The seminar familiarizes students with major theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of gender, sexism and misogyny from a critical language and discourse-oriented perspective. At its core, it aims to sensitize students to the omnipresence of sexist and misogynistic language and discourses across various social contexts and types of media with the help of concrete examples. Working with concrete examples from social media, advertising and public debates, linguistic concepts and methods will be applied to understand everyday language material.

- Theoretical input - Each session builds on a chapter in Cameron’s (2024) book and further develops this focus via additional literature and data (input by individual students, group discussions). - Individual students are responsible for summarizing  and presenting the chapters, for leading the ensuing discussion and for providing concrete examples.

Double standards: the policing of women’s languageUnequalrights: attention, respect and male entitlementCoded messages: sexism, words and meaningDefault male: sexism and grammarWho do you think you are? Sexism and forms of addressSomething old, something new: investigating misogynist discourseTelling stories: how the media report violence against womenGender-basedviolence in academia Deeds and words: resisting sexism, misogyny and gender-based violence more generally

Basic familiarity with gender, language, discourse and (social) media 

Main source:Cameron, Deborah (2024). Language, sexism and misogyny. New York: Routledge.Additional sources (plus texts available on MOODLE)Katz, Jackson (2025). Every man. Why violence against women is a men’s issue and how you can make a difference. London. Penguin.Lavoyer, Agota (2024). Jede_ Frau. Über eine Gesellschaft, die sexualisierte Gewalt verharmlost und normalisiert. München: Yes Publishing (unfortunately, there is no English version available)

- oral presentation - seminar paper - active class participation 

- Summarizing and presenting a chapter in Cameron (2024) as well as leading a discussion based on the chapter - Submitting a reflection essay (around 2,500 words) - Active participation in group discussion - Contributing concrete examples / data with respect to specific topics / foci 

The overall grade for the class builds on- 20% class participation- 40% reflection essay- 40% summarizing and presenting theoretical input and discussing examples  The use of generative AI is expressly forbidden in this course unless students are explicitly directed to do so. Should the use of AI be suspected, students may be asked to take part in an oral defense or another mode of assessment. Clear cases of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and/or the use of generative AI will result in a failing grade and be reported to the rectorate. Ask your instructor for further details.