Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies

This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to issues to women's and gender studies by examining the diversity of gender and sexuality across categories of race-ethnicity, class, disability, age, and immigration status. Participants examine how such statuses influence the diverse experiences of people under a variety of social conditions. The primary goal of this examination is to consider explanations for the representations that emerge in these areas. Concepts central to feminist theory are introduced as preparation for continued work in gender, sexuality, and women's studies. This course is a requirement for both the major and minor in gender, sexuality, and women's studies. C21:DI, HC, HU.

Curriculum: DI, HC, HU

This course introduces the fundamental aspects of human sexuality, a cross-cultural perspective on human sex, and the categories of gender in various cultures worldwide. It reviews important themes in human sexuality and draws on interdisciplinary materials to introduce essential subjects such as the anatomical, physiological, and emotional aspects of sexuality; sexually transmitted diseases, sex in a college environment, variations in sexual behavior, and sexual health. The course situates North American ideas of sexuality by emphasizing a culturally relative perspective on sex and gender. C21:GE, NW, SS.

Curriculum: GE, NW, SS

Systems of sexuality and gender in ancient Greece and Rome were very different from our own. The aim of this course is to explore the cultural construction of sexuality and gender in ancient Greece and Rome, approaching them through their depictions in the archaeological and literary record. We will consider questions such as the status of women and the context of misogyny, the multiple manners in which masculinity was constructed, the societal role of same-sex relations, the presentation and visualization of sexuality, desire, and the body. This interdisciplinary approach will allow us to gain an understanding of what Greek and Roman systems of sexuality and gender were, how they changed over time, and how they can be used to offer insights into the shaping of our own cultural and personal attitudes towards sexuality and gender. Counts towards GSWS major or minor, and CLAS major or minor.

Marriage is one of the central institutions of society in Western Europe and the United States. While the practice has endured for centuries, societies have continually negotiated and renegotiated the definition and purpose of marriage as well as debated the appropriate behaviors of spouses. This course will examine how the lives of married women in Europe and the American colonies evolved from the early modern era to the contemporary period in the context of these continuous debates about marriage and women's roles in it. Topics include how marriages were made (courtship, dowries) and ended (divorce and widowhood), pregnancy and childbirth, wives and work, the ideal wife, wives in power and politics, and female spirituality and religion. Other issues, such as sexuality, education, and child rearing will be woven into these main themes. This course can count towards the European OR American requirement on the history major and minor as well as a historical emphasis course on the gender, sexuality, and women's studies major and minor.

This course is designed to analyze the impact of changing development strategies on the lives of women in the Third World and especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as to see how women have responded to these strategies. One major aim of the course is to examine how colonialism and later development policies have affected the status of women, and to examine critically the goal of the "integration of gender in development." Differences of ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, age, and class will be taken into consideration. Counts on the majors/minors in international studies and gender, sexuality, and women's studies. Offered alternate years.

Beliefs about witchcraft are ubiquitous. Every society—even the most "enlightened" ones—have had episodes where the idea that certain people can harm others through supernatural means was manifested in deadly or embarrassing ways. This course will investigate the history of witchcraft from the ancient world up to the present day. Along the way, students will ponder the various theories of witchcraft as well as study how circumstances and theory sometimes intersected in horrific witch-hunts. Students will be challenged to put themselves into the shoes of people in the past and to recognize—without being judgmental—that witch beliefs had logic, even if that logic does not always make contemporary sense. As a result of this exploration, students should begin to recognize that the strands of witch beliefs that ran through the ancient and early modern worlds are still with us in the present day. Offered alternate years. C21:HC,HU.

Curriculum: HC,HU

Writing by and about women across time and geography. The course examines both literature and feminist literary criticism to explore a range of topics, including how expectations of women's and men's roles have affected women's access to and practice of writing, how differences of culture, race, sexuality and nationality register in women's texts, how women writers see themselves in relation to various literary traditions, and how distinguishing women's writing as a separate field poses both advantages and problems for the study of literature.

This course will explore the different kinds of feminist theories produced by a variety of thinkers both inside and outside academia. The course will stress the interdisciplinary character of gender, sexuality, and women's studies and the diversity of thought within feminist inquiry. Counts on the major/minor in gender, sexuality, and women's studies. Offered alternate years.

This course explores the diversity of women's familial, political, economic, and social realities in the Maya Diaspora. Particular attention will be given to the shifting gender and cultural patterns from pre-colonial times to the present. Through ethnographic readings, films, and class activities, the course will examine the concept of diaspora, the processes of cultural change, resistance, and retention, and the role that gender plays in these processes. Counts on the majors/minors in international studies and gender, sexuality, and women's studies.

This course is designed as an introduction to feminist film criticism, theory, and film-making. It examines both the images of women in classic cinema as well as films made by women and various feminist film-making strategies. The first part of the course is devoted to introducing students to the field of film analysis and to examining the representation of women on screen. In the second half of the course, we will look at different manifestations of feminist film making ranging from the traditional to the experimental, addressing issues of race/ethnicity and sexuality in addition to those of gender. We will also look at women as consumers of films, dealing thus with the reception aspect of cinema and gender. Works include films by American and European (German, French, Dutch) film makers. Offered every three years. C21: AE,HU,OC

After surveying the conceptual foundations of gender, the course surveys research on gender differences in verbal and non-verbal communication. Then, the course considers these differences within contexts such as the family, friendship, intimate relationship, school politics, and various workplaces. Finally, the course considers how mass media communications (television, movies, music, advertising) affect societal and personal definitions of gender. Throughout the course, the relationships among gender, power, and communication are stressed. Offered alternate years.

These courses focus on areas of gender, sexuality and women's studies not specifically covered in the general curriculum and are designed to meet the needs of advanced students.

The main goal of this course is for students to prepare a research proposal for their capstone project. Projects may be interdisciplinary in nature, should reflect a student's area of interest and/or enhance preparation for graduate study. Senior status. Students may select a field research topic or a library research project in a specialized area in contemporary research in gender, sexuality, and women's studies. C21:CS.

Curriculum: CS

Students who have prepared a research proposal for GSWS 400 actually conduct the research and write up a report paper in consultation with a faculty member with expertise in the area of interest of the student. The final research paper will be presented to members of the gender, sexuality, and women's studies program by the end of the term in which the research is conducted. C21:EL.

Curriculum: EL

This course provides an opportunity for interested students to gain practical experience with the application of gender, sexuality, and women's studies principles and methodologies through field placement with an appropriate community agency or non-governmental organization. One term only. Senior gender, sexuality, and women's studies majors. C21:EL.

Curriculum: EL

Students in this course are placed in a community agency or non-governmental organization and follow an arranged set of readings relevant to their internship experience with their instructor and site supervisor. Senior or junior status. Application required; see Internship Program. C21:EL.

Curriculum: EL