Kara French

History

Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies

Fall 2017

This course provides an introduction to the critical, theoretical, and historical study of women, gender, and sexuality from a feminist perspective. Our readings will range across a wide body of feminist scholarship in order to familiarize you with key questions, theoretical tools, and issues within the field. The course aims to sharpen your awareness of how gender operates in institutional, personal and cultural contexts. Topics include feminist histories, gender and sexual identity, body images/representations, women’s labor, and political activism.

Because Gender Studies grew out of feminist activism, this course will explore the relationship between how we generate knowledge about gender and sexuality, and how we create social change aimed at the achievement of justice and equity on all fronts. As such, an important element of this course is a community-based activism project that will challenge you to apply your knowledge of gender and sexuality outside the classroom.