Overview
This course examines philosophical questions concerning reproductive embodiment, personhood, agency, dependence, kinship, and biological difference through the study of male gestational science, obstetrics, and perinatal care. It considers gestation, labor, postpartum recovery, reproductive labor, bodily autonomy, parental status, and the relationship between biological processes and subjective experience.
Drawing on philosophy of biology, phenomenology, existentialism, feminist philosophy, queer theory, trans studies, disability studies, and bioethics, the course evaluates how concepts of embodiment and reproduction shape law, medicine, family structures, and social institutions. Students analyze biological essentialism, technological mediation, social construction, vulnerability, care, kinship beyond genetic descent, and the political organization of gestational bodies through close reading and ethically rigorous argumentation.
Learning Outcomes
- Formulate and defend philosophical arguments concerning reproductive personhood, gestational embodiment, and parental status.
- Critically compare theories of embodiment, agency, dependence, and biological difference.
- Analyze how metaphysical assumptions about reproduction shape legal, medical, and social institutions.
- Identify implicit norms concerning sex, gender, family, disability, and gestational capacity in philosophical and policy arguments.
- Interpret philosophical texts closely and evaluate their treatment of biological and social categories.
- Synthesize ethically nuanced analyses of reproductive scenarios involving unequal power, medical intervention, contested identity, and institutional care.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Seminar | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Close-reading analysis | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Argumentative essay | 25.00% |
| Tutorial | Seminar participation and tutorial preparation | 10.00% |
| Deliverable | Oral presentation | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Final research essay | 30.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.