80 courses with the subject WGSS, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
WGSS 001Gender and Society4
The course introduces students to key concepts, theoretical frameworks, and interdisciplinary research in the field of Women’s and Gender Studies. Examines how gender interacts with race, age, class, sexuality, etc., to shape human consciousness and determine the social organization of human society. The course may include topics such as: gender and work; sexuality and reproduction; women’s health; media constructions of gender and race; gender, law, and public policy. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW
WGSS 012(IR 012) Sex, Power and International Politics4
This course introduces gender as an important category of analysis in the study of international politics. Mainstream scholarship typically overlooks how international processes like war, globalization, and economic development affect people differently according to their gender. Additionally, women have historically had limited access to foreign policymaking processes, which may affect policy outcomes. In this course, we will focus on these aspects of gender in international politics to gain a richer understanding of contemporary global issues. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW
From celebrity self-defining agents of material abundance (Jay Z) to those posthumously made gods after tragically succumbing to socially-sanctioned sacrifice (Breonna Taylor), “New Black Godz” explores black icons at the center and margins of promise and peril. Following hip hop and black expressive cultures’ signifying on gods, we explore means/modes of black godz’ creative manipulation of identity and social difference, and ingenuity of transmuting “problem” status into creative ingenuity at the crossroads of social mobility and the limits of escape. Attribute/Distribution: HU
Intensive study of a topic of special interest not covered in other courses. May be cross-listed with relevant offerings in major department or other programs. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: AL, CC, HE, HU, SS, SW, W
This course explores how women have expressed their agency, authorship, worldview, and power through music, and how women have used music to navigate their place in social contexts throughout history. Students engage with representations of womanhood in music in a variety of ways, including the contributions of women as performers, composers, conductors, patrons, and teachers; the portrayal of women in opera, musical theater, and contemporary popular music; expressions of gender and sexuality in music; and feminist perspectives in musical criticism. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU
WGSS 104(ENGL 104) Special Topics in Gender Studies4
This course will involve extended study in a sub-area of English language culture, and literature with a focus on gender, sexuality, and/or race/ethnicity. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
Through the study of selected visual and literary works in their historical and social contexts, students will gain knowledge of Japan. This course examines various cultures from the perspectives of gender and sexuality as constitutive factors of Japanese society. Materials include a film depicting a romantic life of samurai, art works by contemporary women artists, and writings on sex workers, impacted by the Japanese empire. Students will be exposed to feminist theories in this course; taking WGSS001 is recommended prior. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
A history of women artists from Renaissance to present day, with emphasis on artists of the 20th and 21st century from a global perspective. We explore attitudes toward women artists and their work as well as the changing role of women in art world. There may be required visits to museums and/or artists’ studios. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU
WGSS 124(HIST 124) Women and Gender in US History4
Roles of women in American society from colonial to present times : attitudes toward women, female sexuality, women's work, and feminism. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W
WGSS 125(HIST 125, HMS 125) Does Sex have a History? The History of Sexuality in the United States4
Explores the history of sexuality in the United States from the colonial era to the present. While sexuality can appear timeless and stable, sexual ideologies, categories, and behaviors have consistently evolved and have transformed society in the process. The class pays special attention to relationships between sexuality, race, class, and the state, as well as how law, medicine, and the media have shaped sexual identities and experiences. In so doing, the class develops sophisticated readers of historical and contemporary cultures. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
WGSS 126(AAS 126, HIST 126) How Black Women Made Modern America4
This course introduces students to the significant themes and events that have shaped the African American women’s historical experience from slavery to the present. We examine the social, political, and economic meaning of freedom for women of African descent. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU
Students in this course view human sexuality through a sociological lens. This includes theory, research methods, and topics such as LGBTQ identities, family formation, sex work, teenage sexuality, sadomasochism, and sexual technologies. We pay particular attention to ways in which sexual behavior is regulated, as well as social constructions of “the normal.” Course material focuses on the United States, although students are encouraged to bring cross-national perspectives into papers and class discussions. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW
Race, Gender and Work is a class designed to help students understand racial and gender inequalities as they relate specifically to work and employment. We explore the origins and histories of inequalities, the ways in which inequalities persist and/or change today, and what steps might be taken toward creating a more equal society. Attribute/Distribution: SS
WGSS 129(DES 129, THTR 129) History of Fashion and Style4
Global trends in dress and culture from pre-history to today. The evolution of silhouette, garment forms and technology. The relationship of fashion to politics, art and behavior. Cultural and environmental influences on human adornment. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU
WGSS 131(AAS 131, GS 131, HIST 131) Women, Gender, Sexuality and Race in African Societies4
This course explores the various ways in which womanhood, gender, sexuality and race are defined, constructed and articulated in African societies. The interdisciplinary course draws from historical writings, novels, biography, anthropology, political science, health and other fields to examine diverse activities and contributions of African women from the pre-colonial period to the present. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
Widely considered one of the best TV shows ever made, Mad Men demonstrated that television serial drama could combine virtuoso storytelling, cinematic visual style and historical ambition. Set in a New York ad agency in the 1960s, Mad Men both opens a window onto the past and holds a mirror up to the present. We will analyze Mad Men’s innovative visual and narrative style and explore two core themes: shifting gender roles and the influence of advertising in U.S. society. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU
What do women say in their writings when their voices are silenced? How does silence speak to you? How do gender, sexuality, class, and power articulate one another? Through the study of selected short stories, novels, films, and anime, this course examines various voices, cultures, histories, and societies in Japan. No prior knowledge of Japanese language is required. An introductory course taught in English. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU, W
How do Jews of all genders tell their stories? What are the varied Jewish approaches to sexuality? How have feminist movements affected Jewish rituals? In this course, we will consider how religion, gender, sexuality, race, and class intersect in the lives of Jews, with a particular focus on North America. Topics will include: Jewish women’s memoirs; the voices of LGBTQ Jews; recent innovations in Jewish ritual and leadership; Jewish masculinities; and the gendering of Jewish children’s literature, among others. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
An examination of concepts, values, and assumptions relevant to gender and sex(uality) in our diverse society, investigating how they affect our lives in both concrete and symbolic ways. Intersections among gender, sex(uality), race, class, religion, ethnicity, etc., will be explored. Special attention will be paid to how gendered assumptions color our understandings of experiences of embodiment and emotion, reasoning and decision-making, knowledge production, and public and private relationships and activities. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU
WGSS 147(ENGL 147, FILM 147) Made to Kill: Female Violence in Popular Film4
Heroes. Monsters. Outlaws. Catsuits. In the wake of the second-wave feminist movement, U.S. films in the horror, thriller, and action/adventure genres began to represent women as perpetrators of violence more frequently and in new ways. This course examines how iconic films from the last four decades, such as The Silence of the Lambs, Alien, The Hunger Games and Wonder Woman, have both reflected and shaped the ongoing cultural debate about gender, sexuality and power. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU
WGSS 149(ENGL 149, FILM 149) Sexbots and Terminators: Cinematic Fantasies of the Intelligent Machine4
For decades, film and television narratives have represented human relationships with robots to explore existential issues in human life: love, sex, mortality, labor, domination, exploitation. Could robots solve the difficulties of human intimacy? Could artificial intelligence enable us to cheat death? What do sex robots reveal about misogyny? Why are human/AI relationships so frequently imagined in Western narratives as master/slave relationships? Films and TV shows may include The Matrix, Ex Machina, Her, Terminator 2, Black Mirror and Westworld. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU, W
WGSS 154(ENGL 154, FILM 154) What Does Creativity Look Like? Documentary Visions4
What can documentary films tell us about creativity? What is it and why does it matter? This course takes an intersectional approach to creativity, centering the role of gender, sexuality, race and class in the lives and work of the artists and activists represented in the course films. We will also analyze the creative visual and narrative strategies these documentaries employ to shape the stories they tell. Students will have an opportunity to document the creativity of their own communities. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU
WGSS 164(AAS 164, SOC 164) Sociology of Black Families4
The objective of this course is to help students learn more about Black family experiences within the United States and globally. In approaching the course with an intersectional lens, students will learn about the varied experiences of Black families, and the ways in which these experiences are embedded in empowerment, disempowerment, and self-actualization. Students will leave the course understanding Black families at the intersection of fatherhood, motherhood, marriage, singlehood, childrearing, LGBTQ families, interracial families, transnational families, and aging. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW
WGSS 165(GS 165, REL 165) Global Feminism in a Postsecular World4
