Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies

GWSS 101

Jessi Willis, PhD

Winter: Online | Asynchronous

5 credits

Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity

This interdisciplinary course is designed to introduce you to the study of women, gender, feminism, and systems of oppression and privilege. We will draw upon a diverse collection of writing, classroom exercises, films, and discussions to better understand women’s experiences (primarily in the U.S.) both empirically and theoretically.

GWSS 150

Jessi Willis, PhD

Winter: MW 3-5:20pm

5 credits

Pre-Requisites: GWSS 101

This course focuses on sex, gender and sexuality in our lives and within social institutions. It builds on GWSS 101 delving deeper into intersectional feminist analyses in areas such as: health and reproductive justice, family systems, paid and unpaid labor, state law and social policy, and collective action.

GWSS 326

Liz Rognes 

Winter: Online | Asynchronous

5 credits

Satisfies:a BACR for humanities and arts

Students will apply a critical lens on the representation of gender in popular cultural mediums including film, TV, music, the Internet, social media, video games, and magazines. Employing intersectional theory, other social categories are considered including but not limited to, sexuality, race, ability, and class.

GWSS 303 – The Body in Art

Mark LaPointe

TH 2-4:20pm

Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 and junior standing.

Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.

Cross-listing: ART 314.

Many ideas about race, gender, and sexuality originate in representations of the body. This theme-based survey explores how figurative art has contributed, since prehistory, to shape today’s views. Emphasis in on applying contemporary issues, such as consent and identity, to the study of historical artworks. Includes class discussions and weekly writing assignments about art historical and critical texts that examine the production and perpetuation of cultural attitudes about the body.

GWSS 339 Topics: Social Policy & Social Justice

Judy Rohrer, PhD

Asynchronous On-line

Pre-requisites: GWSS 101.

In this course we study the convergences and discontinuities between social justice and social policy by analyzing how they play out in the realms of sexuality and gender identity. We frame our exploration in the context of the United States by examining the intersections of social policy and sexuality/gender identity with immigration, transgender, and disability politics.

GWSS 415 Feminist Theories

Jessi Willis, PhD

TH 1-3:20pm

Pre-requisites: GWSS 101 or upper level GWSS or PHIL course.

Cross-listing: HONS 396

Feminist theories developed to explain women’s subordinate position in society and current trends in feminist thought. Includes psychoanalytic feminism, feminist literary criticism and cross-cultural views of feminism.

GWSS 425 Family Violence

Mallory Lowell

Asynchronous On-line

Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.

Cross-listing: SOWK 425

This interdisciplinary course addresses contemporary concerns about family violence and discusses feminist perspectives on violence in the family. Theories about the historical and socio-cultural context of family violence and other explanatory theories provide frameworks for understanding personal and societal responses to family violence. Discussions include dynamics of trauma and recovery and all forms of family violence. Treatment approaches are discussed.

GWSS 430 African American Women’s History

Gloria Baynes

MTWTF 11-11:50am

Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.

Cross-listing: ASST 430
This course examines historical writings by and about Black women, discussing slavery, lynching, combating prejudices and encouraging racial pride to provide a framework that will deepen understanding of the topic.