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COURSE OUTLINE
UGRC220: INTRODUCTION TO GENDER STUDIES
CREDITS: 3

Course Coordinator Prof. Charlotte Wrigley-Asante

Office: Department of Geography/ Graduate Assistants: Tracy Commodore,
Centre for Gender Studies and Daniel Abusuampeh, Sandra Obiri-Yeboah,
Advocacy (CEGENSA) Grace Mensah Abakah, Elsie Djandu-Tetteh,
Naomi Birago, Lydia Amoah and Justina
Addai.
Email cwrigley-asante@ug.edu.gh
Office contact: (0302) 929 452
semester/academic year second: semester, 2019/2020

Course Description and Objective

The main objective of the two-week introduction is to help students to appreciate the gendered
nature of African societies, how this impacts on development, and state and civil society
responses to gender inequalities.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this introductory course, it is expected that the following will be achieved;

• Students should be able to identify why and in what ways African societies are gendered

• Students should be able to examine the impacts of gender relations and inequalities on
development

• Students should be able to critically examine state and civil society responses to gender
inequalities.

• Students should be able to identify Group and Individual action in responding to gender
inequalities

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Course Assessment and Grading:
Interim Assessment (30%): These comprise Interim Assessments based on Introduction to
Gender (20%) and Introduction to African Studies (10%).
 Interim assessment is scheduled for March 14, 2020. This examination will cover the
lectures on Introduction to Gender alone for 20%.
 The various UGRC electives will organize an assessment covering the remaining 10%.
 Final Examination (70%): This will be a wide-ranging examination based upon key
materials covered in the lectures based on the various Electives but there will also be a
compulsory question on Introduction to African Studies.

Plagiarism Policy
The University takes issues of plagiarism seriously. Plagiarism is “the presentation of the work
or idea of another in such a way as to give others the impression that it is the work or idea of the
presenter. Adequate attribution is required. What is essential is that readers must not have any
doubt as to which words or research results are the student’s and which are drawn from other
sources”. In other words, don't take credit for something that is not yours.

University of Ghana Grading Scheme:

The grading system as provided in page 48, Section 20.1 of the Undergraduate Studies
Handbook is as follows:
Grade Numerical Mark Grade Interpretation
(%) Point
A 80-100 4.00 Outstanding
B+ 75-79 3.5 Very Good
B 70-74 3.0 Good
C+ 65-69 2.5 Fairly Good
C 60-64 2.0 Average
D+ 55-59 1.5 Below Average
D 50-54 1.0 Marginal Pass
*E 45-49 0.5 Unsatisfactory
F 0-44 0 Fail
X 0 Fail
Z 0 Disqualification
I 0 Incomplete
Y 0 Continuing
AUDI 0 Audit
* Although this is a failure grade, it may still be accepted as fulfilling
prerequisite for other courses.

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 Detailed Outline
Week Topic Readings
Week Introduction and UGRC 220 Overview
1

Week Understanding Gendered Society Required Reading

2 The lecture will cover the rationale for Adomako Ampofo, A., (2013). “Gender and
understanding gender in African studies Society in Africa-An Introduction”. In Manuh,
and key gender concepts. It will make a T.& Sutherland-Addy E., (ed.)., Africa in
case for transforming gender relations on Contemporary Perspective, Sub-Saharan
the basis of three justifications- Publishers:
citizenship rights and the constitution;
development imperatives; and the Recommended Reading
promotion of gender equitable cultures. Tsikata D., (2009)., Affirmative Action and the
Prospects for Gender Equality in Ghanaian
• At the end of the class, you should Politics. Friedrich Ebert Stifung
be able to:
– Gain a better understanding of The Coalition on the Women’s Manifesto for
what is meant by gender and Ghana (2004). The Women’s Manifesto
the factors that contribute to Ghana. Accra, Freiderich-Ebert Stiftung.
making a society gendered Anyidoho et.al. (2016). Shakespeare lives in
– Be familiar with the concept Ghana: Roles, representations and perceptions
of patriarchy, masculinity of women in contemporary Ghanaian Society
– Be familiar with some of the
discriminatory cultural
practices that perpetuate
gender inequality
– Be familiar with some of the
key arguments and
justifications for dealing with
gender inequality
 Be familiar with some key concepts
– Sex, gender
– Gender equality
– Gender equity
– Gender and social media
– Gender Myths and
stereotypes
Week Week 3: State and Civil Society Required Reading
3 Responses to Gender Inequalities Tsikata, Dzodzi (2009). Women’s Organising
This lecture will examine state and civil in Ghana since the 1990s: From individual
society responses to gender inequalities, organizations to three Coalitions. Development
focusing on legal and cultural reforms, 52 (2): 185-192.
affirmative action, gender and
development, and civil society activism. Recommended Reading

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 The role of individual and group agency The Coalition on the Women’s Manifesto for
and leadership in changing gender Ghana (2004). The Women’s Manifesto
relations will be highlighted. Ghana. Accra, Freiderich-Ebert Stiftung

At the end of the session, students
should:
• Understand the justification for
dealing with Gender Inequality
• Be familiar with efforts that have
been made globally, regionally
and locally (state actions i.e. legal
and policy reforms) to deal with
gender inequalities
• Be familiar with arguments for
affirmative action and forms of
affirmative action.
• Know the Types of agency
Issahaku P. (2016). Intimate Partner Violence:
The Controlling Behaviours of Men Toward
Women in Northern Ghana. Ghana social
science Journal, 66-84.
Okoli, C. (1983). Kinship and Cocoa Farming
in Ghana. In Oppong Christine Female and
Male in West Africa. London: George Allen &
Unwin Publishers.

Week MOVIE AND WRAP UP

4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dp08b
Boys won’t be boys. Boys will be what AUwi8
we teach them to be.

A Ted Talk by Ben Hurst Activities and Assignment

Students are to Submit a 1-2 page review of the
Ted-Talk based on the guidelines provided in
the document available here:
https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/fi
le-attachments/film-review-1.original.pdf

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