The aim of the course is to engage the students with a critical global conversation on `Gender, Difference and Rights'. The course aims at drawing student’s attention to how and why the relationship between gender and rights has been a highly fraught and tense one in local, regional and global arenas. Rights interventions have not necessarily nor invariably produced progressive and empowering outcomes for all women, and the ramifications and effectiveness when invoking violence against women and gender-based violence within new modes of global and national governance have yet to be seriously evaluated.
The course examines the complex relationship between gender, difference and rights in a range of geographical and political contexts and in relation to several issues, including equality, culture, violence against women, and peace and security. In addition, the course introduces students to different critical theoretical perspectives, including liberal feminism, governance feminism, and postcolonial feminism.