(For students admitted in 2021-22 or before, this course will be counted as Introductory course from List A after completion. Please refer to your syllabus at https://english.hku.hk/Undergraduate/Curriculum/English_Studies.)

The way we talk and write does not just describe the world we live in, it actively shapes it. In this course, we will explore together how the mutually constitutive relation between language and social reality/myth plays out in the social construction of and theory of gender. We will start from our personal experiences and understandings of "gender" as well as current gender-related sociopolitical issues. We will then go back in time and (re)examine the changing definitions of gender from historical and cultural perspectives. Our goal will be to reflect on, contextualize, and analytically evaluate the role of language and gender in a wide range of circulating texts, such as everyday conversation, university flyers and posters, advertisements, news, social media posts, and institutional documents. 

Classes will be conducted in person unless circumstances change. 

 

By the end of this course, students will be able to: 

1. Read and understand key theoretical texts that address changing understandings of gender and empirical approaches in the study of language and gender. 

2. Acquire analytic tools to interpret and evaluate everyday and institutional texts in terms of gender construction. 

3. Develop discourse analytic skills in spoken and written presentations. 

 

A variety of texts will be used in this course. Our primary source of knowledge will be academic texts, but we will also consider other multimodal materials, including excerpts of films, transcripts, and selected media. 
 

The main textbooks used for this course are: 

Baker, Paul & Gavin Brookes (2025). Masculinities and Language. Routledge. 

Cameron, Deborah (2024). Language, Sexism and Misogyny. Routledge. 
 

Additional readings may be assigned and made available on Moodle

This course will, unexpectedly, involve discussions on sex and gender. While these should not be taboo subjects, they are sensitive in nature, and can be uncomfortable for some. If you have concerns about any of the assigned readings or assignments, please speak to me before the relevant week, and we will work something out. Of course, you are also free to excuse yourself at any time during class if you find yourself feeling uncomfortable about the topic; there is no need to ask for permission. 

Class participation: 10% (CLOs 1, 2, 3) 

Attendance will be taken every class, even if it will not count towards your grade. You should come to class with at least a brief understanding of the material, though this must be the bare minimum. The class will only be as productive as you make it to be, and you will benefit maximally from having robust discussions with me and your peers. This course consists of a two-hour interactive lecture. Attendance is required for all sessions and participation will be graded. 
 

Weekly discussions: 30% (CLOs 1, 2) 

A discussion prompt will be posed each week (from Week 1 onwards), tailored to the theme of the lectures. You will write a short response to the prompt (250–300 words each), and submit these responses as a compilation at the end of the semester. An overall grade will then be assigned to these responses, yoked to the clarity of thought, quality of writing, and engagement with the course materials. 
 

Research proposal: 30% (CLOs 2, 3) 

You will draft an essay proposal (~1000 words) that will help you think through your research process as you prepare for the final essay. We will start from the beginning – coming up with a thesis and central argument – all the way through the data you want to examine, your method of data collection, and the literature you intend to consult. This proposal will serve as a scaffolding of knowledge, and allow you to receive feedback before you begin writing your final essay. 

 

Final research paper: 30% (CLOs 1, 2, 3) 

This assignment is unbridled. You are invited to write a short essay (~2000 words) on any of the topics discussed in this course, and you are free to explore any aspect of this topic. The goal of this essay is to demonstrate your understanding of the materials, originality, and research abilities. You must use sociolinguistic and/or linguistic anthropological data from any source (online, ethnographic, archival) in your essay, and analyse it with your choice of discourse analysis. More details will be provided at the start of the course. 

You should read the assigned textbook chapters before coming to class. All the readings will be uploaded on Moodle. 

Week	Topic	In-class reading
Part 1: Language, gender, power
1	Foundations (i)	Cameron: Introduction  Baker and Brookes: Introduction (Chapter 1)
2	Foundations (ii)	Kiesling: Chapter 5
Part 2: Femininities
3	Women’s language	Cameron: Chapter 1
4	Women and inequalities	Cameron: Chapters 2 and 3
5	Gendered grammar	Cameron: Chapters 4 and 5
6	Misogyny	Cameron: Chapters 6 and 7
– Reading week –
Part 3: Masculinities
8	Doing being men	Baker and Brookes: Chapter 2
9	Men on screen	Baker and Brookes: Chapter 3
10	Hegemony	Baker and Brookes: Chapter 4
11	Intersectional masculinities	Baker and Brookes: Chapter 5
12	‘Good’ and ‘bad’ men	Baker and Brookes: Chapter 6
13	Conclusion	Cameron: Chapter 8  Baker and Brookes: Chapter 8

 

To prepare for your essay proposals and final essays, I recommend reading Helen Sauntson’s (2020) volume, Researching Language, Gender & Sexuality. It is also an introductory read for those just starting out in the field, and provides accessible guidelines on how to conduct research in language, gender, and sexuality. This is not mandatory reading, but I hope you will find it helpful as you plan for your assignments. Depending on your own interests, you can find individual chapters on media, interview data, public/private discourses, etc. 

Beyond what is already stated, if you need to miss class for any reason, please inform me as soon as you can. I would prefer to operate on the basis of trust – if you have used up both of your unexcused absences, you should try to supply some form of documentation that constitutes an excusable absence, and I will accept it. Of course, if you choose to doctor, edit, or alter your documentation with dishonest intentions, that would be on you. 

There will be no make-up lectures. 

I only hold office hours by appointment. Please email me about having a chat at least one week in advance, so I can plan ahead. You'll have the option of doing this over Zoom or in my office. Each session should take no longer than 30-45 minutes; this is in the interest of other students who would also like to meet with me. 

I reply to my emails quite quickly, usually within 24 hours. You should feel free to reach out to me about the course, but I also welcome unstructured conversations about my research areas or academia in general. If you encounter any difficulties during the semester, please reach out as soon as you can, so we can work together to help you. 

As above, this class will discuss a range of topics in gender and sexuality. I realise that this can be contentious for some, and I will not pretend that this field can be taught outside of politics. You should expect differing opinions and viewpoints during discussions, and these are all welcome. What I will not excuse is discriminatory, abusive, and intolerant behaviour: this is regardless of your politics. I must impress upon all students the need to be civil and respectful. 

There is no tolerance for academic dishonesty of any kind. 

Academic dishonesty is defined broadly, and can include anything from improper citation (and claiming credit for yourself) to passing off someone else's work as your own (including resubmission of your past work). If you have even the slightest doubt as to whether a certain practice is dishonest, come to me and we can have a chat. 

Any use of generative AI tools to wholly complete an assignment is not allowed. You are permitted to use these tools to brainstorm ideas or conduct editing or proofreading, but this must be acknowledged in the assignment. AI usage and plagiarism is monitored for all submissions on Moodle. 

For students admitted in 2021-22 or before, this course will be counted as Introductory course from List A after completion. Please refer to your syllabus at https://english.hku.hk/Undergraduate/Curriculum/English_Studies.