WGS 1010 - Introduction to Gender, Race, and Sexuality Studies

Credits: 4

Formerly: Gender, Race, and Society
This is the introductory course to the interdisciplinary field of Women’s and Gender Studies. It focuses on gender as a useful category to analyze structures, institutions, relationships, and social problems in the U.S. and globally. Students will learn such key concepts as the social construction of gender, power and privilege, patriarchy, and intersectionality. Using the tools of multiple disciplines - history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, media studies, philosophy, political science - the course explores social and cultural notions about gender and sexuality and the role of institutions in maintaining and reinforcing norms. Topics include gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, and the relationship between sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other systems of oppression and inequality. The course looks at the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and nation with such areas as work, education, media/technology, family, religion, and politics. Students will also social movements that have and continue to emerge to promote gender equality and social justice in the US and globally.

Fulfills: SOSC and D in LS Core.
Note: Required for the Women’s and Gender Studies Major and Minor.