This course examines global women’s religiosity through transnational feminist and postsecular perspectives. We ask how colonialism, nation-building, Enlightenment ideals, capitalism, migration, racism, and xenophobia have shaped women’s religious lives worldwide. Focusing on religion’s role in modern identities and justice movements, we analyze categories such as class, gender, race, sexuality, and nation. The course challenges fixed notions of “womanhood,” exploring how intersectional frameworks and spiritual practices generate transformative possibilities for feminist thought, resistance, and social change across global contexts. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU
WGSS 173(ASIA 173, REL 173) Sex, Celibacy and Sainthood: Buddhism and Gender4
This course explores themes of sexuality, celibacy, gender, and sainthood in East Asian religions. We will pay special attention to the experiences of religious women from many walks of life and time periods, from traditions including Buddhism, Daoism, and shamanism. Through film, poetry, autobiography, philosophical writing, visual art, and descriptions of visionary experience, students will encounter Buddhist and Daoist nuns, lay women, mothers, shamanic healers, oracles, activists, and royalty, from Tibet, Korea, Japan, China, and the U.S.. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
Selected social and political issues relating to the role of women in American society. Focuses on such questions as economics equality, poverty, and work roles, the older woman, gender gap, political leadership, reproduction technology, and sexual violence. Attribute/Distribution: SS
Intensive study of a topic of special interest not covered in other courses. May be cross-listed with relevant offerings in major department or other programs. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: AL, CC, HE, HU, SS, SW, W
Universities are often sites of political protest. Some of these protests are expressive but ineffective, others can spark revolutions and regime change. Why? What distinguishes universities as sites for resistance? What makes students prone to mobilization? The study of politics can seem like an abstract pursuit, one that is not relevant to our lives. This course takes the scholarly literature on social movements and applies it to the university. Students will engage in social activism as part of this course. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW
Analysis of the nature, sources, and consequences of the oppression and exploitation of women and justification of strategies for liberation. Topics include women’s nature and human nature, sexism, femininity, sexuality, reproduction, mothering. Student must have completed at least one Philosophy course at the 100-level, or one course in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Attribute/Distribution: HU
This course explores how algorithms reflect and magnify social inequality. Topics include race, gender, sexuality, and class in the context of policing and punishment, search engines and social media, and ranking and optimization. Readings, discussions, and assignments are designed to cultivate transdisciplinary competence in the history of science and technology, feminist theory, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, and to encourage peer-to-peer learning across the humanities, social science, and engineering. Attribute/Distribution: Q
Independent study of selected topics designated and executed in close collaboration with a member of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies faculty. May be repeated for elective credit. Consent of program director required. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HU, SS, W
Intensive study of a topic of special interest not covered in other courses. May be cross-listed with relevant offerings in major department or other programs. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HU, SS, W
Supervised participation in various aspects of the teaching of a course. Consent of instructor, department chairperson, and permission of the Dean required. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
This intercultural history of the Grimms’ fairy tales investigates how folktale types and gender stereotypes developed and became models for children and adults. The course covers the literary fairy tale in Germany, Europe and America. “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Cinderella”, or “Sleeping Beauty” exist not only in the Grimms’ collection but in many forms of world literature/film. Modern authors have rewritten fairy tales in feminist ways, promoting social change. Taught in English. German language students may receive a German component. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
WGSS 304(ENGL 304) Special Topics in Gender Studies II 34
This course will involve extended study in a sub-area of English language, culture, and literature with a focus on gender, sexuality, and/or race/ethnicity. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
WGSS 306(AAS 306, SOC 306) Ain't I a _____? Black Identity and Gender Politics4
Focuses on race and gender from the sociological perspective. In this course, students will explore why both race and gender matter when we think about Black people's daily experiences within their families, friendship circles, and other intimate relationships. The course also explores how race and gender experiences are informed by economical and political structures. Attribute/Distribution: SS, SW, W
WGSS 311(ENGL 311) Representations of Gender and Sexuality3-4
This course explores constructions of gender and sexuality in literature from different historical periods, traditions, and nationalities. How do female and male writers envision what it means to be a “woman” or to be a “man” at various moments in history and from various places around the world? How have gendered (and sexed) identities been shaped in various constraining and empowering ways in the literary imagination? What specifically gendered issues (such as love and violence) have been represented in literature? Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU, W
