This course will consider what it means to be ‘feminist’ in contemporary Pacific society, and the goals of indigenous Pacific feminist action and advocacy. Through a series of guest lectures, the course will showcase the stories of various self-identified Pacific feminists, revealing their triumphs and challenges in articulating a vision of change in their own contexts. Students will also engage with a range of Pacific media – print and digital – to consider key issues pertinent to feminist struggles in the region, and strategies adopted by feminists to address these. Finally, the course will interrogate the occurrence of ‘feminist backlash’ in the Pacific, and consider its roots and consequences.

Topics covered under the course:

• What is Pacific feminism and who can be a Pacific feminist?
• Feminism and Pacific cultures: inherent tensions or opportunities for respect?
• The foreignness of feminism: do foreign ideas and actors do more harm than good?
• Effective Pacific feminist strategies: from solidarity to coalitions to movements
• Feminist backlash: who drives anti-feminist sentiment in the Pacific and how?
• Feminism as critical reflection: achievements and continuing challenges

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. identify, describe and relate critically to global and Pacific understandings of and divisions within feminist theory
2. use appropriate language, terminology and concepts for discussing gender and feminist thought in Pacific contexts
3. present a written and verbal analysis of contemporary feminist concerns in the Pacific
4. critically assess Pacific feminist strategies to achieve gender equality in terms of both Pacific and global normative frameworks.
5. design an original Pacific-appropriate feminist campaign to address gender inequality in the Pacific

Research-Led Teaching

This course is purposively influenced by the research and experiences of Pacific feminists, as a means by which to appreciate region-specific achievements and struggles.

Required Resources

Students will need to have access to an internet-connected device through which they will be expected to engage with course materials, including real-time online interaction (e.g. via Mentimetre, Kahoot, MURAL).

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	What is Pacific feminism and who can be a Pacific feminist?
2	Feminism and Pacific cultures: inherent tensions or opportunities for respect?
3	The foreignness of feminism: do foreign ideas and actors do more harm than good?
4	Effective Pacific feminist strategies: from solidarity to coalitions to movements
5	Feminist backlash: who drives anti-feminist sentiment in the Pacific and how?
6	Feminism as critical reflection: achievements and continuing challenges

Tutorial Registration

The course is structured as a series of interactive seminars; tutorials will not be organised.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Reflective piece	30 %	2, 3, 4 & 5
Feminist campaign	60 %	1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Participation	10 %	1, 2 & 3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Active engagement in seminar discussions is expected throughout the course from all participants, including those online. Students are encouraged to make arrangements that ensure they will be 'present' (either online or in person) for both days of the course. Please note, the course convenor will require online students to have cameras on.

Examination(s)

There will be no exam for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Reflective piece

Students will be asked to reflect, in no more than 1000 words, on an act that meets the definition of ‘feminist backlash’ in a Pacific context (e.g. conservative commentary surrounding the case of partner violence against Debbie Kaore in PNG in 2020) and present an analysis of the arguments and tactics used, their effectiveness, and any potential counter-arguments that could be used to quell the backlash. This reflective piece will be worth 30% of the grade.

Assessment Task 2

Feminist campaign

Students will build on their reflective piece by designing a feminist campaign to redress their previously identified incident of feminist backlash (worth 60% of the grade). The campaign can be

in print or multi-media to an equivalent of 2000 words, and should incorporate:

a) Evidence base for the policy change and an understanding of the Pacific political landscape

b) Clear objectives (e.g. legislative change, increased social awareness, behaviour change)

c) Identified partners, including financial and in-kind sponsors/champions

d) Proposed strategies to achieve change

e) Communications plan, including consideration of engaging with known non-supporters

As this is the major end of course assessment this assessment is used to measure how well students have understood the course and course content.

Assessment Task 3

Participation

Participation (10% of the grade) will be judged on the quality of contributions made to discussion, and the extent to which these contributions are based in the readings.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students