MA Transnational Queer Feminist Politics with special reference to the Middle East
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2024
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,320 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas student fees | home student fees: GBP 12,220 per year
Introduction
The MA Transnational Queer Feminist Politics with special reference to the Middle East at SOAS is a unique programme, its principal aim being to re-focus issues prioritised in western Gender Studies and the study of sexuality on the complex specificities of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East. The programme offers the specialised study of gender and sexuality in relation to the cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, together with rigorous training in, and questioning of, contemporary gender theory. In terms of gender theory, it offers a solid foundation with sufficient breadth and depth to facilitate a range of specialist pathways. In terms of specialisation, it draws on the expertise of internationally recognised scholars of Asian, African and Middle Eastern Studies at SOAS.
Gender Studies is widely regarded by a range of employers as excellent training, equipping holders of the degree with a range of relevant employable skills. Increasingly policy makers and governing structures understand the need to engage with gender and sexuality, such that graduates with a disciplinary understanding of gender and sexuality, especially as sites of rights and responsibility are required in policy, research and legal environments. The value and relevance of the discipline are evidenced by the great variety and distinction of careers gender studies graduates have embarked upon with success. These include employment in international organizations, NGOs, think tanks, research organizations, the media (newspapers, radio & TV), as well as government ministries and programmes. There are growing numbers of gender studies programmes at universities throughout the world, although very few that combine the study of gender and sexuality in a global context.
Gallery
Ideal Students
Who is this programme for?
The Transnational Queer Feminist Politics with special reference to the Middle East at SOAS aims to cater for students with a variety of backgrounds and objectives:
- those coming from Women’s Studies or Gender Studies who wish to engage more deeply with gender theory in relation to regional specialisation and to connect this with the societies of Asia, Africa and the Middle East;
- those coming from Asian, African or Middle Eastern Studies who wish to incorporate the study of gender and sexuality into their own areas of expertise; and
- those having previously trained in particular disciplines, such as Anthropology, Comparative Literature, Cultural and Media Studies, History, Politics, Religious Studies, Sociology, Refugee/Diaspora Studies.
The programme provides:
- specialised research training in Gender Studies, in addition to focused study of sexuality as well as gender and sexual diversity. This pathway is suitable for students considering advanced postgraduate research in Gender Studies with a regional specialisation;
- a broad MA programme for students with some background in Women’s Studies, Gender Studies, and Area Studies etc. who wish to enhance their knowledge of gender in relation to cross-cultural issues raised by appreciation of the relationship between gender and sexuality in various legal and political contexts;
- a special interest MA, which enables students to study gender issues in-depth in relation to a particular regional or disciplinary specialisation alongside the acquisition of knowledge of emergent and contemporary study of sexuality in cross-cultural contexts.
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
As part of the programme, students are required to attend regular seminars organised by the Centre for Gender Studies, details of which are included in the handbook and further details of which are advertised on the Centre’s website and notice board.
As part of the course, the Centre for Gender Studies offers integrated work experiences in the form of internships with relevant organizations such as Women Living Under Muslim World (WLUML), the Council for the Assistance of Academic Refugees (CARA) and other organizations as well as with the Centre for Gender Studies itself.
Dissertation
Dissertation in gender studies
Taught Component
Core Modules
All students will take the following four core modules:
- Gender theory and the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East
- Dissertation Methods for Gender Studies
- Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
- Transnationalism Queer, Trans and Disability Studies
Compulsory Modules
All students will take the following two compulsory modules
- Gender in the Middle East
- Gender and Sexuality in the Middle East
Guided Options
All students will take the modules to the value of 15 credits from list of modules (below)
Students may select 30 credits from SOAS online-learning modules. This is subject to approval from the programme convenor.
List of modules (subject to availability)
- Gender, Armed Conflict and International Law
- Queering Migrations and Diasporas
- Gender in the Middle East
- Gender and Development
- Historical Perspectives on Gender in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
- Gender, law and the family in the history of modern South Asia
- Issues in the Anthropology of Gender
- Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film
- Judaism and Gender
- Gender, Sexuality and Law: Theories and Methodologies
- Gender, Sexuality and Law: Selected Topics
Note: 15PANH024 Issues in the Anthropology of Gender is not to be combined with 15PDSH010 Gender & Development
UCL Optional Module
Gender in Policy & Planning (30 Credits)
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates leave SOAS with an enhanced knowledge of gender and sexuality across cultures, as well as a wide range of transferable skills. Gender Studies is highly regarded by employers across many sectors, as increasingly, policy makers, businesses and governing structures understand the need to engage with gender and sexuality.
Recent graduates have been hired by:
- ActionAid
- Amnesty International
- Association for Women’s Rights in Development
- Commission for Gender Equality
- Euromet Feminist Initiative
- International Organization for Migration
- International Rescue Committee
- Raising Films
- The Children’s Society
- The Guardian