From August 1 to 3, the Hokkaido Summer Institute (HSI) 2023 course “Social Change: Gender Studies” was offered by the School of Humanities and Human Sciences.
This course featured guest lecturer Professor Lynne Yukie Nakano from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who collaborated with Associate Professor Ka Shing Ng from the Laboratory of Sociology in the Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences. The course aimed to introduce students to various logical and methodological approaches in gender studies while enhancing their understanding of personal, societal, and political issues in society through gender studies.
The course was attended by 46 students: 25 from Hokkaido University and 21 from other universities. The students and teaching assistants (TAs) hailed from various countries—Canada, China, India, Japan, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, and the USA—creating an ideal environment for the international comparison of gender studies.
Consisting of five classes per day over three days, this extremely intensive course incorporated various active learning activities, causing the students’ concentration to never lapse.On Day 1 and Day 2, following four lectures on the latest in gender studies, students were divided into groups for project research. Each group selected a theme, carried out research, and summarized its findings.
On the afternoon of Day 3, each group presented its research findings. Despite the short preparation time, every group delivered an in-depth presentation. Some even conducted questionnaires with as many as 100 respondents, indicating vigorous research activities that extended beyond classroom hours. The presentations brought numerous questions from the students, resulting in lively discussions.
The course concluded with a lecture by Professor Nakano on her research findings from “Single Women and Marriage Regimes in Three Cities”.
Despite spanning only three days, the course’s fulfilling activities deepened bonds among students, who remained engaged and smiling even after its conclusion.