WGSS 316(POPH 316) Global Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice3
This course explores sexual reproductive health issues through the lens of reproductive justice, human rights, and gender equity. Using case studies from around the world, students analyze such topics as unmet family planning needs, contraception, abortion politics and access to care, cross-border reproductive travel, sexually transmitted infections and HIV prevention and care, evidence around inclusive vs. abstinence-based sexual education, adolescent health, LGBTQAI+ health, refugees and populations in transit, declining birth rates, pronatalist policies, Assisted Reproductive Technologies, surrogacy, and egg freezing. Attribute/Distribution: DEIN
WGSS 322(AAS 322, HIST 322) African Women, Voices and Lives3-4
This course traces the changing history and status of African women. It positions their voices and biographies at the center of broader narratives that often perceive them as powerless, emerging from a lineage of poverty and oppression, and without agency. What happens when African women speak for themselves? We will explore the intersections of gender, class, race, and power to emphasize how women have been instrumental in shaping African history from the pre-colonial period to the present. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
WGSS 325(HIST 325, SOC 325) History of Sexuality and the Family in the U.S.3-4
Changing conceptions of sexuality and the role of women, men, and children in the family and society from the colonial to the post World War II era. Emphasis on the significance of socioeconomic class and cultural background. Topics include family structure, birth control, legal constraints, marriage, divorce, and prostitution. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W
WGSS 326(LAS 326, SPAN 326) Tradition and Resistance: Women Writers of Latin America4
Study of poetry and narrative works by Latin American women writers. Authors include Rosario Ferré, Rosario Castellanos, Elena Poniatowska, Cristina Peri Rossi, among others. Prerequisites: SPAN 152 Attribute/Distribution: AL, CC, HU, W
Reading and discussion of works written by women in French. The emphasis is on 19th and 20th Century writers, such as G. Sand, Colette S. de Beauvoir, M. Duras, Andrée Chédid. Attribute/Distribution: AL, HU
WGSS 330Internship in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies1-4
Supervised work in women's organizations or settings, combined with an analysis, in the form of a major paper, of the experience using the critical perspectives gained in WGSS courses. Placements arranged to suit individual interests and career goals; can include social service agencies, women's advocacy groups, political organizations, etc. Consent of program director required. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Prerequisites: WGSS 001 Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, W
WGSS 331(GS 331, SOC 331) Gendered Experience of Globalization4
Women and men experience globalization differently and globalization affects women in different cultural and national contexts. Gender stratification has been intensified by the transnational flow of goods and people. provides students with a survey of new development in feminist theories on globalization and on gender stratification and development, and links these theoretical frameworks to empirical research about gender issues that have become more prominent with globalization. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W
WGSS 334(HMS 334, PSYC 334) The Psychology of Body Image and Eating Disorders4
The course addresses the psychosocial aspects of the development of healthy and unhealthy body image and eating disorders. The roles of personality traits/individual factors, family and interpersonal functioning, and cultural factors will be examined, as will the impact of representations of body image in mass media. Public health and psychological interventions for prevention and treatment will be explored. Personal accounts/memoirs, clinical case presentations, and documentary and dramatic films will be incorporated in the presentation of topics. Attribute/Distribution: SS
WGSS 342(GS 342, POLS 342) Gender and Third World Development3-4
Focus on gender implications of contemporary strategies for Third World economic growth, neo-liberalism. How do economic theories affect ‘real people?' How do economic theories affect men vs. women? What is the role of people who want to ‘help?' Some background in economic theories and/or Third World politics desired, but not required. Prerequisites: POLS 001 or WGSS 001 Attribute/Distribution: SS
WGSS 344(SOC 344) Bad Girls: Gender, Sexuality, Deviance4
This course focuses on people who perform their gender and/or sexuality in ways that fall outside of the norm. Topics include, but are not limited to: commercial sex workers, dominatrixes, transpeople, stay-at-home dads, and drag queens. We will regularly discuss readings in the context of current events and popular culture. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W
WGSS 345(ENGL 345) Women and Revolution in Early America3-4
This course explores how opportunities and possibilities for women transformed (or remained the same) during the long eighteenth century. Which early American women could participate in public life and under what circumstances? Did early American values such as liberty and independence extend to women—and to which women? Which women, if any, felt like they had a “revolution” in 1776? Captivity narratives, poetry, novels, and other public writing by early American women will help us explore these issues. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
WGSS 349(POLS 349) Greed: Social Policy for Profit4
This course examines criminal justice, housing, health, education, and welfare policies across US states through the lenses of class, race, gender, and sexuality. Students will learn how social regulations structure opportunities and assess the implications of those opportunity strucures.
