Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module SOCI3717: Globalisation and the Sex Industry

Department: Sociology

SOCI3717: Globalisation and the Sex Industry

Type Open Level 3 Credits 10 Availability Not available in 2024/2025 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • SOCI3687 Crime, Justice and the Sex Industry

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To explore contemporary issues of globalisation, the global sex trade, and global policy/prostitution reform.
  • To explore and assess research studies that focus on the lived experience of people from the global majority in the sex industry.

Content

  • Globalisation and the sex industry.
  • Sex work and sex tourism.
  • Trafficking- migration nexus.
  • International anti trafficking policy and practice.
  • Politics of anti-trafficking/ anti-modern slavery.
  • Sex work/ trafficking in the media and popular culture.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
  • critical understanding of the impact of globalisation on the commercial sex trade.
  • critical understanding of the global politics of sex work governance.
  • understand and assess the international politics of contemporary anti-trafficking policy and practice.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • On completion of the module students should be able to:
  • think critically about recurring and transforming themes and issues in relation to globalisation and sex work.
  • critically evaluate and interpret information, evidence and explanations of sex work from a variety of sources and theoretical perspectives.
Key Skills:
  • On completion of the module students should be able to:
  • engage in critical reasoning and informed debate.
  • synthesise and critique arguments drawn from a variety of sources, communicate arguments effectively in writing.
  • carry out independent study and further reading using traditional and electronic sources.
  • manage their time and workload.
  • demonstrate effective study and learning skills (note taking; avoiding plagiarism, gathering and using information, constructing a bibliography, referencing).
  • demonstrate good IT skills in word processing, using the web, using a virtual learning environment (i.e. Virtual Learning Environment).

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Ten lectures will introduce students to advanced concepts, arguments and theoretical debates related to globalisation and the sex industry.
  • Five seminars will engage students to apply knowledge of advanced concepts, arguments and theoretical debates to research studies that focus on the lived experience of people from the global majority in the sex industry.
  • A formative in class exercise will give students the opportunity to receive feedback on their understanding and familiarity with key debates explored in the module.
  • The summative assignment in the form of a 2500-word essay will test the depth and breadth of student’s analytical skills, theoretical and methodological understanding in one substantive area of study from the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Weekly 1 hour 10
Seminars 5 Fortnightly 1 hour 5
Reading and Preparation 85
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Summative Essay Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay 2,500 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

One formative in class exercise.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University