OVERVIEW

The teaching deals with the principle of equality and non-discrimination between women and men in the perspective of public italian and comparative law, international and European Union law. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course participants will acquire the knowledge necessary to understand the impact of equality between women and men both in the private (family and relationships, reproductive rights, gender violence) and in the public spheres (school, work and politics); they will be able to recognize and evaluate laws and Courts’ decisions at national, EU and international level related (even indirectly) to gender equality; they will be able to compare the situation in Italy with that in other States as regard the equality between men and women.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Equal Opportunities law is addressed to ALL students who want to know how and at what extent power's asymmetries between women and men reduce the quality of democracy and the value (economical, cultural, scientific, relational, etc...) of Italy.

Intended Learning Outcomes (Dublin Descriptors)

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the constitutional, international, and European principles governing equality and non-discrimination based on sex and gender, the main relevant legal sources, the concepts of direct and indirect discrimination, and the legal instruments aimed at promoting equality between women and men, with particular reference to positive action measures and gender-related corrective mechanisms in electoral laws.

Applying knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students will be able to identify and interpret relevant legislative and judicial sources, recognize discriminatory situations, and analyse the impact of gender inequalities on the functioning of democratic institutions, the labour market, and processes of political representation.

Making judgements

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse legal and social issues related to gender equality, assess the effectiveness of mechanisms for the protection of fundamental rights, and interpret current events in the light of constitutional principles, case law, and anti-discrimination policies.

Communication skills

By the end of the course, students will be able to use legal terminology relating to gender issues, equality, and non-discrimination appropriately and to discuss clearly, coherently, and persuasively the main legal concepts and issues addressed during the course.

Learning skills

By the end of the course, students will be able to independently identify and use legislative, judicial, and documentary sources concerning gender equality and to critically explore developments in national, European, and international law and case law.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of italian, international and European Union public law.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is made of 36 class hours "in presence".  

Attendance in the classroom is not mandatory BUT strongly recommended. 

The professor will upload on Aulaweb the materials needed for lessons and for individual study (summaries, laws, documents, judgments). 

During classes experts (magistrates, professors, members of institutions and public administration, etc ....) may be invited to address specific topics and / or seminars and conferences will be suggested.

Students are recommended to enroll in Aulaweb to be informed about the teaching all along it (and even after).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching includes the study of the following topics:

• Gender equality and non-discrimination law; 
• The sources of law that protect equality between women and men at national, international and EU level; 
• Electoral rights; 
• Gender and politics; 
• Gender and work; 
• Reproductive rights;
• The rights/duties of care from a gender perspective; 
• The right to respect in partner's relationships;
• Gender-based violence;  
• Gender and education; 
• Gender appropriate and inclusive language.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The exam can be prepared by studying:

• the notes taken at classes;
• the book M. D'Amico, Una parità ambigua. Costituzione e diritti delle donne, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2020 (or a more recent edition if available). 
• other materials made available on aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ARIANNA PITINO (President)

PATRIZIA VIPIANA

DANIELA TARANTINO (President Substitute)

ARISTIDE CANEPA (Substitute)

SIMONE FREGA (Substitute)

ANDREA MOLFETTA (Substitute)

MARIA ANGELA ORLANDI (Substitute)

BUKURIE OZUNI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will be held in the first semester.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For taking the exam it is mandatory to enroll by following the relevant online procedure: without enrollment students will not be admitted to the exam. 

Students who will ensure the attendance at all lessons will prepare the exam on the individual notes and on three text taken from the textbook and/or other materials.

Students not attending the lessons will be required to study all the textbook.

The Examination Commission is appointed by the Department Council and, usually, is chaired by the professor responsible of the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Assessment Methods

The examination is designed to assess the achievement of the intended learning outcomes with reference to the Dublin Descriptors.

In particular, students will be expected to demonstrate:

• knowledge of the principles, legal sources, and legal concepts addressed during the course, with particular reference to gender equality, non-discrimination, and the mechanisms for the protection of fundamental rights (knowledge and understanding);
• the ability to identify and interpret relevant legal sources and case law and to apply the knowledge acquired to the analysis of issues concerning gender discrimination, political representation, and the labour market (applying knowledge and understanding);
• the ability to develop critical assessments of the topics covered during the course and to formulate independent reflections from both a constitutional and a gender perspective (making judgements);
• the ability to present arguments in a clear, coherent, and rigorous manner, using both legal terminology and gender-sensitive language appropriately (communication skills).

Particular consideration will be given to:

• the coherence, completeness, and accuracy of the answers;
• the ability to apply the knowledge acquired and the topics covered during the course to the analysis of current events;
• references to particularly significant judicial decisions and legislative acts;
• the ability to develop personal reflections that are adequately reasoned and supported by sound arguments on the issues addressed during the course.

For the overall assessment, attendance and active participation in the proposed learning activities will also be taken into account.

FURTHER INFORMATION

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.
Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it).
Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.