SFV4300 The Intersection of Social Categories in Social Work Course description

In the social sciences, social categories, such as gender, social class, ethnicity, 'race', sexuality, and age, have traditionally formed separate research fields, often attached to different theories. A result of this division has been that such categories are often portrayed as isolated variables in people's lives. Criticism levelled at such interpretations makes the point that they do not sufficiently address the dynamism that emerges when several categories intersect. Is importance attached to the category "man" or to the category "ethnic minority"? Does the category "woman" offer the same room of opportunity for all those who are categorised or identify as women? Do the categories "young", "boy", "immigrant", have another meaning attached to them than "young", "boy", "Norwegian"?

The course looks at theories that address how such categories have different meanings depending on the combination with other categories. The course offers theoretical, methodological and practical opportunities to explore the dynamism that emerges in the interaction between key social categories. During the course, we will work at making these types of analyses relevant for social work in general.

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

The student has

• knowledge of power and categorisation processes that contribute to forming the relevant categories in our age
• insight into the intersection between the categories¿ design and importance in different socio-cultural contexts
• knowledge of classical and new theoretical contributions that attempt to understand prominent social categories, such as gender, ethnicity, ¿race¿, social class, sexual orientation and age
• an understanding of how social categories and intersections between them has importance for professionals as well as the different user groups' conditions and social sphere of action

Skills

The student is capable of

• mastering analytical aspects and approaches that are appropriate for analysing implicit and explicit understandings and theoretical contributions, as well as empirical phenomena in the various fields of social work from a perspective of intersectionality
• applying knowledge about the relevant social categories and their interaction in research and development work relating to the social work field and/or different user groups, and to social work's conditions and functions in society

General competence​

• can critically reflect on various power relations and their interactions that are evident in social work

Teaching will take the form of lectures and class discussions. 

No coursework requirements and no compulsory activities.

The exam in the course is an individual home exam over a period of 4 days (96 hours). The exam paper must have a scope of 8 pages (+/- 10 per cent). Font and font size: Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with. 

A grade scale A-F. 

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. 

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Ariana Fernandes