Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries

This course focuses on gender equality, as this is perceived and pursued in the Nordic countries. The course provides an overview of the significance of gender in this context, with a special focus on gender equality issues in the Nordic countries.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- reflect upon central questions of gender policy and theory
- recognise different conceptions of gender equality
- discuss historical processes of gender equality measures in the Nordic region
- critically discuss arrangements concerning reconciliation og work and family
- discuss the status of gender equality in fields such as everyday life, education, working life, politics and ethnic relations
- recognise, analyse and problematise gender in texts, practices and policies
- Compare different perspectives on gender equality arrangements.

General knowledge of feminist theory is recommended. 20 ECTS from the bachelorprogramme Gender, Feminism and Equality (for instance KFL1010 and KFL1020).

Right to study at the Master´s level. For international applicants: For further information about admission requirements and admission procedures for international applicants, please see our website admission to the University of Oslo.

Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

Teaching
The course consists of 8 weeks: 8 times two-hour lectures and 8 times two-hour seminars. The teaching includes lectures and student activities. The course reading requirement is appr. 1200 pages. Participation is mandatory (12 out of 16 classes).

Compulsory activity:

• A mandatory oral, individual presentation of a text from the reading list
• Mandatory attendance at least 6 out of 10 lectures, and 4 out of 6 seminars.

The final exam will consist of a mandatory portfolio of 3 pieces:

1. Minutes/report of one of the field trips (Oslo city centre only) that will form part of the course, including a discussion of topics from the broader 4060 curriculum that could be related to the visit. Discuss also how the place visited illustrates or contributes to practices of gender equality in Norway, approx. 1000 words.
2. A written version of the individual oral presentation.
3. A mandatory written essay on a given topic. The assignment must have a length of total 2500-3000 words.

Altogether, the portfolio must consist of approx.. 4500 words +/- 10%. References and front page in addition.

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination

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.

Language of examination:
English

You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.

Evaluation

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.

Periodic evaluation 07
Periodic evaluation 2010-12

• 10 credits overlap with KFL2060 - Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries.
• 10 credits overlap with ISSHF2060 - Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries.
• 10 credits overlap with ISSHF4060 - Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries.

Books that have to be purchased:

Titles marked with * are from books that have to be purchased. The others are to be in compendiums in the bookshop, Akademika, at Blindern or amazon.com and AbeBooks.com

*Melby, Kari, Anna-Birte Ravn and Christina Carlsson Wetterberg (eds.): Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia. The limits of political ambition?, 2008. Policy Press, Bristol.

*Korsvik, Trine and Ane Stø (eds.): The Nordic Approach, 2011. Kolofon forlag. ISBN: 978-82-300-0804-1.

*Fehr, Drude von der et al.: Is there a Nordic Feminism? Nordic feminist thought on culture and society, 1998. London: UCL Press.

Compendium

The articles in the syllabus you will find in a compendium that you can buy in the bookshop in the basement of Akademika/Kopiutsalget, Blindern.

To access the titles with links, you must be logged in via the University of Oslo server.

Just for students at KFL4060: Nordic feminist thought on culture and society

*Fehr, Drude von der et al.: Is there a Nordic Feminism? Nordic feminist thought on culture and society, 1998. London: UCL Press. .

*Jonasdottir, Anna G. and Drude von der Fehr: Introduction: ambigiuos times - contested spaces in the politics, organization and identities of gender" pp 1-18 (19p)

*Wetterberg, Christina Carlsson: "Equal or different? That¿s not the question. Women¿s political strategies in a historical perspective" pp 21-40 (20p)

*Karlsson, Gunnel: "Social Democratic women¿s coup in the Swedish parliament" pp 44-66 (23p)

*Sigurbjarnardottir, Sighurdur, Helga: ""On their own premises": the political project of the Icelandic Women¿s Alliance"pp 69-88 (20p)

*Sørensen, Anne Scott: "Taste, manners and attitudes ¿ the bel esprit and literary salon in Scandinavia c. 1800" pp 121-145 (25p)

*Sjørup, Karen: "The gender relation and professionalism in the postmodern world: social brotherhood and beyond" pp 217-242 (26p)

*Heinämaa, Sara, Martina Reuter: "Reflections on the rationality of emotions and feelings" pp 272-290 (19p)

*Ve, Hildur: "Rationality and identity in Norwegian feminism"pp 325-343 (19p)</

If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.