Asian Studies: Body Politics in East Asia

This course examines how the body has been a central site of power in twentieth- and twenty-first-century East Asia. You’ll explore how ideas about gender, sexuality, race, disability, and the nation are imposed on the body, and how these ideas are challenged and redefined. The focus is on East Asia, with examples from South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam. Topics include military prostitution, transnational adoption, population policies, disability activism, cosmetic surgery and more.

You’ll draw on diverse fields, from critical adoption studies, postcolonial theory, gender and queer theory to anthropology, history, and sociology, to understand how power operates through bodies in everyday life, policy, and across borders. 

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

You’ll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, presentations and film screenings. The seminars are small and interactive, giving you space to share ideas and learn from others.

Active participation is expected and supported with regular feedback. The course encourages critical thinking and open discussion in a respectful setting.

The assessment includes an oral presentation (3 credits) and a final take-home exam (4.5 credits). 

This course is a strong choice if you're interested in power, resistance, and gender in Asian societies. It’s well suited for students considering careers in international development, human rights, journalism, cultural analysis or research.

You’ll build skills in critical thinking, cultural awareness and interdisciplinary analysis, useful in roles across NGOs, policy, media and education.

The course also prepares you for further study in Asian studies, sociology, gender studies, anthropology, or history. 

Prerequisites

Bachelor's degree in social sciences or humanities, and English 6.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 16,875
First payment: SEK 16,875

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.