Women, Work and Public Policy (SOC*4410)
Code and section: SOC*4410*01
Term: Fall 2025
Instructor: Jeji Varghese
Details
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph
SOC*4410: Women, Work and Public Policy
Fall 2025
Instructor: Dr. Jeji Varghese
E-mail: varghese@uoguelph.ca
Learning Journey:
Calendar Description: “In this course students will critically assess the transformation of women's work in contemporary society. A range of topics pertaining to women's work will be explored with particular attention paid to the processes through which class, gender, race, ethnicity, and age shape divisions of work. The course will also focus on theories that have attempted to explain the transformation of women's work.” Pre-requisites: 12.50 credits including (1 of ANTH*2160, ANTH*2180, IDEV*2000, SOAN*2112, SOC*2700), (1 of GEOG*2260, POLS*2650, SOAN*2120)
Course Overview: Are you ready to re-think work, power, and policy through a feminist lens? This advanced seminar dives into the complex world of labour and public policy in Canada, exploring how colonial histories, gender, race, and class shape who gets valued—and who gets left out. From care work and climate jobs to tech and agriculture, we’ll unpack how feminist theories like intersectionality, ethics of care, and decolonial thought help us understand and challenge the status quo. You’ll critically analyze public policies, hear from diverse voices including Indigenous, Black, and migrant women, and develop bold, justice-oriented alternatives that center equity, sustainability, and transformative change.
Approach: The seminar approach1 is intended to facilitate the development of critical thinking skills and active engagement in learning. As such, students are expected to read and engage with assigned readings in preparation for each class, attend, and respectfully actively engage in class discussions and activities. We will co-design aspects of the course together, allowing you to contribute to the learning process and tailor the experience to your interests and needs. The format of seminars will include opportunities for both small and large group discussions of women, work and public policy, and will draw on both Western and Indigenous pedagogies for a critical exploration of course material with a goal of advancing potential solutions.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Critically engage with key feminist theories—including intersectionality, feminist political economy, ethics of care, and decolonial thought—to analyze women’s labour and public policy in Canada.
2. Evaluate the gendered dimensions of labour across diverse sectors—including care work, STEM, agriculture, natural resources, and climate-related work—while centering the experiences of Indigenous, Black, and migrant women and the transformative potential of decolonizing policy frameworks.
3. Apply feminist and climate-conscious policy analysis to assess Canadian labour and social policies, and propose inclusive, equitable, and sustainable alternatives that advance social and environmental justice.
4. Develop and refine oral communication using the Ideas, Connections, and Extensions (ICE) and Wholistic (Heart, Body, Mind, Spirit) frameworks as well as meaningful collaborative learning and facilitation skills through seminar & circle leads.
5. Engage critically with course materials by exploring multiple ways of articulating knowledge and values learned—including the ethical and effective use of generative AI tools—to design and present a sector- or policy-specific case study that integrates theory, empirical research, and intersectional analysis.
6. Demonstrate mastery of time management in completion of all course elements and personal responsibility and initiative for learning
Course Readings:
Course materials will be accessible on Perusall accessible via CourseLink a week in advance (for Prep Assignment) and will be available via ARES Course Reserves System through the library website (for a head-start on Seminar & Circle Leads).
Assessments2:
| Course Elements | Percentage Weight |
|---|---|
| 1. Seminar Preparation and Participation | 30 |
| 2. "Ideas" Seminar Lead and "Connections/Extensions" Circle Lead | 30 |
| 3. Policy Analysis/Case Study | 20 |
| 4. Cumulative Final Assessment | 20 |
| Total: 100 |
1 Please note that the seminar will be offered twice weekly via face-to-face delivery with some asynchronous material and activities available through CourseLink throughout the semester.
2 Assessment breakdown and elements may change prior to the release of the official syllabus in September 2025.