PO2IDP: Identity Politics

Module code: PO2IDP

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Amanda Hall, email: amanda.hall@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 26 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module considers how shared identities are formed and become politically salient.  It explores the concepts of ‘self’ and ‘identity’ and considers how identities are shaped, regulated, and maintained at the local and global levels.  It also examines some prominent examples of social and political movements organized around shared identities, especially those of marginalized groups (e.g. Black Lives Matter, #MeToo).  It thereby supports students to reflect on how structures of oppression emerge and are maintained and challenged.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Offer a sociologically-informed account of how identities are formed and maintained
2. Critically evaluate the relationship between identity and inequality
3. Describe and analyse the rise of new social movements organized around marginalized identities
4. Reflect on the role of the media in representing social identities and social movements
5. Reflect on their own social circumstances and the kinds of factors which might shape their own sense of ‘self’ and ‘other’

Module content

This module will provide students with a theoretically-informed understanding of the concepts of ‘self’ and ‘identity’ and of how individual and group identities are linked to broader social divisions and inequalities.  It will examine the inter-relationship between agency and structure and consider how identities are shaped and formed at both local and global levels.  It will explore the effect of global migration on cultural diversity and social and political cohesion, with a particular focus on the development of new hybrid identities and nationalities in many western societies, and will look at religion, identity, and politics and the role of religious protest.  It will also focus in on the rise of consciousness-raising social movements, such as BLM and MeToo, which have sought to challenge predominant forms of economic and social marginalisation. The role of the media in representing social identities and social movements will also be discussed.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered by lectures which will provide the core information and seminars in which the issues are explored and discussed in more detail.   Both lectures and seminars will require preparatory reading.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs