Tags
HD
Admissions requirements
Social Theory in Everyday Life; for non HD students Global Challenges: Diversity.
Description
Diversity is a highly topical but also disputed idea. For some, it is considered to be the definitive breakthrough of identity politics, legitimizing equal opportunity policies. For others, it is conceived as a threat of common values and traditions, and disrespect of their daily practices. In this course, we will analyze the various concepts related to human diversity and the rhetoric pro’s and con’s used by politicians, policy makers, employer, social movements and representatives of social organizations such as universities. We will study policy proposals in multiple sectors and their effectiveness to stimulate diversity, and have excursions to policy departments and organizations investigating diversity. The focus will be on gender and LGBTI, but we can pay attention to ethnicity, religion, age and other aspects of a divers and inclusive society.
Course objectives
Skills
Students will be able to:
Express their analytical, writing and presentation skills;
Distinguish empirical facts and normative worldviews within debates on diversity;
Apply insight of diversity to various policy areas;
Put oneself in the place of another person, and his /her arguments;
Report on academic literature in their own words and to formulate clear and well-argued opinions concerning diversity.
Content
Students will have acquired knowledge on:
How to recognize and distinguish theories and various concepts used in relation to human diversity;
The distinction between arguments pro and contra human diversity policies and the broader discourses they are part of;
How diversity and identity has been part of societal and political struggles;
Critical evaluations of outcomes of policy measures;
How to build up a balanced argumentation and formulate recommendations concerning a special issue of human diversity within a specific organization.
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
We will use a variety of instructions, including lectures, presentations, group assignment and excursions. The course will be organized predominantly through the regular twice a week seminars. We will analyze literature and patterns of argumentation from a theoretical and historical perspective, and relate them to current issues, also based upon the interests of students. Students are expected to give (group) presentations and to participate in discussions simulations, defending arguments of various actors.
Assessment
In-class attendance and active participation (15%), Ongoing weeks 1-8
Group presentations/ simulations (30 %),Ongoing weeks 2-7
Literature reviews (15 %)
Final paper (40%), Week 8
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
Will be announced on Blackboard.
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Prof.dr. Jet Bussemaker
M.Bussemaker@lumc.nl