SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER

Catalog description

(Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies) This course is an introduction to the sociology of gender, an important part of the way we live and structure our lifestyles. Taking an intersectional approach, we will learn how gender works with race, class and sexuality to inform our personal identities and how these identities intersect with institutions like the family, the criminal justice system and the labor market. The purpose of this class is not to conclude with one "proper" way to think about gender but to acknowledge the complexity and nuances that define both men and women in our society. We will spend time talking about men and masculinity using examples from films and other forms of media to analyze the way gender is constructed, negotiated and enforced through these mediums. By the end, students should be able to critically analyze the ways gender is defined and applied to our everyday lives.