What role does feminist theory play in shaping gender-based activism?

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Gender and Power PPLM7015B
Assessment Brief
Summative Assessment
There is ONE form of assessment for this module:
5000-word essay: critical analysis of relevant case study (100% summative)
Title and task:
What role does feminist theory play in shaping gender-based activism?
The assignment will adopt the format of a traditional academic essay and answer the
question above.
You will select a particular piece of gender based activism and a relevant theoretical focus.
You will answer the question via a critical analysis of your case study, in which you make
explicit connections between your campaign material and your theoretical lens.
Task description
You will select and research a particular campaign/movement/example of gender-based
activism, including its development, actions, impact and materials.
It can be any kind of gender-based activism from a formal campaign like ‘He for She’, a
grassroots movement such as BLM, or some kind of microactivism such as a twitter hashtag
(e.g.#SayHerName). It can be local (e.g.something running by the SU), national or
international. The definition is deliberately vague in order for you to select something you are
interested in/care about.
Throughout the module, you will collect materials from and information about your chosen
campaign, which you will use as a case study to reflect upon the relationship between
feminist theory and activism. These materials will act as your data for analysis.
The materials and information can be (for example):
booklets or pdfs produced by the activist organisation, social media (by or in response to the
campaign), campaign videos, news articles, blogs, public interviews with key personnel
(secondary data)*, comments-sections of online content, etc.
What you collect will depend on the activism you choose. As you come to write the essay,
you may need to narrow down the material you choose to analyse (you do not need to
include absolutely everything produced by the campaign).Where relevant, you can include
screen-shots of your chosen case-study data in appendices (for instance, for online material
that cannot be referenced with a website address).
You will also identify a specific feminist theory or theories which inform, challenge or ground
your campaign. This will be the theoretical ‘lens’ you bring to your analysis.
You will critically analyse your case-study campaign material in order for you to reflect on the
ways in which activism is informed, shaped or challenged by specific kinds of feminist
theory. You are encouraged evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, and comment on the
inclusivity/exclusivity, of the case campaign.
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*you are not permitted to conduct any primary empirical research with human subjects for
this module.
Please see the Weekly Schedule for information on deadlines.
Assessment Criteria
You will be assessed on:
 Your understanding of relevant feminist theory
 Your ability to critically reflect on academic literature
 Your ability to critically analyse relevant data
 Your ability to make connections between theory and concrete examples (from your
case study), and to reflect on those connections
 Your written communication
 For the highest marks, you will demonstrate an understanding of the epistemology
and ontology underlying both your chosen campaign and the theory/theories with
which you analyse your case study. (More will be said in seminars).
Formative Work
You will have the opportunity to submit formative work.
There are two formative assessments.
Written formative work
A plan of your essay (no longer than 1000 words).
This does not have to be long and can be as brief or as detailed as you like, within the word
limit. The plan can be in prose or bullet points. It is a good idea to include, ideally:
 Your chosen campaign
 At least some of the material you think you might like to analyse
 An indication of your chosen theory/theories
You might also (but do not have to) include:
 A break down of sections / sub-headings
 Resources and academic literature you might draw on
 Questions about your project which you’re unsure about / specific issues you’d like
feedback on
The essay plan is due in week 5 (reading week).You will receive written feedback and we
will discuss general feedback in seminars.
In-class formative presentation
This is a short presentation of your work in progress, to take place in seminars in week 9,
followed by a brief class discussion of the presentation. You’ll receive oral feedback in class.