developed further after the module. Scheduled seminars will cover generic issues related to academic research, which may include topics such as: Developing a Research Methodology; Using Libraries and Archives; Online Resources; Reflecting on Research; Presenting Research; Research Ethics; Data Organisation; Approaches to Analysis. Students will also have tutorials with their supervisors to discuss appropriate research methodologies for their individual projects.

This module has been designed to introduce MRes students to the theoretical, conceptual, and practical debates that have characterised, and continue to inform academic enquiry within their discipline. It has two strands: (1) Gender Studies strand; (2) Storytelling strand. Each strand will have five subject-specific seminars during the first half of the module, and then the remaining seminars will be shared by both strands. MRes Gender Studies students will take strand (1); MRes Storytelling students will take strand (2); MRes English students will be able to choose either strand (1) or strand (2), and will be advised by their supervisors on which strand is most relevant to their research topic.

The first half of strand (1) has been designed to introduce students to some key theoretical, conceptual, and practical debates that have characterised, and continue to inform, feminist, women's, and gender studies. It examines how 'gender' both constructs, and is constructed by, socio-cultural forces in significant areas of the lives of individuals and communities. The module will include consideration of some of these issues: notions of women’s experiences ('use of experience' approaches), and essentialism; 'generational' feminism; black and critical race theory; sexuality; queer theory; technologies; postcolonial theory; psychoanalytical approaches; affect and embodiment; intersectionality.

The first half of strand (2) offers an analysis of constructions behind the history, popular culture and theoretical understanding of stories, storytelling and narrative. Students will examine and critically evaluate different ways of reading and writing stories, consider the importance of cross-disciplinary conversation between critical and creative writers, while also identifying key ideas and traditions in the history of narrative studies. They will also explore how study in creative writing and critical practice has become a powerful and worthy combined discipline within the academy. The module will include consideration of some the following topics within the context of storytelling: narrative theory; folklore; visual storytelling; historical writing; drama; podcasting; story mapping.

For the second half of the module, the two strands will come together and all students will consider the broader societal significance of what they have learnt on the module so far, and will also engage with some additional theoretical perspectives while critically analysing how literature and culture both reflect and challenge dominant ideologies.

Each student researches and writes a 28,000-word dissertation or equivalent. The topic and title are negotiated between the student and the supervising tutor; the tutor's approval of these is an essential requirement. The research dissertation in gender studies is based on guided, but largely independent, research. It can be a practice-led project – a piece of creative writing, or a performance piece, for example – theorised in a reflective critical commentary of no fewer than 10,000 words.