2012-13 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
Women's Studies Gender Studies (WSGS)
All Women's Studies Gender Studies Courses
WSGS 2220 Women's Issues (3 credits)
WSGS 2223 Men's Issues (3 credits)
An exploration of the theoretical and social construction of masculinities. Hegemonic masculinity is examined in an attempt to understand the challenges it has created for men, women, and children. Students engage in reading, writing, and conversations about how gender and masculinity shape and impact relationships, family, work, education, and society. Personal beliefs and values related to masculinity are also addressed.
WSGS 2600 Women And Diversity: Crossing Boundaries Of Race, Class, Gender & Sexuality (3 credits)
An integrated study of the complexity and diversity of historical and contemporary realities of women across culture, race, class, age, ethnicity, and sexual identity with an emphasis on the ways these are inextricably intertwined and rooted in the structure of social institutions. Moves from a personal awareness of women's issues toward a social, political, economic, and cross-cultural analysis. Students will examine their own lives and values and those of others regarding privelege, power, prejudice, and discrimination. Prerequisite: WSGS 2220 or WSGS 2223. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 7
WSGS 3100 Topics In Women's Studies Gender Studies (3 credits)
WSGS 3220 Gender Politics (3 credits)
An examination of the capacity of political thought and action among women and men. Students explore how women and men approach the public sphere, and their identification with particular parties in the United States. Political issues are further examined by looking at the ways in which men and women understand political thinking and how they evaluate issues and candidates. In an attempt to go beyond conventional understandings of political engagement and leadership, students will discuss what it means to engage in contested forms of political interpretation, how the public and private sphere is politicized, and how a discussion of politics is intimately related to politics of the body. (Might not be offered every year)
WSGS 3330 International Gender Issues (3 credits)
An examination of gender issues from an international perspective, with particular emphasis on both distinguishing national practices and analyzing connections between these practices. This course explores the cultural construction and representation of gender, and also focuses on the way in which gender contributes to economic and cultural inequality. Students use a comparative international framework to evaluate the relation between gender and global issues. (Might not be offered every year)