This course introduces the field of women's studies, with emphasis on the theoretical foundations of feminist analysis and the diversity of debates within feminism. The primary focus surrounds issues of gender as a social, cultural and political construct and how this intersects with, for example, race, class and sexuality. The course is also an opportunity to explore the shared and diverse aspects of women's experiences and show how women's studies as an academic discipline challenges the methods, theories and knowledge of traditional disciplines.

This course is designed to create an environment in which students can begin to critically examine social work in its broadest terms. The purpose of the course is to enable students to reflect and examine their values, beliefs and feelings in relation to society of which they are members and to explore their present and potential roles and responsibilities as a social work practitioner. Students will examine dominant influences that affect decision-making and communication in society. The course will provide an opportunity for students to relate and integrate these ideas with the philosophies and values of social welfare with a structural social work perspective.