HI-226 Reproduction in History: Bodies, Power and Gender (Autumn 2025)
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Humanities and Education
- Course Leader:
- Camilla Mørk Røstvik
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- English (if there are non-Norwegian speaking students present)
- Duration:
- ½ year
Table of contents
The course is connected to the following study programs
Teaching language
Recommended previous knowledge
Learning outcomes
After the completion of the course, the student shall
Knowledge
- have gained theoretical and empirical insight into changing concepts of the body and reproduction through history.
- have knowledge of key academic debates related to the histories of reproduction.
- understand how societal norms and cultural attitudes have influenced contemporary and historical understandings of the body.
- know how knowledge of the past can help us understand contemporary challenges as pertains to the body, gender, diversity and justice.
Skills
- analyze the ethical dilemmas associated with reproductive practices in history, such as the use of contraception, abortion, and the implications of the eugenics movement.
- critically reflect on the role of changing gender norms in conceptualizations of the body
- be able to write a scientific paper, choosing a topic, finding relevant academic literature, asking research questions, making an argument, discussing evidence, building structure and referencing.
- contribute to the UN sustainability goals about gender equality: Increased skills about understanding gender equality and inequality through discussing and evaluating gendered norms, stereotypes, and histories.
General competence
- have insight into the role and significance of history use in modern societies and in peoples’ daily lives as relevant to the body and reproductive choices.
- be able to participate in discussions and debates about reproduction and body norms in politics, social interaction, and public life.
- apply theoretical knowledge to concrete cases in the context of media, politics, advertising, and commercial endeavours.
- have gained better mastery of the basic processes of (academic) writing.
Contents
Teaching and learning methods
The teaching consists of lectures and seminars. Students are expected to participate regularly and actively in both. Learning methods: Active reading, discussion of the syllabus, work with written drafts, group presentations, feedback from fellow students, active participation through discussions with teachers and students.
During the semester, in the seminars, each student will write two drafts that will form the basis for the term paper (exam). The first draft must contain the topic and research question for the essay (300 words) and must be submitted early in the semester. The second draft (500 words) must contain an annotated bibliography of five texts and must be submitted midway through the semester.
Expected scope of work: 270 hours.
Examination requirements
The following coursework must be approved by the course instructor:
- one oral presentation as a group
- two written drafts
Examinations
The examination has two parts.
Final paper (total of 3500 words +/-10 percent, not counting the footnotes/in-text citations and bibliography). The paper is written individually. Counts 70 % toward final grade.
A two-hour individual written examination under supervision. Counts 30 % toward final grade.
Students may write in English or Scandinavian.
Both parts must be passed for the course to be assessed as a pass. Graded assessment (A-F).