Movements for Social Change
Overview
This unit introduces students to some of the social movements that have shaped and are shaping western societies. Using case studies, it critically examines why and how these movements came about and assesses their cultural and political ramifications. Exploring a range of movements – including women’s fight for the franchise in the 19th and 20th centuries, the gay liberation movement of the 1970s and the rise of right-wing extremism from the 1980s – it looks at the myriad ways people have imagined and fought for social justice.
Requisites
27-October-2024
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Identify, describe and evaluate key social movements that have shaped contemporary society;
- Locate, interrogate, and integrate primary and secondary sources in the development of an argument;
- Effectively communicate knowledge and understanding of the unit content in a written and spoken form;
- Critically engage with key debates in the relevant scholarly literature;
- Reflect critically on historical trends that have shaped contemporary society.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
---|---|---|---|
On-campus Lecture | 1.00 | 5 weeks | 5 |
Live Online Lecture | 1.00 | 7 weeks | 7 |
On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
Specified Activities Various | 7.00 | 12 weeks | 84 |
Unspecified Activities Various | 2.50 | 12 weeks | 30 |
TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
---|---|---|---|
Essay 1 | Individual | 35% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Essay 2 | Individual | 45% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
In-Class Exercises (Written, Oral and Aural) | Individual | 20% | 1,3,4,5 |
Essay 1 | Individual | 35% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Essay 2 | Individual | 45% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
In-Class Exercises (Written, Oral and Aural) | Individual | 20% | 1,3,4,5 |
Content
Within the chronological framework of the late-nineteenth century to the present, topics considered include: the fight for the franchise; socialism and the labour movement; the new left and anti-war campaigns; the women’s and gay liberation movements, Indigenous rights campaigns, the disability rights movement; and the rise of right-wing extremism.
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Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.