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Women's and Gender Studies
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Women's and Gender Studies course offerings WMGS 110 / HUMA 110 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies This introductory course will focus on one central question: what difference does gender make? By examining a variety of texts (articles, novels, film, popular culture), we will learn not only how to analyze issues of power, gender and identity, but we will also relate those issues to the wider world around us. Specific thematic units include socialization, violence, work, the female body, language, sexuality, motherhood and the family, race, globalization and voices from the third wave of feminism. It is recommended but not required that students take the Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies course before the other required courses. Fall semester. WMGS 260 / SOCI 260 Gender and Culture What is gender and how is it related to culture? This anthropology course takes a cross-cultural look at the concept of gender, examining men’s and women’s roles, masculinity, femininity and sexuality as they are expressed around the world. Particular attention will be given to gender as it relates to popular forms of culture and everyday life. Both the history of anthropological studies of gender and new directions in the field will be introduced. Extensive use of films, videotapes and student-directed projects. Spring semester, alternate years. WMGS 309 / HIST 310 Women in Latin America This course examines the diverse experiences and roles of women in Latin American history from the Spanish Conquest to the present. While emphasizing national, ethnic, racial and class diversity, the course also addresses common themes in these women’s lives such as cultural ideals and norms, work and economic influence, marriage and family and participation in civic and political life. Additionally, in the shrinking global village, women everywhere are increasingly involved in and connected by, international issues such as cultural imperialism, human rights and the global economy. International issues will be explored and comparisons with women in other regions of the world will be made. Alternate years. WMGS 311 / ENGL 311 Women and Literature Exploring literary texts by women, we will examine how the construction of “woman,” sex and gender has changed over time and investigate how it intersects with issues of race, class, sexuality and nation. By using feminist literary theory, we will engage with the most pressing issues in the field from early ideas of a particular women’s literary voice to contemporary claims that challenge female authorship altogether. Special topics may include contemporary women writers; gender and the 19th century novel; and ethnic women Writers. Authors may include Virginia Woolf, Adrienne Rich, Gloria Anzaldna, Audre Lorde, Bharati Mukherjee, Dorothy Allison, Edwidge Danticat and Marjane Satrapi. Alternate years. WMGS 318 / RELS 318 Feminist Theology - GS 1 (Upper) This course introduces students to feminist theology as a theology of liberation, examines its foundations in feminist theory and Christian revisionist sources and explores its contributions to the Christian, especially the Catholic, faith tradition. Spring semester. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (Upper) – Religious Studies. WMGS 324 / RELS 324 Women in the Bible – GS 1 (Upper) This course will have as its main focus the women of the Bible. We will read stories that will surprise, shock and educate as to the role women played in biblical times. This course will read the Old and New Testament stories of women in light of the interpretative issues present in feminist theology and biblical interpretation. Throughout the course, students will continue to reflect on questions concerning the role of women in contemporary society. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (Upper) – Religious Studies. WMGS 335 / HIST 335 Women and Work This course examines the topic of women and work historically, with attention to change over time in the work histories of African and American women. Throughout, we will explore women’s working lives in the context of the gendered social norms within which they have lived. Within this general framework, the course will examine types of occupations such as domestic work, prostitution, farming, agricultural work, market trading and professional/managerial work.The course will also explore the intersections of work with marriage and parenting and the effects of race and class upon women’s working lives. Alternate years. WMGS 351 / HIST 351 Women, Gender and Imperialism From the 1850s through the 1950s, Western women played significant roles in British colonies in Africa and India in the fields of education, public health and missionary work. These woman believed that they could improve the lives of non-Western women by acculturating them to the norms of their own middle-class, Western and Christian lives. The course will explore how these women tried to reshape key social institutions in Africa and India such as marriage, parenting, medical practices and religion. This course will also explore how the women and men these individuals came to “civilize” in turn shaped the cross-cultural encounter through their powerful reactions to the often unwelcome acculturating messages they received. The course draws upon historical materials and autobiographical, literary, missionary and travelers’ accounts to investigate these events. Spring semester, alternate years. WMGS 360 / SOCI 360 Feminist Theory This course takes a sociology of knowledge approach to the development of feminist theory from the 18th century to the present. The variety of modern and postmodern feminist theories are placed in social, political and historical context. Primary source examples of each school of thought are read, applied and evaluated. Because feminist thought has been a response to the conditions of women throughout history, women’s oppression at various points in history will be covered. Prerequisite: Alternate years. Instructor’s consent. WMGS 489 Feminist Perspectives on International Relations This course focuses on various feminist theories of international relations (IR) and includes feminist interpretations of mainstream IR theories. The course examines the gendered nature of important IR concepts such as power, state and security and includes a feminist analysis of IR practices such as war, peace, diplomacy, terrorism and development. Based on interdisciplinary knowledge and alternative methodologies, this course examines the implications of a gendered analysis of international relations. Alternate years. WMGS 490 Independent Study This course allows staff and students to explore together topics of special interest. Prerequisites: approval of the Women’s and Gender Studies Advisory Committee. WMGS 494 Internship in Women’s and Gender Studies This internship experience allows students to apply their studies in a supervised work situation. Students benefit from an inside look at different kinds of organizations, by having a chance to work in their field of study and by gaining experience with state of-the-art equipment and practices. Junior or senior standing and Instructor’s consent. - |
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Women's and Gender Studies Phone: (920) 403-3119 |
