Gender in East Asian Literature (PG)

The module is designed to offer a critical overview of gender in East Asian Literature, given the prevalence and importance of Confucian thought in East Asia and the change in gender roles across the region. Literature from women and for women has flourished which tackle these important issues.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a clear knowledge about the discourses around gender in East Asian literature

• Have a good understanding of the core texts (in translation)

• Understand core theoretical concepts around gender in East Asia

• Critically analyse and discuss core texts in relation to gender theory

Workload

Total taught hours : 20 hours. 1 hours of lecture and 1 hour of seminar per week for 10 weeks.

Independent study : 130 hours

Total hours for module : 150 hours

Scope and syllabus

The syllabus will include a focus on authors and core texts in relation to gender representations in East Asian literatures. It will use texts in translation, so no language knowledge is needed.

Method of assessment

• Reaction paper (1000 words) 25%
• Essay (2500 words) 75%

Suggested reading

Core Reading

• Hockx, Michel and Ivo Smits.  Reading East Asian writing : the limits of literary theory. London, New York: Routledge, 2003.

• Sung, Sirin and Gillian Pascall. Gender and welfare states in East Asia : Confucianism or gender equality? Nottingham: University of Nottingham, 2014.

• Tam, Kwok-kan, Yip, Terry Siu-han. Gender, discourse and the self in literature : issues in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 2010.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules