Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)

Interdisciplinary introduction to theories and scholarship in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Examines the social construction of gender, how gender affects access to opportunity, and the experiences and contributions of women throughout history. Provides a foundation for subsequent work in the women's, gender, and sexuality studies minor. May be used for general education credit.

Students in this course will explore the biology of sex and gender and consider their interactions and interrelationships through a lens that considers intersectional identities and societal expectations. Topics include reproductive biology, sexual differentiation, gender development and expression, and the interactions between science and society that inform gendered bodies and practices.

Examination of selected topics of importance to the field of women's, gender and sexuality studies.

The goal of this course is to work in a feminist collective to write daily blog posts for the Shout Out! JMU blog. Students will organize the blog, research and write blog posts, publicize the blog, and create dialogue by commenting on one another's blog posts as a means of consciousness raising.

This course explores the historically strong association between women and nature, in which the image of Mother Earth is central, and critiques the power-as-domination assumption of our culture shown in the exploitation of women and of the earth itself. Religious, psychological, social, historical and scientific manifestations of this assumption will be examined, along with alternative models of power and responsibility. Students will explore the considerable research on ecofeminism.

This course introduces students to interdisciplinary theories and methods informing scholarship in women's, gender and sexuality studies.

This multidisciplinary course explores the complex issues that women and LGBTQ communities encounter in non-Western regions of the world. May be focused regionally or topically drawing on multiple disciplinary perspectives.

This course explores the public nature of private violence, specifically violence committed against women in U.S. culture. Students will investigate the social, political and personal meaning of violence within a gendered context. Throughout the course students will analyze the ways in which demographic, social, cultural, economic and political factors teach us to think about women in violent terms as well as help perpetuate violence against women. Students will consider violence not only in its physical dimension, but also in its symbolic and structural manifestations. Students will also examine the ways in which ideas about race, ethnicity, class and sexuality affect the degree and types of violence committed against women.

This course covers foundational sociological theory, research and examination of the lived realities of sex and gender in society. Using a sociological lens, the course explores the interactions, identities and institutions that are implicated in the social construction of gender and gender inequality. A core emphasis is on how individuals learn and "do" gender, how various institutions (e.g., school, work, media and family) produce and perpetuate gender inequality, how gender inequality intersects with other systems of inequality in social life, and movements for gender liberation and justice.

This course is an interdisciplinary examination of the causes, structure and consequences of gender oppression. Consistent with the social justice track of the major, notions of fairness, justice, and equality with respect to gendered social, political and economic relations will be examined.

This course looks at contemporary approaches to the culture and social structure of gender and gender binaries, as they intersect with power, knowledge, science/biology and inequality. Method involves examining and challenging the cultural classification systems that inform knowledge, human action and social institutions. Requires college level reading, writing and intellectual engagement.

This course explores the role of communication in the social construction of gender across a variety of contexts. Students will critically examine the interconnectedness of sex, gender, sexuality, race and class toward understanding systems of privilege and oppression in communication practices and social institutions. Focus is on communication as a tool for personal and social change.

An intermediate-level examination of philosophical problems in feminist theory and feminist contributions to philosophy.

This course invites students to engage a series of issues about the role of women in the US military. This course will examine the contributions and experiences of women who served during the American Revolution, the U.S. Civil War, WW I & II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War(s). Also included in this course is an examination of how women in military service both past and present are an instrument for societal change in America specifically in promoting the cause of women's rights.

This course examines sociological theory and research on sexual behaviors, identities, cultures and social movements, investigating how sexuality is shaped by society and its social institutions. In addition, the course examines how sociological research on sexuality is conducted, how society shapes the sociological study of sexuality, the unique ethical concerns and methodological challenges in researching sexuality and the place of sociology in shaping discourse and social policy on relevant social issues.

A study of literature by women.

An intensive study of a variety of feminist critical approaches and their applications to literature.

An exploration of texts and issues in literature written by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer writers, including critical and theoretical issues as well as questions of canon. Text studied may include fiction, poetry, drama, essays and memoirs written primarily, but not exclusively, in the 20th century.

This course provides students with a critical and cross-cultural perspective on human reproduction. Examining how individuals draw on social and symbolic resources to sort out complicated private decisions, we will discuss how reproductive experiences are embedded in local, national and transnational politics. Topics covered may include: cross-cultural perspectives on childbearing and childlessness, kinship, and the globalization of new reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization.

A study of the causes and consequences of women's political marginalization in the United States and abroad. The course examines socioeconomic and political dimensions of gender inequality, exploring how women have worked through social movements, electoral politics, and public policy initiatives to overcome obstacles to their political empowerment.

This course explores considerations of justice in shaping law and policy related to sexual orientation. The concept of sexual orientation is a relatively recent development in academic, legal, medical and other policy contexts in the United States and globally. Topics addressed in the course include the dehumanization, criminalization, medicalization and oppression of sexual orientation minorities, and legal and regulatory interventions and movements for social justice, criminal justice reform and human rights.

This course explores considerations of justice in shaping law and policy related to gender identity. The concept of gender identity is a relatively recent development in academic, legal, medical, and other policy contexts in the United States and globally. Topics addressed in the course include the dehumanization, criminalization, medicalization, and oppression of transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive populations and legal and regulatory interventions and movements for gender self-determination, social justice, criminal justice reform, and human rights.

The capstone seminar for the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies minor. Focuses on readings in feminist philosophy, history and literature. Students will engage in research in critical issues affecting women's lives.

An international and human rights approach providing an overview of health issues within the context of a woman's life cycle. Attention will be given to critical issues of women's health such as access to health care and gender-based violence. Such issues as sexuality, nutrition, diseases affecting women, violence, harmful traditional practices, and sex trafficking will be discussed.

Surveys key women figures in classical and contemporary rhetorical traditions and challenges the strategies used to historicize this tradition from feminist perspectives. Explores diverse feminist rhetorical discourses informed by race, sexual orientation, ethnicity and social class.

Advanced study of a topic using a gender and sexuality studies approach to literary texts. This course will explore how gender and sexuality and their representation in literature are shaped by social, cultural, historical, and political contexts. Course may be repeated as topic changes. Course may be repeated as topic changes.

Advanced study of women's literary achievements in several cultural and historical contexts. May be focused by theme. May be repeated as course content varies.

An interdisciplinary course that looks at the scientific process, science practitioners, and science students through the lens of gender analysis. Students read literature, lead discussions, perform experiments, and analyze both data and processes to address the effects of educational systems on the preparation and careers of scientists, the influence of politics and culture on scientific inquiry, and the effects of critiques grounded in gender analyses on understanding the scientific process.

Designed to give capable students in women's, gender and sexuality studies an opportunity to complete independent study under faculty supervision.

Provides the student with practical experience in employing and refining women's, gender and sexuality studies concepts in a public or private agency, under faculty supervision.

In-depth examination of selected topics of current importance to the field of women's, gender and sexuality studies. Offered only with approval of the program coordinator and dean of the College of Arts and Letters. May be repeated for credit when course content changes.