Course Descriptions

GWST 101 Women, Culture, and Society (1)
An introduction to the analysis of culture and society from a feminist perspective. Using gender as a category of analysis, and with attention to the distribution of power in society, we explore such questions as: What are the shaping influences on women's lives and how do women's lives compare with men's? What is the interplay of gender, race, and class in cultural forms and social institutions? What kinds of biases have shaped our understanding of biological "facts," literary "value" and historical "importance"? HSS; DV; Staff

GWST 206 Theory in the Flesh: Writings by Feminists of Color (1)
This course is an introduction to the rich and diverse contributions of women of color to feminist theory. We investigate the question of why many non-white, non-middle class women have challenged the claims and practices of Euro-American feminism. Black, Chicana, Asian-American and Native American feminists address race and racism as it affects their lives and invite white feminists to do the same. The goal is to renegotiate a basis for feminist solidarity. HUM; DV; Cross Listing : BKST 206; M.Roy-Fequiere;

GWST 207 Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement (1)
An historical survey of Black women in the modern Civil Rights Movement, especially of their significant contributions. We shall explore the virtual silence regarding those contributions for almost a quarter of a century and how that silence was broken. The most prominent organizations will be examined and the gender and class issues that evolved. Finally, the sexism of Black men in the movement will be assessed, along with interracial relationships. Cross Listing : BKST 207; F.Hord;

GWST 208 The Sociology of Gender (1)
This course provides an examination of the ways in which social systems create, maintain, and reproduce gender dichotomies with specific attention to the significance of gender in interaction, culture, and a number of institutional contexts, including work, politics, family, and nation. Prereq : Sophomore standing and previous coursework in sociology; Cross Listing : ANSO 208; A.Singer;

GWST 211 Friendship, Love, and Marriage in Historical Perspective (1)
A study of the historical diversity in the personal relationships of friendship, love, and marriage. The course focuses on a sample of past cultures, with comparison to modern American culture. Questions considered include: What is the emotional content of such relationships? How do they fit within (or conflict with) larger social and economic structures? How do factors of gender, race and class affect these relationships? Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : HIST 211; P.Gold;

GWST 221 Gender and Literature (1)
Emphasis is on the use of gender as a category of analysis by which to examine literary characters, styles, and techniques, as well as the circumstances and ideology of authors, readers, and the literary canon. HUM; DV; Cross Listing : ENG 221; M.Roy-Fequiere; staff.;

GWST 227 Women and Latin American Politics (1)
The varied roles that women play in politics--from international politics to personal politics--are considered. The focus is on the different ways in which women define their interests and act upon them, but gender in a broader sense (including men's roles) is analyzed. This course will analyze these issues in the context of a number of Latin American countries.HSS; Prereq : one course in social science or gender and women's studies required; DV; W; Cross Listing : LAST 227; K.Kampwirth;

GWST 228 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (1)
The course examines the gendered experiences of women and men in a range of cultures to try to come to some understanding of the factors--economic, socio-cultural, religious, political and biological--that could account for the similarities and differences in gender ideologies and behavior. HSS; Prereq : GWST 101 or ANSO 102; DV; Cross Listing : ANSO 228; N.Eberhardt;

GWST 229 Women and American Politics (1)
This course examines various roles of women in American politics with particular emphasis on women as candidates and in elective office. The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the major arguments in the field of women and politics, and to promote discussion of the impacts of women's political participation at all levels of American political life. Cross Listing : PS 229; A.Civettini;

GWST 235 African American Women Writers (1)
A broad survey of the poetry, fiction, autobiographies and literary criticism of African American women. Beginning with late eighteenth-century poetry, we explore the themes and images of black women and men, language, settings, and form of that literature. With African American women at the center of discourse speaking as subjects, we further examine the interlocking of gender, race, and class and the uniqueness of their experience as reflected in their literature, as well as how the historical context of internal colonialism has affected their voices. HUM; DV; Cross Listing : BKST 235; M.Roy-Fequiere;

GWST 238 Latin American Women Writers (1)
The past two decades have seen the rise of an unprecedented number of Latin American women writers who have made important aesthetic contributions to the literary traditions of their countries. This course examines some of their works paying special attention to the gendered politics and poetics of the text. Among some of the works included are Nellie Campobello's novels of the Mexican Revolution, the testimonial narrative of Elena Poniatowska, the magical realist works of Isabel Allende. All works are read in English translations. HUM; Prereq : sophomore standing; Cross Listing : LAST 238; M.Roy-Fequiere;

GWST 243 Philosophies of Feminism (1)
This course explores the theoretical frameworks by which feminists explain the exploitation and oppression of women. The aim of this course is to understand how feminists conceive of sexism, how they model a nonsexist society, and the manner in which they believe this society may be established. We proceed historically, beginning with Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of A Woman, ending with contemporary feminist issues. Among the varieties of feminist thought covered are Enlightenment feminism, cultural feminism, Marxist feminism, psychoanalytic feminism, radical feminism and contemporary French feminism. HUM; Prereq : sophomore standing; Cross Listing : PHIL 243; W.Young;

GWST 248 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

GWST 250 Independent Study (1/2 or 1)
Staff

GWST 269 U.S. Women's History (1)
This course examines American history from the vantage point of women, and considers the impact of gender on economic, cultural, social, and political issues over time. Alternate years. Cross Listing : HIST 269; C.Denial;

GWST 271 Human Sexuality (1)
An analysis and discussion of information and misinformation concerning human sexual anatomy and physiology, evolutionary and historical foundations of attitudes towards sexuality, sexuality research, sexual response and techniques of arousal, emotional health, contraception, STDs, diversity and cultural issues. Various research techniques are also discussed. Student participation and presentation are a major part of the course. Prereq : one 200-level psychology course; O; Cross Listing : PSYC 271; H.Hoffmann;

