Religion: Muslims, Gender, & Sexuality

Intermediate courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Pre reqs: Three hours in Religion Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations. PACE students by permission and override.

Muslims, Gender, & Sexuality is a brand new course in which we will explore how Muslims understand gender and sexuality, across time and location. We will examine the ways in which religious actors understand themselves and others, interpret and reinterpret religious ideals, identities, and ideologies via theoretical texts, case studies, memoir, and media. Topics may include: men and masculinity, the so-called "woman question" in Islam & in studies about Islam, pious fashion, LGBTQIA+ Muslims, and gendered Islamophobia, in a range of historical periods and regional locations.

Class structure is a mix of seminar-style engaged discussion and interactive lecture. Most classes feature a student discussion leader (see evaluation) to encourage discussion, critical reading, and analysis. Guest lectures, possible Zoom visits from readings' authors, and primary source readings are features.

may include: precis (student-led discussion assignment & reading summary); multi-part research project, with public humanities project as product (e.g., podcast, blog post, op-ed, etc); events attendance; engaged participation.