LW3GAL: Gender and Law

Module code: LW3GAL

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Nora Honkala , email: n.a.honkala@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 24 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Critical analysis of contemporary issues relating to gender and law in a range of legal areas. This module aims to introduce students to a range of contemporary issues and 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. It will develop skills of critical thinking and the ability to express legal arguments orally and in writing. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the relevance of gender issues in law and legal policy and the relevance of legal interventions in a range of contemporary issues; 
2. Articulate coherent arguments in support of theoretical positions on gender and law issues; 
3. Illustrate the application of gender and law considerations in regard to specific areas of law and develop arguments in favour of reform; 
4. Explain legal ideas and argue for critical positions in oral and written media-related forms. 

Module content

In this optional module students will be introduced to a range of theoretical approaches to the study of contemporary gender and law topics. The contemporary issues will be in topics drawn from a range of legal subjects. Topics will be chosen according to interest, topicality and staff availability and expertise.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The structure for this module is 11 hours of lectures, 18 hours of seminars, and 11 hours of blended learning. Each topic will have a 1 hour lecture and a 2 hour  seminar. Students will be expected to undertake relevant preparatory reading prior to attending seminars and to participate in discussions. The topics will be delivered by different tutors in order to give students the benefit of the range of staff expertise.  Students will be expected to have done the directed pre-reading and to contribute to the discussion. 

Study hours

At least 29 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Level 3 (i.e. foundation modules for Part 0) and Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

There will be opportunities for self-assessment and peer feedback during seminars on Assessment 1.

Students will be able to obtain lecturer feedback on a 1-page essay plan during a workshop ahead of Assessment 2. 

Reassessment

Additional costs