Gender and Women’s Studies

This course asks fundamental question such as: What is gender? What is sex? How do cultures construct gender and gender differences? How do gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality interrelate in our society? The course encourages students to find links between their own lives and issues raised by scholars in the field. Readings, discussions and lectures cover material ranging from the humanities to the social sciences.

This course asks fundamental questions such as: What is gender? What is sex? What is masculinity? How do cultures construct gender and gender differences in terms of various perceptions of masculinity? How do ideas of maleness, race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality interrelate in our society? The course encourages students to find links between their own lives and historic and political issues raised by scholars in women's studies. Readings, discussions, and lectures cover materials ranging from the humanities to the social sciences.

Sexual assault. The gender pay gap. Female genital mutilation. Police brutality. Workplace discrimination. Economic inequality. These are just some of the examples of global social injustice that this course examines. Students will be introduced to feminist theories that help them better understand the causes of social injustice and possible solutions. This will include how feminist theories intersect with concepts of race, class, nationality, the environment, sexuality, etc. There will be a particular focus on putting theory into practice by doing activism work for social justice in students' own communities.