Gender, class and ethnicity/race are central categories in social science for exploring, understanding and analysing (in)equalities. Questions regarding these categories touches upon several ongoing debates in Norway, as well as internationally, which are related to national states, migration, integration, and indigenous rights. This subject introduces the concept of intersectionality, and different analytical approaches of doing intersectional analysis to enquire into the complex phenomena related to inequalities. In addition to addressing how social inequalities are often shaped and coproduced by several intersecting sets of power relations, we also discuss whether and how certain inequalities can disappear and become invisible in and between the categories. With an interdisciplinary perspective, we analyse gender, class and ethnicities/race both as power relations that generate inequalities and identity markers as embodiment and manifestation of these inequalities in people’s daily lives.

Students must either be enrolled in Master in Social Analysis (full time) or Master in Social Welfare, or apply for the course as a single course student/exchange student.

Single course students must meet the following entry requirements:

• Bachelor degree of 3 years' duration (180 ECTS).
• The applicant must have passed exams of at least 80 ECTS credits in social sciences. The grade requirement is C on a weighted average.

In addition to the semester fee and costs for purchasing course literature, the students are expected to have a laptop.

Knowledge

The student:

• has advanced knowledge of different theoretical perspectives on gender, class and ethnicities/race.

• has critical insights into the social structures and processes that are related to equality and integration problematics.

• has extensive knowledge about both the historic and the current theoretical, methodological and empirical debates regarding the questions of gender, ethnicity/race and class.

• Has deep insight on how categories are both (re)created, challenged and maintained over time.

Skills

The student can:

• present theoretical perspectives both orally and in written form.

• address how existing theoretical and empirical knowledge on gender, ethnicity and class can help to generate new insights on different forms of social inequalities and the related social processes.

• place the different perspectives in relation to the historic and scientific developments in the related knowledge fields.

• communicate the relevance of the introduced perspectives on gender, ethnicity/race and class, and critically reflect on the strengths and limitations of these perspectives in analysing inequalities, in different forms, at different levels.

Competence

The student:

• has the foundation for understanding and addressing perspectives and issues regarding (in)equalities, power relations and diversities.

• can present and reflect on the topics related to gender, class, ethnicity/race in an academic manner.

• can contribute to the political and academic discussions related to the introduced topics in this subject.

• can contribute to social innovations in the related practice fields.

Theoretical subject. Elective subject for students enrolled in Master in Social Analysis (full time).

The teaching takes place primarily on the Bodø campus, but can be combined with some digital teaching. The learning activities will mainly be lectures, seminars and group work. Group work with presentation is mandatory (see work requirements below).

Some knowledge of sociological theories about social inequalities, or theoretical perspectives from feminist or postcolonial studies is an advantage, but not a requirement.

The study program is evaluated annually by the students through course evaluations and study program evaluation. These evaluations are included as part of the university's quality assurance system.

- Required course work:

Group work with a mandatory presentation in front of the whole class. Each group presentation will receive comments from other groups and the teachers. Themes for group work can be linked to ongoing societal debates that deal with gender, ethnicity and class. Assessed as approved/not approved.

- Exam:

Take home exam (individual), an essay on a given topic (work time: one week / 7 days, around 4000 words). Graded A-F.

Compound evaluation, grading scale Letter grades

• Assessment task - group work - presentation for the whole class , comprises 0/100 of the grade, grading scale Approved/ Not approved.
• Home examination - individual, about 4000 words, 1 weeks, comprises 100/100 of the grade, grading scale Letter grades.

SAM5019v1 Analyzing (In)Equalities – Gender, Class and Ethnic Relations - 10 study points.