An upper-level seminar serving as a capstone experience that challenges students to systematize insights gained from introductory and elective courses through the more deeply analytical lens of feminist theory. Consent of program director. Prerequisites: WGSS 001 Attribute/Distribution: CC, W
An upper-level seminar that challenges students to explore the value of feminist and queer theories for addressing cultural texts as well as understanding contemporary social and political issues by applying theories of gender and sexuality. Prerequisites: WGSS 001 and ENGL 100 Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
WGSS 360Promoting Women's Rights at the United Nations: NGOs in Gender Advocacy4
This course provides a structured practical experience to learn about the dynamics of NGO/UN relationships in women's rights advocacy and introduces students to the major challenges facing women globally. We read recent research shared at the UN about gender-based violence, gender disparities in healthcare, women in leadership, and other topics outlined by the Declaration. Students engage with the Commission on the Status of Women, attending sessions, interviewing participants, and observing NGO/UN interaction in action. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW
This course explores the writings, culture, and afterlives of Jane Austen, often considering the interrelations of Austen’s novels with various adaptations and variations of her stories. Students explore the efficacy, complexity, and social impact of Austen’s works through a variety of critical approaches to ask different questions about slavery and abolition, the French Revolution, British imperialism, and women’s equality. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU, W
WGSS 363(ENGL 363) Gender and Sexuality in Early Modern Poetry3-4
In sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England, poetry was a culturally significant literary form in which authors explored a range of pressing issues. Our readings will be drawn from canonical and non-canonical authors, and we will pay attention to how poetic form intersects with explorations of gender and sexuality. This study of gender and sexuality in the poetry of one historical period will enable us to think more broadly about how literary texts participate in—and help to shape—social and cultural norms. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, W
Sociological analysis of families in the United States, including investigations of historical and contemporary patterns. Issues addressed include parenting, combining work and family, divorce and remarriage, family policies. Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W
Primary focus is on race, gender, and class as axes of disadvantage and privilege in work and employment. We will explore both theories and empirical studies of inequality as well as their social, political, and practical ramifications for the workplace. The course will be conducted seminar-style and the class will rely heavily on student participation. Attribute/Distribution: SS
WGSS 369(ASIA 369, GS 369, POLS 369) Women's Movement in China4
We will examine the state-sponsored, state-directed mass movement for the liberation of Chinese women. Beginning with Confucian notions of mother/daughterhood, to imperial system, to the role of women in the founding and establishment of the Communist Party of China, to the participation of women and girls in the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Gender equality issues have been a central focus of the Party. The class will look at post-reform era women's status and ask, “did the Party liberate women?” Attribute/Distribution: SS
Supervised work in on-campus student services office such as the Gender, Leadership, and Empowerment Center, the Pride Center, Office of Gender Violence, etc, allows students to bring critical perspectives on women and gender into the campus community. This course may be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 6 credits. Prerequisites: WGSS 001 and consent of the Center director and WGSS director. Pre-req of WGSS 001 may be waived for internship with Pride Center with consent of Center director. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Prerequisites: WGSS 001 Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, W
Subject
WGSS
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Repeatable
may be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 6 credits.
