Gender and Sexuality Studies

CHI 307 Images of Women in Chinese Literature and Film 3 Credits

This course will introduce students to the (change of) status of women in China through literature and film. Students will explore the rich Chinese literary traditions and examine how the images of women are represented by both male and female writers/directors in fiction and film of different historical periods. In the process of such exploration and examination, students will also examine how the literary movements and their historical, social, cultural and political contexts shape, and are shaped by, each other. They will learn to understand how diverse the experiences of Chinese women are. While students will be exposed to both classic and modern/contemporary literary traditions, the focus will be on the latter, such as May 4th New Culture Movement, Maoist revolutionary literature, (Post-Mao) Wound/Scar Literature, Root-Searching Literature, etc. Classes are in English.

ENG 350 Sex and Sin in Early American Literature 3 Credits

A seminar on literature in the United States from its beginnings to 1800, emphasizing the changing and conflicted nature of religious beliefs and sexual identities in Early America. Students will read and analyze diverse literary genres including diaries, letters, essays, novels, short stories, poems, and sermons.

ENG 375 Literature and Sexuality 3 Credits

The study and application of theories of gender and sexuality in various periods of British and/or American literature. Possible course topics include the literature of AIDS, the literary history of sexuality, Gothic literature and sexuality, colonialism and desire, and sensibility and sexuality in the later 18th century.

GSS 100 Introduction to Gender Studies 3 Credits

An introduction to the role of gender in human experience, examining the biological, historical, literary, artistic, and institutional manifestations of gender, and exploring the intersections of gender, sex, and sexuality.

GSS 110 Race, Class and Gender in Contemporary American Society 3 Credits

This interdisciplinary course analyzes the ways in which race, class, gender and ethnic relationships shape the experience of all persons in this society. It examines the categories of race, class and gender as social constructs that have been historically developed and sustained by economic, social, political, and cultural factors. Note: This course is cross-listed with MCS 110. Students may only get credit for one course: MCS 110 or GSS 110.

GSS 200 Introduction to Women's Studies 3 Credits

An interdisciplinary investigation of traditional and contemporary gender roles, and of women’s status, identity, and potential. Required for minor.

GSS 230 Women In Literature 3 Credits

A range of literary presentations of the female experience and of the conditions of women’s lives is explored. These works are placed in historical and social contexts in order to see behind and beyond traditional literary conventions. Cross-listed with ENG 230.

GSS 235 Current Feminist Issues 3 Credits

This course examines historical and contemporary debates about controversial issues involving women, gender, and equality. The course will highlight feminist concerns with race, class, sexuality, and gender norms, focusing broadly on society, culture, the economy, politics, and law. Students will learn to contextualize, analyze, and evaluate arguments on multiple sides of these controversies.

GSS 240 Sex and Human Nature 3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to the scientific study of human sexual behavior, mate choice, and reproduction. Questions of interest include: How is sex determined? How are males, females, and intersex individuals different biologically? How do individuals' sexual strategies tend to differ? Why do we experience sexual jealousy? Are humans actually evolved to form long-term pair-bonds? What determines sexual orientation? Answers to these questions will be considered in light of the reproductive science of humans and our evolutionary ancestors.

GSS 245 Popular Constructions of Gender and Sexuality 3 Credits

This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the constructs that society creates and maintains with relation to sexuality and gender. As we are increasingly confronted with images of gender and sexuality, it becomes vital to interrogate the origins of these images from a variety of disciplinary perspectives in order to analyze and critique these constructs. Students will be introduced to theoretical approaches to analyzing popular constructs of gender and sexuality from a variety of areas, including (but not limited to) the humanities, the physical sciences, and the social sciences.

GSS 300 Feminist Literary Criticism 3 Credits

This seminar explores the diversity within feminist literary analysis. Various national, ethnic and cultural standpoints are represented and the different as well as the common assumptions within feminist thought will be discussed.

GSS 309 Women in American History 3 Credits

Examines the roles, status, and influence of women from the colonial era to the present. Studies the origins and development of feminism, including legal, political, educational, economic, and sexual rights; and studies social feminism, including reform movements in such fields as abolition, prohibition, pacifism, child labor, and social welfare.

GSS 310 Special Topics 3 Credits

Studies in specialized areas of feminist scholarship. Topics change according to instructor and are listed in the course roster.

Prerequisite: one previous course in gender and sexuality studies or permission of instructor.

GSS 312 Gender, War and Peace 3 Credits

Through readings in literature, history, political science, philosophy, and psychology, the course will explore critically the myths linking feminine gender with pacifism and masculine gender with aggression. Various perspectives on peace and war, the history of peace movements, and women’s as well as men’s participation in war will be considered.

