| Unit name | Colonialism, Sexual Offences and Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL20062 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Natasha Carver |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit considers the extent to which colonial constructions of racialised sexual identities remain relevant in legislation and prosecutions today. The unit explores colonial-era moral panics around inter-racial sex such as ‘Black Peril’ and ‘White Slavery’ alongside their silenced counterparts. Through analysis of colonial legislation, policy and prosecutions, we learn about which practices and which relationships were criminalised and consider what the regulation of sexual behaviour tells us about colonial epistemology. We then turn to present-day manifestations of the same harms and consider the legacies of coloniality in sexual crime narratives including for example campaigns against ‘Female Genital Mutilation’ and ‘Modern Day Slavery’.
The unit introduces students to post-colonial theory and narrative criminology and considers the extent to which criminology needs decolonising. Students will also deepen their understanding of how to locate, navigate, read and interpret legal documents including acts, trials and case law.
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
This unit will draw on a blended learning approach. Students will engage with asynchronous taught content (including, for example, narrated slides and other teaching and research materials) and will be tasked to complete activities in preparation for synchronous sessions to present and discuss ideas and clarify learning.
Summative Part 1: 30% - A narrative analysis. 1000 words. Students will choose one text from a limited selection of legal narratives (e.g. a judgement, sentencing remarks, probation report) which they will analyse.
Assesses ILOs: 3,4,5
Summative Part 2: 70% - Essay. 2000 words
Assesses ILOs: 1,2,4
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL20062).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