WGSS 380(HMS 380, POLS 380) The End of Policing? Politics of Social Control4
"What are your prime directives? Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law" (Robocop 1987). This course focuses on policy design and feedback and is not a course on police procedure or policing tactics. The primary objective of the course is to learn to think critically about public safety and evaluate policies based on their value to democracy. Attribute/Distribution: CC
Intensive study of a topic of special interest not covered in other courses. May be cross-listed with relevant offerings in major department or other programs. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, HU, SS, SW, W
WGSS 393(AAS 393) Black Feminist Thought and the Media Industries4
From the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom to Lifetime’s investigative series Surviving R.Kelly, recent media highlights injustices faced by black women in the media industries. This course historicizes the place of black women within media, introduces students to Black Feminist Thought, and unpacks concepts such as hypervisibility, intersectionality, and womanism. It explores how race and gender manifest in (and are challenged by) the creative industries. Course fills major and minor requirements in AAS and WGSS. Attribute/Distribution: SS
Research during senior year culminating in a senior thesis. Consent of program director required. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: CC, W
This intercultural history of the Grimms' fairy tales investigates how folktale types and gender stereotypes developed and became models for children and adults. The course covers the literary fairy tale in Germany as well as Europe and America. Versions of "Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella", or "Sleeping Beauty" exist not only in the Grimms' collection but in films and many forms of world literature. Modern authors have rewritten fairy tales in feminist ways, promoting social change. Taught in English. German language students may receive a German component.
This seminar explores constructions of gender and sexuality in literature from different historical periods, traditions, and nationalities. Content changes each semester. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: HU
WGSS 415(POPH 415) Global Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice3
This course explores sexual reproductive health issues through the lens of reproductive justice, human rights, and gender equity. Using case studies from around the world, students analyze such topics as unmet family planning needs, contraception, abortion politics and access to care, cross-border reproductive travel, sexually transmitted infections and HIV prevention and care, evidence around inclusive vs. abstinence-based sexual education, adolescent health, LGBTQAI+ health, refugees and populations in transit, declining birth rates, pronatalist policies, Assisted Reproductive Technologies, surrogacy, and egg freezing.
WGSS 422(AAS 422, HIST 422) African Women, Voices and Lives3
This course traces the changing history and status of African women. It positions their voices and biographies at the center of broader narratives that often perceive them as powerless, emerging from a lineage of poverty and oppression, and without agency. What happens when African women speak for themselves? We will explore the intersections of gender, class, race, and power to emphasize how women have been instrumental in shaping African history from the pre-colonial period to the present.
WGSS 449(POLS 449) Greed: Social Policy for Profit3
This course examines criminal justice, housing, health, education, and welfare policies across US states through the lenses of class, race, gender, and sexuality. Students will learn how social regulations structure opportunities and assess the implications of those opportunity strucures.
A graduate seminar providing foundational study of multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks of women, gender, and sexuality studies. Attribute/Distribution: HU, ND
Study in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member on the literature of an issue, period, country or culture within gender history. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated. Attribute/Distribution: HU
WGSS 460Promoting Women's Rights at the United Nations: NGOs in Gender Advocacy3
This course provides a structured practical experience to learn about the dynamics of NGO/UN relationships in women's rights advocacy and introduces students to the major challenges facing women globally. We read recent research shared at the UN about gender-based violence, gender disparities in healthcare, women in leadership, and other topics outlined by the Declaration. Students engage with the Commission on the Status of Women, attending sessions, interviewing participants, and observing NGO/UN interaction in action.
Primary focus is on race, gender, and class as axes of disadvantage and privilege in work and employment. We will explore both theories and empirical studies of inequality as well as their social, political, and practical ramifications for the workplace. Attribute/Distribution: SS
We will examine the state-sponsored, state-directed mass movement for the liberation of Chinese women. Beginning with Confucian notions of mother/daughterhood, to imperial system, to the role of women in the founding and establishment of the Communist Party of China, to the participation of women and girls in the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Gender equality issues have been a central focus of the Party. The class will look at post-reform era women's status and ask, “did the Party liberate women?”
Individually supervised course in area of women, gender, and sexuality studies not ordinarily covered in regularly listed courses. Consent of program director required. Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
WGSS 493(AAS 493) Black Feminist Thought and the Media Industries3
From the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom to Lifetime’s investigative series Surviving R.Kelly, recent media highlights injustices faced by black women in the media industries. This course historicizes the place of black women within media, introduces students to Black Feminist Thought, and unpacks concepts such as hypervisibility, intersectionality, and womanism. It explores how race and gender manifest in (and are challenged by) the creative industries. Course fills major and minor requirements in AAS and WGSS.
