SP9230 Intersectionality: Interaction of Social Categories Course description

Gender, ethnicity, social class, age/generation, functional ability and sexual orientation form the basis for social categories that are part of the power relations and forms of dominance in society today. That also makes them important to the freedom of action of groups and individuals and the way in which they understand themselves and others. It is a challenge in empirical analyses to take into consideration that people belong to many different categories at the same time.

Intersectional approaches make it possible for analyses to identify the many-faceted interactions that can constitute social categories and that social categories can produce. This course includes theoretical perspectives and empirical research that are primarily based on affiliation to one of the relevant categories, as well as scholarly works that make dynamic relationships between category affiliations the focus of their analysis.

After completing the course, the candidates are expected to have the following knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

Candidates have

• knowledge about theoretical perspectives that challenge notions that social categories are substantially uniform
• knowledge about social and cultural processes that have contributed/contribute to different forms of category construction

Skills

Candidates have

• an academic basis for conducting complex and dynamic analyses of people's concurrent affiliation to important categories
• an academic basis for analysing and reflecting on power relations in research and social work activities from an intersectional perspective

General competence

Candidates are capable of

• assessing and identifying new research questions in the field
• taking part in debates in national and international forums

Teaching will take the form of lectures, groups- and class discussions.

Participation is mandatory, and candidates are expected to attend all days of teaching. A minor absence may only be accepted under certain circumstances and upon application. In the event of absences that are not approved, candidates will lose their right to have their essays assessed.

This course covers research into key phenomena originating from human experience of health and illness. Such phenomena can be perceptions of quality of life, hope, coping, pain, body, dignity, and suffering, and serve as the basis for developing concepts and theories in the health sciences. The course covers different methods for concept and theory development; for example, the hybrid model of concept development, semantic concept analysis, Walker and Avant's model for theory development, and grounded theory. The methods are applied to selected phenomena, concepts, and theories.

This course is primarily aimed at PhD candidates admitted to the PhD Programme in Health Sciences but is also open to other applicants. Admission requirements are a completed major, master's degree (120 credits) or equivalent qualification.

The course can also be offered to students who have been admitted to the "Health Science Research Programme, 60 ECTS", by prior approval from the supervisor and based on given guidelines for the research programme.

On completion of the course, the PhD candidate has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The PhD candidate:

• is at the forefront of knowledge of methodologies related to the development of concepts and theories
• has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between human experience, concepts, and theories in a health science context

Skills

The PhD candidate can:

• develop a conceptual and/or theoretical framework related to their own research
• identify relevant clinical phenomena to develop concepts and theories
• analyse and interpret research findings related to concept and theory development
• address complex scientific issues and challenge established knowledge and practice in concept and theory development

General competence

The PhD candidate can:

• argue in favour of particular methodologies in concept and theory development based on scientific theory
• participate in discussions on concept and theory development

Work and teaching methods consist of lectures, seminars, and self-study. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions.

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