Module manager: Johanna Stiebert
Email: J.Stiebert@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
THEO2270 Religion, Gender and Society
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module applies gender and queer analysis to explore how religion, across various social and political contexts, contributes to inequality between genders and shapes social attitudes toward sexuality. It examines the implications of religious beliefs and practices for individuals’ self-expression, sense of identity, and lived experiences, including those of LGBTQI+ people. Drawing on religious texts, as well as insights from sociology, anthropology, and political science, the module encourages critical engagement with the ways religion influences gender roles and sexual norms, and how these intersect with broader issues of power, identity, and social justice. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
This module introduces key debates on how religion shapes gender roles, sexual norms, and social attitudes toward sexuality in diverse global contexts. You will explore both the restrictive and empowering ways religious traditions influence gender relations, drawing on gender and queer analysis to examine issues such as inequality, embodiment, and identity.
The module also considers how individuals and communities use religious resources to challenge gender injustice, including movements for religious feminisms and inclusive approaches to LGBTQI+ identities. Case studies from several major world religions will highlight how gender and sexuality are interpreted, regulated, and contested across different historical and cultural settings.
Finally, you will reflect on how this academic learning can inform work beyond the university, including engagement with community, policy, and other non-academic stakeholders.
The objectives will be fulfilled through lectures, where you are introduced to key concepts, religious texts, and interdisciplinary approaches from sociology, anthropology, and political science, and seminars, where you critically engage with readings, discuss ideas with peers, and develop your own perspective on the intersections of religion, gender, and sexuality.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1) Critically evaluate how religious beliefs and practices contribute to gender inequality and shape social attitudes toward sexuality across diverse cultural and political contexts.
2) Apply gender and queer analysis to the role of religion in shaping gender relations and sexual norms.
3) Analyse and compare experiences and understandings of gender and sexuality within selected major world religions, past and present.
4) Assess how academic insights into religion, gender, and sexuality can be applied to engage non-academic stakeholders and address global issues.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
5) Communicate ideas and arguments clearly and concisely, using appropriate academic language and conventions in written and verbal formats. (Academic and Work-Ready skill)
6) Apply ethical frameworks to analyse real-world issues concerning gender, sexuality, and religion in global contexts.
(Work-Ready, Enterprise, and Sustainability skill)
7) Work effectively as a member of a team to achieve a common goal (Work Ready skill)
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminars | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 179 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 21 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback on an essay plan. They will also be able to have feedback on their plans for the presentation. Students’ general progress is also monitored by their contributions to seminar discussions.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | Group presentation | 20 |
| Essay | Essay | 80 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Resit for the presentation will be an individual presentation. For the essay, students will select a different essay question.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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