Module XAE-3036:
Identities in Childhood

Run by School of Education and Human Development

20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr Anne-Marie Smith

This module is underpinned by an understanding of childhood and youth as elements that are socially constructed, and explores the intersection of gender, race, and ethnicity in the context of children and young people’s lives. What it means to be a ‘boy’ or a ‘girl’, and ideas around ‘masculinities’ and ‘femininities’ in contemporary society will be explored in relation to contexts such as education, the media, family, and peer cultures. Through the lenses of gender and race, the module explores how children and young people’s identities are shaped, portrayed and negotiated in contemporary society. The module aims to encourage students to challenge stereotype and prejudice, and to think about the complexities involved in the pursuit of equality and social justice in childhood and youth.

Weekly sessions will be based on key readings and will involve group discussions, debate as well as lecture and workshop content. Key areas of content include: Concepts of gender and race Intersectionality White Privilege the self, social identity, children & young people's sense of self Institutional racism and sexism - the role of media and education Gender schema theory 21st century & redefining gender norms Gender identities Heteronormativity and young people's sexual identities Ideals of beauty and the role of fashion brands and marketing Hegemonic masculinity Dominant discourses of femininity and beauty Stereotyping and prejudice

excellent

Excellent: A- to A* A comprehensive and well-informed (making excellent use of research) knowledge and understanding of: social ideas of race and gender; how institutions and popular culture influence children and young people's knowledge of race or gender; the impact of sexism and racism on children and young people's identities.

threshold

threshold: D-, D, D+ A satisfactory knowledge and understanding of: social ideas of race and gender; how institutions and popular culture influence children and young people's knowledge of race or gender; the impact of sexism and racism on children and young people's identities.

good

Good: C-, C. C+ A good knowledge and understanding (making some good reference to research) of: social ideas of race and gender; how institutions and popular culture influence children and young people's knowledge of race or gender; the impact of sexism and racism on children and young people's identities.

1. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of race and gender as socially constructed ideas

2. Critically engage with dominant ideas of masculinity and femininity and their potential impact on the identities of children and young people

3. Critically evaluate the role played by popular media and institutions in shaping children and young people’s identities and understandings of gender and/or race

4. Critically analyse, discuss and reflect upon the effects of sexism and racism in society generally and on children and young people in particular

Type	Name	Description	Weight
Written assignment, including essay	Critical review of two children's films	Write a critical review of two children’s films/tv shows (e.g Disney), focusing on their representation of different groups in society, with a particular consideration of issues and portrayals relating to race and gender. Consider the potential impact on children’s sense of identity, making use of key literature and ideas covered in semester 1.	50
GROUP PRESENTATION	Creative pesentation in pairs	Representation of a 21st century boy and/or girl: Based on current research and debates, create an original representation of a 21st century boy and/or girl; your ‘creation’ should address issues of gender stereotyping and sexism in society. This assignment asks you demonstrate your engagement with current research in order to develop a line of thought and argument. This is a key transferable skill for employability contexts.	50

		Hours
Private study	Independent research, reading and task preparation for weekly sessions.	167
Lecture	Fortnightly lectures of 2 hrs each	22
Seminar	Fortnightly 1hr seminars to follow on from lectures	11

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
• Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
• Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
• Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/xae-3036.html

Optional in courses:

• X314: BA Astudiaethau Plentyndod ac Ieuenctid year 3 (BA/API)
• X316: BA Astudiaethau Plentyndod ac Ieuenctid a Chymdeithaseg year 3 (BA/APIC)
• X318: BA Astudiaeth Plentyndod ac Ieuenctid a Pholisi Cymdeithasol year 3 (BA/APIPC)
• X320: BA Astudiaethau Plentyndod ac Ieuenctid a Seicoleg year 3 (BA/APIS)
• X319: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Psychology year 3 (BA/CYP)
• X313: BA Childhood and Youth Studies year 3 (BA/CYS)
• X317: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Social Policy year 3 (BA/CYSP)
• X315: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Sociology year 3 (BA/CYSS)
• X321: BA Astudiaethau Plentyndod ac Ieuenctid a Chymraeg year 3 (BA/PIC)