MWG-104 IGNOU Handwritten Assignment 2026-27

Course Scope and Syllabus Overview for MWG-104: Gendered Bodies and Sexualities

MWG-104: Gendered Bodies and Sexualities is a core course within IGNOU’s Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies (MAWGSR), designed to critically interrogate the intersections of gender, embodiment, and sexuality across historical, cultural, and socio-political contexts. This course explores how bodies—whether through biological norms, disability studies, reproductive roles, or sexual practices—are constructed, regulated, and contested within patriarchal and heteronormative frameworks. Through interdisciplinary lenses, students analyze theoretical frameworks (e.g., feminist theories of embodiment, queer theory, and postcolonial critiques) while engaging with real-world case studies on bodily autonomy, medicalization, and sexual cultures. The curriculum equips students with analytical tools to challenge dominant discourses and advocate for inclusive, rights-based perspectives on gendered experiences.

Key Syllabus Units and Topics

• Block-1: Embodiment-I: Examines the philosophical and sociological foundations of embodiment, tracing how gendered bodies are shaped by biological determinism, medical discourses, and cultural narratives. Key themes include the intersection of race, class, and gender in bodily experiences, as well as critiques of essentialist frameworks.
• Block-2: Embodiment-II: Focuses on the performativity of gendered bodies, analyzing how identities are constructed through daily practices, fashion, and bodily modifications. The unit explores Foucault’s panopticism and Butler’s gender performativity, linking theoretical insights to contemporary movements like drag culture and body positivity.
• Block-3: Abled Bodies and Disability: Challenges ableist assumptions by centering disability studies within gendered analyses. Students critique the medical model of disability, examine the social construction of impairment, and study feminist disability activism, including intersections with sexuality and reproductive rights.
• Block-4: The Mother’s Body: Decolonizes maternal narratives by interrogating the myth of the "natural" mother, examining reproductive labor, surrogacy debates, and the commodification of motherhood. The unit also explores postcolonial critiques of maternal caregiving and its gendered burdens.
• Block-5: Sexual Cultures: Maps the historical and cultural evolution of sexual norms, from Victorian morality to contemporary LGBTQ+ movements. Topics include queer theories of desire, the politics of sex work, and the role of media in shaping sexual identities, with a focus on South Asian contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the passing mark for MWG-104, and how are assignments weighted in the final grade?
A: The passing mark for MWG-104 is 50% aggregate, with assignments contributing 30% to the final score. Assignments are graded on depth of analysis, theoretical engagement, and adherence to academic writing standards, while the remaining 70% comes from the term-end examination.

Q: Are there any specific guidelines for referencing sources in MWG-104 assignments, or should I follow a particular citation style?
A: IGNONU expects assignments to use Harvard (Author-Date) citation style for MWG-104. Ensure in-text citations and a bibliography list are included, referencing academic journals, books, and credible online sources (e.g., peer-reviewed articles from Feminist Studies, Gender, Place & Culture). Avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and attributing all ideas directly.