First Class: 21 January 2025
This course offers an introduction to ways that language usage trends across society can be sensitive to social categories of sexuality and gender along with how speakers use language to project gender and sexuality. The course includes an historical view while bringing in cutting edge research, in this way highlighting emerging trends while keeping persistent themes in view. Project work will focus on discourse analysis of authentic data.
By the end of the course, students are expected to:
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Understand the historical development of gender, sexuality and discourse in various societies and social situations
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Make links between their own social experience and the topic of gender, sexuality and discourse
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Be able to use discourse analysis to examine issues of gender, sexuality and discourse
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Conduct a research project on gender, sexuality and discourse (focus and methodology must first be approved in consultation with the instructor)
There are two class-hours each week (Tuesdays 10:30—12:20). There will be 12 lecture sessions:
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January 21, February 11/18/25, March 4/18/25, April 1/8/15/22/29
Students will listen to lectures and also discuss various issues of gender, sexuality, language, and discourse; a small portion of class time will be spent preparing you for your research assignment.
Assessment will be continuous and based 100% on coursework. That said, your final grade will also be affected by participation.
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Data analysis proposal |
30% |
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Response wiki |
30% |
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Research paper (pair) |
40% |
- Kiesling, Scott (2019) Language, Gender, and Sexuality: An Introduction. Routledge.
- Sauntson, Helen (2020) Researching Language, Gender and Sexuality: A Student Guide. Routledge
These two textbooks above are compulsory reading. Paperbacks are available for purchase through the Academic and Professional Book Centre (A&P). Online copies are available on the HKU library website.
A list of readings will be given at the beginning of the semester and will be freely downloadable from HKU Library E-resources. Additional readings might be given from time to time, as the debate about gender and language continues. Students are expected to keep abreast of the latest developments in gender and discourse studies.