GSS 313 Gender and Ethics 3 Credits

An interdisciplinary seminar involving a concentrated study of recent works in feminist theory, with special attention to issues such as: Do men and women have different ethical perspectives and different styles of moral reasoning? How do the “ethics of care” differ from the traditional “ethics of justice?” Can the models of justice and care be integrated into a more comprehensive theory?.

GSS 318 Gender and Communication 3 Credits

Focuses on interactive relationships between gender and communication in contemporary American society. It connects theory and research with practice to explore multiple ways communication in families, schools, media, and society in general creates and perpetuates gender roles. It is designed to heighten students’ awareness of how we enact socially created gender differences in public and private settings and how this affects success, satisfaction, and self-esteem. Note: This course is crosslisted as GSS 318. Students may not get credit for both COM 318 and GSS 318.

GSS 319 Gender and Sexuality in American History 3 Credits

What makes a man, exactly, and what makes a woman? What kinds of sex are normal, and what kinds are abnormal? Who decides, and why? The answers to these questions are not fixed. Throughout American history, popular understandings of gender and sexual norms evolved in close relationship with the political, economic, racial, and social dictates of the time. This course will trace the evolution of ideas on sec and gender from the 18th century to the present using various historical sources including fiction and film, particular attention will be given to analyzing dominant models of proper behavior and the complex relationships of power enmeshed within them.

GSS 320 Sex, Gender, and Fairy Tales 3 Credits

From the early literary fairy tale by Italian authors, to 17th-century French women writers who named and popularized the genre, to the 18th- and 19th-century stories geared toward children, to Disney and beyond, students will analyze fairy tales to see what they tell us about gender and sexuality historically and today. Students will read classic fairy tales from around the world and look at feminist and queer retellings, examining how fairy tale themes and motifs permeate our culture.

Prerequisites: CMP 125 or BHP 150.

GSS 322 Witch Hunts: Femicide Through Centuries 3 Credits

We will look at the perceived definitions of “witch” and “witchcraft” in relation to establishing medieval to modern gender codes. Our detailed study of perceptions of witches and their practices will reveal the power dynamics, social constructions and definitions that aided in the demise of countless women labeled as “witches” throughout history. Considerable time will be spent in exploring the internal controversy within the field of witchcraft studies regarding the use of words such as “genocide,” “femicide,” and “gendercide.”.

GSS 333 Gender and Sport 3 Credits

Typical thoughts of sport include ticket prices, player salaries, team rosters, and league standings; rarely is it viewed from a gender perspective. This course will go beyond the examination of Title IX to better understand the relationship between masculinity, femininity and sports. This course will examine various aspects of gender and sport, including media and gender representation, race and ethnicity, drugs and violence, men and masculinities, sexualities, policy and politics, the feminist critique of sport, the initiation rites and hazing in college sports, sports wagering, and the internationalization of sport, including but not limited to the Olympics and Paralympics.

GSS 350 Leadership and Community 3 Credits

Designed for all students whose future plans include community service, organizing, and leadership, this course will study organizing in response to domestic violence, discrimination on the basis of gender and sexuality, sexual harassment, and other issues that are significant for women and/or the LGBTQ community. Building coalitions, skills for leadership, and strategies for effective organization will be covered in readings and in class discussions and students will practice what they have learned by volunteering in a local nonprofit organization.

GSS 375 Transgender Narratives 3 Credits

An introduction for Gender and Sexuality Studies minors and other interested students to the interdisciplinary field of transgender studies. Students will learn to distinguish between transsexual, transgender, transvestite, and intersex identities; to explore cross-cultural gender diversity; to recognize diverse subcultural expressions of gender, such as cross-dressing, camp, and drag; to identify long-standing stereotypes about trans people; and to understand trans people’s narratives about hormonal or surgical gender transition through literary and multimedia genres.

GSS 400 Seminar in Transcultural Gender and Sexuality 3 Credits

This seminar offers an opportunity for upper-level students to engage in a multidisciplinary study of the constructions of gender and sexuality in a variety of cultural contexts across the globe. Topics change according to instructor. Required for minor.

Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior standing.

GSS 490 Independent Study: Research and Creative Expression 1-4 Credits

Independent Research and Study allows juniors and seniors in good academic standing to investigate topics of interest under faculty supervision. Projects must be approved by the faculty member, department chairperson, and academic dean no later than the third week of the semester in which the project is to be conducted. Only one project can be scheduled in a semester, and for no more than four semester hours; up to 12 semester hours of independent research and study may be counted toward graduation. Note that individual departments may have additional restrictions.

