• 2012-2013 Courses:
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Fall 2012

• WGST 112: Introduction to LGBT/Queer Studies

  This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary examination of sexual desires, sexual orientations, and the concept of sexuality generally, with a particular focus on the construction of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender identities. The course will look specifically at how these identities interact with other phenomena such as government, family, and popular culture. In exploring sexual diversity, we will highlight the complexity and variability of sexualities, both across different historical periods, and in relation to identities of race, class, and ethnicity. 6 credit; Humanities, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Humanistic Inquiry, Intercultural Domestic Studies; offered Fall 2012 -- A. Russo

• WGST 400: Integrative Exercise

  6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013 -- Staff

Winter 2013

• WGST 234: Feminist Theory

  Feminism has to do with changing the world. We will explore feminist debates about changing the world using a historical framework to situate feminist theories in the context of the philosophical and political thought of specific time periods and cultures. Thus, we will follow feminist theories as they challenged, critiqued, subverted and revised liberalism, Marxism, existentialism, socialism, anarchism, critical race theories, multiculturalism, postmodernism and post-colonialism. We will focus on how theory emerges from and informs matters of practice. We will ask: What counts as theory? Who does it? How is it institutionalized? Who gets to ask the questions and to provide the answers? 6 credit; Social Sciences, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Social Inquiry, International Studies; offered Winter 2013 -- B. Allen

• WGST 240: Gender, Globalization and War

  This course examines the relationship between globalization, gender and militarism to understand how globalization and militarism are gendered, and processes through which gender becomes globalized and militarized. We will focus on the field of transnational feminist theorizing which both "genders the international" and "internationalizes gender." We will take up the different theoretical and disciplinary approaches to this project, as well as the perspectives and methods put forth for studying gender, race and class transnationally. We will explore how economic development, human rights, and the politics of resistance (particularly in the NGO sector) are gendered. 6 credit; Social Sciences, Social Inquiry; offered Winter 2013 -- M. Sehgal

• WGST 315: Queer Ethnographies Across Latin America and the Caribbean

  This course focuses on the history and culture of non-normative gender and sexualities across Latin America, the Caribbean and its diaspora. Our focus will question the changing meanings and boundaries of gender and sexuality and their dynamics with race, sex and class across the continent, through the exploration of queer ethnographies primarily. Students will complete the course with a more complex understanding of the historical and cultural embeddedness of sexual identities, practices and communities in the Americas. 6 credit; Social Sciences, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Social Inquiry, International Studies; offered Winter 2013 -- A. Russo

• WGST 400: Integrative Exercise

  6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013 -- Staff

Spring 2013

• WGST 110: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies

  This course is an introduction to the ways in which gender structures our world, and to the ways feminists challenge established intellectual frameworks. However, because gender is not a homogeneous category but is differentiated by class, race, sexualities, ethnicity, and culture, we also consider the ways differences in social location intersect with gender. 6 credit; Humanities, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Humanistic Inquiry, Intercultural Domestic Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- A. Igra

• WGST 205: The Politics of Women's Health

  This course will explore the politics of women's health from the perspective of women of different races, ethnicities, classes and sexual orientations in the U.S. The organization of the health care system and women's activism (as consumers and health care practitioners) shall frame our explorations of menstruation, sexuality, nutrition, body image, fertility control, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. We will cover basic facts about the female body and pay particular attention to adjustments the body makes during physiological events (i.e. menstruation, sexual and reproductive activity, and menopause). We will focus on the medicalization of these processes and explore alternatives to this medicalization. 6 credit; Social Sciences, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Writing Requirement, Social Inquiry, Writing Requirement, Intercultural Domestic Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- M. Sehgal

• WGST 215: Feminist Practices, Activism and Social Change

  This course introduces students to the study of feminist practices. What is the relationship of feminist theory to feminist practice? What is feminist activism? What tactics and strategies have feminist individuals and collectives undertaken for social change? How have some strategies been successful, while others have failed? Through a set of course readings and open small-group dialogue the course will look at a variety of tactics and strategies feminists have undertaken for social change. The course will enable students to experiment with some strategies, learn through the process of doing and reflect on theory and practice through hands-on learning projects. 6 credit; Social Sciences, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, Social Inquiry, Intercultural Domestic Studies; offered Spring 2013 -- A. Russo

• WGST 400: Integrative Exercise

  6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013 -- Staff