This course examines the role of race, gender, and identity in political life. How do we define identity? When and why does it become politicised? How do identities intersect and work to structure attitudes and affect behaviour? This course explores these and other questions. We begin by exploring the literature on identity, with particular attention to its biological, political, and sociological roots and to the literature on descriptive, substantive, and symbolic representation. The long-standing underrepresentation of women and racial minorities in public life is a key aspect of the course and will structure much of our theoretical and empirical discussion. Additional topics will include the relationship between gender/race/identity and social movements, elections, political parties, identity and the law, framing effects, intersectionality, and other elements of identity including (but not limited to): religion, age, class, Indigenous status, disability, and nationality. The course is comparative in its approach but will often focus on specific cases, including Australia.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- reflect on the importance of gender, race, and identity to understand political phenomenon;
- explain the key concepts and themes in the study of gender, race, identity, and politics;
- apply these concepts and themes to current cases and/or countries;
- research and debate about a specific topic concerning gender, race, and identity; and
- produce a research proposal or analysis paper on a specific topic in the study of gender, race, identity, and politics.
Indicative Assessment
- Weekly online contributions (15) [LO 1,2,3]
- Workshop activities (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Research proposal or analysis paper (35) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Final exam (in person)
(35) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials.
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
N/A
Preliminary Reading
Inala Cooper. 2022. Marrul: Aboriginal Identity and the Fight for Rights. Melbourne: Monash University Pres.
Kimberlé Crenshaw. 2017. On Intersectionality: Essential Writings. https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/books/255
Francis Fukuyama. 2018. Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Ashley Jardina. 2019. White Identity Politics. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Mona Lena Krook and Sarah Childs, Eds. 2010. Women, Gender and Politics: A Reader. New York: Oxford University Press.
Aileen Moreton-Robinson. 2020. Talkin' Up to the White Woman. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.
Pamela Paxton and Melanie M. Hughes. 2017. Women, Politics, and Power: A Global Perspective. Los Angeles: Sage.
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation. Haymarket Books.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $4920 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $6660 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4102 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | View |