Spring 2019

Critical study of controversial social issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, war and terrorism, sexual morality, affirmative action, and economic justice.

Examination of how gender and sexuality have been constructed, experienced, and legislated.

Study of laws concerning marriage, inheritance, slavery, immigration and the allocation of public space and how they have organized historical constructions of race and sex.

Theories of feminism; historical, social and cultural perspectives of the women's movement in America, Europe, and in developing countries; men's roles in the feminist movement.

Cross-cultural analysis and comparison of the experience and cultural conception of birth, maternity, parenthood, and childhood in western and non-western societies.

Exploration of the ways in which developments and policies, including neoliberalism, the carceral state, and economic precarity, are connected and gendered.

A combination of internships in the community and an intensive seminar on the relationship of the students in the academic community with the larger urban community of which it is a part.

Discussion of the relationship between women and the law in light of feminist jurisprudence, U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and cross-cultural perspectives.

Analysis of transgender behaviors, from androgny and transvestism to transexuality. Discussion of changing laws, representations, medical standards, and social attitudes towards transgender and intersex people.

Exploration of shifting social organization and cultural meanings of same-sex desire and cross-gender behaviors in the U.S., primarily during the 20th century.

Exploration of contemporary labor issues from feminist and gender studies perspectives.

Psychological and physiological base of sexuality; gender identity, childbearing, birth control, venereal diseases; dysfunctions and treatments.

Introduction to works of major women writers from the Middle Agesto the 20th century in their literary, social, and cultural contexts.

The impact of conflicting images of reporters in movies and television on the American public's perception of newsgatherers in the 20th century. A decade-by-decade evaluation.

An evaluation of the ways in which different ideologies, institutions, and policies contribute to differences in political power between men and women.

Interdisciplinary examination of social, personal meanings of masculinity; variety of male experience by social class, race, sexuality, and age; emerging masculinities of the future.

How various developmental theories analyze the role of women as producers and how Third World women are increasing their role in development.

Gender and news media evolving images of women and men in print and electronic media. Impact of gender in content and style of news, television and cinema. Open to non-majors.

Independent research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Writing of the honors thesis; for students in the Gender Studies Honors Program. Recommended preparation: SWMS 410.

Study of a selected problem, period, or theme through interdisciplinary approaches.

Women and immigration, employment, and household and family relations in the context of the global economy; women's social and political movements in diverse cultural contexts.

History of feminist theory and major perspectives of current feminist theory: liberal feminism, socialist/Marxist feminism, radical feminism, psychological feminism, spiritual feminism, and ecological feminism.

Research leading to the master's degree in cognate fields. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

History and ideology of gender studies, feminist theory, gay and lesbian discourse, and other studies in feminisms and masculinities in relation to literature.