GSS 491 Internship 1-4 Credits

HIS 249 Women in Europe from Antiquity to the French Revolution 3 Credits

Traces the history of women in Europe from Rome to the French Revolution, covering the religious, social, political, and economic context in which women participated. Also offers a brief overview of theories and issues in women’s history and gender history.

HIS 309 Women in American History 3 Credits

Examines the roles, status, and influence of women from the colonial era to the present. Studies the origins and development of feminism, including legal, political, educational, economic, and sexual rights; and studies social feminism, including reform movements in such fields as abolition, prohibition, pacifism, child labor, and social welfare.

HIS 342 Women in East Asia 3 Credits

Treats the history of the relationship between women and society in traditional East Asia and the modern transformation of their relationship.

MCS 110 Race, Class and Gender in Contemporary American Society 3 Credits

This interdisciplinary course analyzes the ways in which race, class, gender and ethnic relationships shape the experience of all persons in this society. It examines the categories of race, class and gender as social constructs that have been historically developed and sustained by economic, social, political, and cultural factors. Note: This course is cross-listed with GSS 110. Students may only get credit for one course: MCS 110 or GSS 110.

MGT 320 Managing Workforce Diversity 3 Credits

Demographic shifts, changing patterns of labor force participation, global competition, and a growing cultural emphasis on the celebration of difference have all contributed to the creation of diversity as a hot topic in management. This course explores the opportunities and challenges of the increasingly diverse workforce emerging in the United States today. We will address the knowledge and skills managers must develop in working with others who are different from themselves. Some of these differences are obvious- gender, race, age, and physical characteristics. Other differences are not as easily observed - family structure, educational level, social class, and sexual orientation. This class incorporates experiential learning techniques for personal growth.

Prerequisite(s): MGT 201 or PSY 210.

PHL 230 Philosophy of the Sexes 3 Credits

Studies philosophical views of the differences between the sexes, sexual equality, love, marriage, and the family from ancient Greece to the 20th century. Texts from the contemporary women’s and men’s movements will also be examined. This course counts towards the fulfillment of the Disciplinary Perspectives element of the CLAS general education curriculum.

POL 280 Sex & Gender in International Politics 3 Credits

What’s a student of political science, International Relations (IR), or another social science field to do about feminism? This is a question that has troubled IR for decades. While feminist debates engaged people in spaces outside the disciplines of political science and particularly IR, IR scholars did their best not to see the relevance of feminism for their own debates. That did not stop some feminists from rethinking key IR concepts like power, race and the state, but such contributions were largely ignored by IR scholars until very recently. It was only in the last decades, when feminist questions pushed their way onto the IR agenda through books, journals, and conferences, that feminism suddenly seemed attractive to IR scholars. Designed as an interdisciplinary course with a strong reference to Global and International Politics, this course will provide a basic introduction to some of the major global questions as seen through a feminist lens.

PSY 118 Psychology of Women 3 Credits

Examines the psychological development of women in our culture from birth to maturity, with an emphasis on the interaction of biological and social influences on personality, social behavior, and achievement of women. Investigates psychological sex differences in terms of current measurement approaches. Readings and text are drawn from psychological theory and research.

PSY 374 Psychology of the Family 3 Credits

This course examines the significance of family in human development. Using prominent themes of developmental psychology, such as: the role of attachment in forming human relationships, the significance of context in understanding human development, and the resilience of development; this course will explore the existing research on the family. Students are asked to consider their own experiences as members of a family, as well as to understand the variety of ways family impacts development across the lifespan.

Prerequisite(s): (PSY 100 or PSY 102 or PSY 110 or PSY 131) and 45 credits.

SOC 205 Families 3 Credits

Examines families in the United States, past and present, emphasizing the variety of family experiences in different social contexts and the relationship between family life and social change. Includes comparative material on families in other countries and considers possible alternatives to current family forms.

SOC 304 Women and Law 3 Credits

Explores the social, economic, political and cultural context of laws relating to women and gender, such as workplace discrimination, divorce and child custody and reproductive rights. It examines how such laws have changed historically and the impact such laws have had on women as well as on men and on American social institutions, such as the family, politics, and the workplace. The course also examines women in the legal profession and their impact on the practice of law and legal reasoning.

SOC 312 Women in Society 3 Credits

Examines changes in women’s roles and in male-female relationships. Focuses on impact of law, economy and social movements in shaping women’s positions as wives and as workers. Explores theories and evidence concerning the nature and extent of sex differences. Attention to women’s socialization through language, schools and media.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 101.

SOC 316 Feminist Social Thought 3 Credits

An introduction to feminist social theory, with emphasis on its breadth and variety. Special attention paid to the ways feminist theorists have analyzed the relationship of gender to other kinds of group differences.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 101.