MSc in Sex, Gender, Violence

at University of Aberdeen

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) gender-based violence refers to “harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender". It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. Gender-based violence can take various forms, including physical, sexual and psychological violence. Examples include domestic violence, harassment, rape, institutional and structural violence, trafficking, and violations of human rights during times of conflict and peace.
 

This programme engages critically with contemporary debates on this subject, providing you with an in-depth understanding of the ways people think about violence, understand it, and respond to it. You will consider how do we decide what counts as violence or a violent act and examine why responses to violence often seem inadequate, especially in the case of gendered and sexual violence.
 

This programme can be used as preparation for further research (for example PhD studies) or to develop your career within sectors where violence is relevant (for example the voluntary, advocacy, charity, NGO, or policy sectors); or simply to further your interest in this fascinating area.
 

The MSc draws on the exceptional expertise within the Department of Sociology at the University of Aberdeen in the understanding of religion, political violence, conflict and peace, social movements, identity processes, and global and political sociology. You will also learn the latest advanced qualitative methods employed by social scientists, including participant observation, qualitative interviewing, focus groups, diaries, photography and film, and archived data sources.