Course Descriptions

Gender & Women's Studies

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"? HSSStaff

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. HUMMRoy-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.FHord

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.ASinger

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? PGold

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. HUMMRoy-Fequiere

GWST 222: Women and Modern Chinese Literature (1)
This course explores the crucial role that women played in shaping modern Chinese literature. We will make close readings of short stories, autobiographies, novel excerpts, and complete novelettes of mostly female writers, exploring the ideas, themes, and theories that they were exploring while breaking new ground. We will also be dissecting these readings through our own contemporary literary lenses as a means of expanding the students' skills of literary interpretation and criticism that will be a concomitant benefit to the expansion of the students' knowledge of China and both its literary and historical past.WDu

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.HSSKKampwirth

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.ACivettini

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. HUMMRoy-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. HUMMRoy-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. HUMWYoung

GWST 248: Teaching Assistant (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.CDenial

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. HHoffmann

GWST 273: Topics in Women's and Gender History (1)
See description for GWST 373. CDenial

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. KShaw

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. MRoy-Fequiere

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? HSSHHoffmann

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. HUMMRoy-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. NEberhardt

GWST 332: Gender Studies in German Literature and Culture (1)
How is gender constructed in the intellectual and literary history of German-speaking countries, and what are the interrelations between gender construction and the life of cultural or political institutions? Possible course topics include: literature as a gendered institution; sexuality and the state; education; gay/lesbian literature; gender and race. HUMTHeidt

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. KKampwirth

GWST 348: Teaching Assistant (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. CDenial

GWST 383: Women Playwrights (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. ECarlin 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. PGold

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