This course introduces the basic vocabulary of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies through an exploration of central questions in the field. What is the difference between sex and gender and how are the two related? What are sexual and gender identities? How are sex, gender, and sexuality shaped by society, culture, and history? What is their relationship to politics? How do gender and sexuality intersect with each other as well as with other aspects of identity/experience like race and class? What is meant by terms like sexism, heterosexism, heteronormativity, homonormativity, transmisogyny, and cisgender privilege? How are sex, gender, and sexuality created and maintained in mainstream culture? How have social movements challenged and changed norms around gender and sexuality? We will explore these and other questions throughout this semester-long introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.

Dates: June 21 - July 16, 2021