This course examines how sexual identities, communities, desires, and practices are socially, historically, and culturally constructed. We will look at how people reproduce dominant models of sexuality, as well as how a wide range of people--including lesbians, bisexuals, gay men, transgenderists, and self-described queers--contest the power that operates through dominant models of sexuality.

An examination and analysis of the significance of homosexuality in contemporary U.S. society. Included: traditions of Western thought and the role of institutions, patterns of social change, contemporary social/political movements, socialization and the development of individual identity, and the implications of evolving public attitudes.

An examination and analysis of the significance of homosexuality in contemporary U.S. society. Included: traditions of Western thought and the role of institutions, patterns of social change, contemporary social/political movements, socialization and the development of individual identity, and the implications of evolving public attitudes.

Historical and comparative theories of gender and gender relations. Exploration of key institutions such as family, state, and workplace through which students can understand the social, economic, and cultural factors that create gender and shape what it means to be a man or a woman. Consideration of feminist movements, in a global context, and of relationships of gender to social class, sexuality, age, race/ethnicity, and nationality.

Historical and comparative theories of gender and gender relations. Exploration of key institutions such as family, state, and workplace through which students can understand the social, economic, and cultural factors that create gender and shape what it means to be a man or a woman. Consideration of feminist movements, in a global context, and of relationships of gender to social class, sexuality, age, race/ethnicity, and nationality.

Historical and comparative analysis of women's varying roles, statuses, and life opportunities. Consideration of the feminist movement, past and present, with special emphasis on struggles over conflicting definitions of women's "nature" and potential.

Historical and comparative analysis of women's varying roles, statuses, and life opportunities. Consideration of the feminist movement, past and present, with special emphasis on struggles over conflicting definitions of women's "nature" and potential.

Historical and comparative analysis of women's varying roles, statuses, and life opportunities. Consideration of the feminist movement, past and present, with special emphasis on struggles over conflicting definitions of women's "nature" and potential.

Historical and comparative analysis of women's varying roles, statuses, and life opportunities. Consideration of the feminist movement, past and present, with special emphasis on struggles over conflicting definitions of women's "nature" and potential.

Besides studying a wide variety of material on images, definitions, roles, and activities of women, we will ask ourselves how it is possible to study "women in India" and we will consider how to relate western feminist understandings with Indian traditional and feminist viewpoints.