GWST 273 Topics in Women's and Gender History (1)
See description for GWST 373. Prereq : Sophomore standing, previous coursework in history, or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : HIST 273; C.Denial; P.Gold;

GWST 275 Psychology of Gender (1)
This course is an introduction to the psychological literature on gender. Both men's and women's issues are covered. Emphasis is placed on the analysis and interpretation of research findings, as well as a critique of research methodologies. Students are asked to design and conduct small-scale research projects, the results of which are reported in papers due at the end of the term. The course concludes with analysis and discussion of special topics chosen by students. Prereq : PSYC 100 or GWST 101; Cross Listing : PSYC 275; K.Shaw;

GWST 280 Feminist Methodologies (1)
The course examines the fundamental questions characteristic of the interdisciplinary field of Women's Studies, and explores the contributions of feminist scholarship in several specific disciplines that contribute to this field, such as literature, history, anthropology and sociology, philosophy of science, and psychology. Readings include both classic statements and recent writings. Prereq : one previous course in Gender and Women's Studies or permission of the instructor; M.Roy-Fequiere; staff.;

GWST 295 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Courses offered occasionally to students in special areas of Gender and Women's Studies not covered in the usual curriculum. Staff

GWST 312 Gay and Lesbian Identities (1)
This course draws on the wealth of recent scholarship in lesbian and gay studies that examines ideas of culture, sexuality and identity. We explore questions like: How is identity formed? What place do sexual orientation and sexual practice have in an individual's identity, and how does this vary over time and across cultures? What does it mean to say that sexual orientation has a biological base? How do research questions in different disciplines focus our attention in certain directions to the neglect of others? HSS; Prereq : junior standing; W; DV; Cross Listing : PREC 312; H.Hoffmann;

GWST 325 Beyond Stereotypes: Exploring Literature by Chicanas (1)
During the past two decades Chicana writers have produced an innovative literature that not only dialogues with the male Chicano literary tradition, but vibrantly asserts its own core themes and stylistic and thematic contributions. We examine the innovative narrative, poetry and essay production of Chicana writers such as Gloria Anzaldua, Lorna Dee Cervantes, Elena Viramontes, Sandra Cisneros and Lucha Corpi among many others. HUM; Prereq : junior standing; DV; Cross Listing : AMST 325; M.Roy-Fequiere;

GWST 326 Psychological Anthropology: Self, Culture, and Society (1)
How is our subjective experience of ourselves and others shaped by the social and cultural context in which we live? How might one investigate this? Are Western accounts of human psychology valid cross-culturally? Drawing on recent research in the field of psychological anthropology, this course takes a comparative approach to such topics as emotional experience and its expression, gender identity, the role of power in social life, language and discursive practices, notions of self and personhood, and the indigenous representation of these in various 'folk theories' or ethnopsychologies. Prereq : two courses in Anthropology and Sociology and junior standing; Cross Listing : ANSO 326; N.Eberhardt;

GWST 332 Gender Studies in German Literature and Culture (1)
The course introduces students to Gender Studies in German literature as well as to leading literary paradigms of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Literary Gender Studies often concentrates on the representation of gender in literature. This course adds an additional perspective: it also focuses on the gender of literature. Literature is associated with practices and faculties of the mind that carry connotations of masculinity and femininity: notions such as material and form, production and shaping are typically thought of in terms of gender and sexual reproduction. The different ways in which literature is gendered not only determine the type of literature produced, but they also have a decisive influence on the access men and women have to literature as authors and readers. Therefore, we also look at biographical documents, such as letters, that reflect the forms and motivation of gender bias in literature as an institution.HUM; Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : GERM 332E; S.Klocke;

GWST 333 Global Feminism and Antifeminism (1)
This course will examine backlashes against feminist movements, and against states and global forces that seek to mobilize men and women into more egalitarian roles. Considering examples from the United States, South Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Latin America, this course will consider what sorts of people become antifeminists; how they organize within countries; how that organization has varied across time and cultures; and how international feminists have responded to these challenges. Prereq : at least one HSS course in which gender is a major theme; DV; W; Cross Listing : PS 333; K.Kampwirth;

GWST 348 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

GWST 350 Independent Study (1/2 or 1)
Staff

GWST 373 Topics in Women's and Gender History (1)
Topics vary year to year. Current topics include: "Women, Gender and the American Revolution" - analyzing the form and function of gender in the revolutionary era; and "Women's History through Autobiography" - the history of women in Europe and America from the 17th century through the 20th using autobiographies written by women. Course may be repeated for credit. Prereq : HIST 285, GWST 280, or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : HIST 373; C.Denial; P.Gold;

GWST 377 Women Playwrights: The Search for the Female Voice in Contemporary World Theatre (1)
Analysis of the works of female playwrights who represent diversity in race, nationality, perspective, and style. A brief review of the evolution of feminisms is traced in order to identify the areas of thought and conflict that most influence the condition of the female writer and specifically the playwright. Prereq : junior standing or permission of the instructor; DV; Cross Listing : BKST 377; E.Metz;

GWST 386 Women's History (1)
An introduction to the primary sources through which we can know about the lives of women in the past, and to the range of historical writing now being done in the field of women's history. A variety of topics and methodologies in the field of women's history are examined. Students also pursue research in an area of special interest. Prereq : previous work in history or Gender and Women's Studies; W; Cross Listing : HIST 386; P.Gold;

GWST 395 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Courses offered occasionally to students in special areas of Gender and Women's Studies not covered in the usual curriculum. Staff

GWST 400 Advanced Studies (1/2 or 1)
See College Honors Program. Staff