KU launches MA in ‘Gender without Borders’

Kingston University is launching a postgraduate course entitled ‘Gender without Borders’ for the next academic year. [divider]

The course, which will start in September 2016, will be taught across three core subjects – English, Philosophy and Sociology – and will explore what gender is, why it is significant and how it functions in a variety of contexts.

“Most MA courses that are to do with gender are based in some kind of discipline, but what we’re trying to do is to cross the humanities and social sciences. We think that is fairly unique,” said Professor Tina Chanter, Professor of Philosophy and Gender and course leader of Gender without Borders.

The course will explore gender as it intersects with race, class, sexuality, ethnicity, religion and disability, and students will be encouraged to tailor their studies around their own interests.

“Students will be able to create their own path according to what they’re interested in, whether it be literature, art, filmmaking and so on,” said Professor Chanter.

The course has been almost three years in the making by a team of internationally renowned faculty staff, who piloted Gender without Borders as a specialist module in English before validating the course as an MA in October.

Professor Chanter said: “I think it is a great time for a course like this to begin at Kingston. The trans issue is starting to be taken up by the mass media, and people are starting to get on board with the idea that a person’s gender might not line up with how they identified previously.

“There are some interesting and important theoretical, political and social issues surrounding gender identity, and an interdisciplinary MA is the perfect vehicle with which to explore them.”

Third year English Literature student, Chloe Metzger said: “I chose to apply for this course because it really excited me. I love looking at gender, sexuality and identity. There are also parts about disability too, which I’m passionate about.”

“It’s all about diversity and understanding others and their way of life. Something I think everyone needs more of,” she adds.

Metzger hopes that the launch of the course will have a positive effect on KU students, and thinks that issues surrounding gender should continue to be brought to the forefront at universities.

“I think the course will have a huge impact on KU; we’re such an open and diverse university and this will further encourage that.”

For the launch, KU have teamed up with the Arts and Philosophy faculty at Central Saint Martins to present a series of introductory lectures.

All nine interdisciplinary lectures are self-contained, exploring various issues and key themes surrounding gender, and run on a weekly basis until March 19 2016.

Find out more information and register free for the events on Eventbrite.