Gender, Sexualities and Women’s Studies

Introduction to Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies: Histories, Texts, and Actions

Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies 1100 surveys historical marginalization on the basis of gender, the development of feminist thought and action since the late 18th century, and the rise of resistance and liberation movements dedicated to women, gender, and sexualities. Students will be introduced to feminist theories in order to explore the nature of patriarchal societies and the diverse ways in which activism has sought to challenge and redefine gendered experiences around the world. The course will emphasize intersectional and decolonial approaches to gender and feminist movements.

Contemporary Issues in Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies

Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies 1101 provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the field of Women’s and Gender Studies, emphasizing the gendered social processes and structures that shape our lives. Beginning with an intersectional introductory review of feminist and queer theories and movements, the course will survey a range of contemporary social issues in Canada. It will also explore changes in gendered experiences and perspectives within a dynamic and increasingly global context.

Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Sexuality Studies

Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies 1102 introduces students to major contemporary issues in sexuality studies. Students will explore sexualities in relation to current political, social, and philosophical debates. Students will examine sexualities via interdisciplinary texts and current media. Topics will include an overview of sexuality theories, health and sex, media representations, and intersectional approaches to gender and identity.

Gender Today: Exploring Gender in Contemporary Contexts

Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies 2101 builds upon the foundational concepts introduced at the 100-level, involving an in-depth and interdisciplinary exploration of contemporary experiences, theories, and issues related to gender. Students will take an in-depth look at the meaning of gender as it expands and changes across contexts and cultures and with particular emphasis on its intersection with sexuality, race, class, age, ability, and Indigeneity. Each iteration of this course will focus on one theme or a set of themes such as gender in popular culture, decolonizing gender, or gender, sex, and technology.

Reproductive Justice

Reproductive Justice is a human right to maintain bodily autonomy while choosing to reproduce, choosing not to reproduce, and parenting with dignity. Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies 3101 introduces these concepts and explores ongoing efforts to define, medicalize, technologize, and/or constrain reproductive bodies. It examines multimedia representations of reproductive bodies in North American and global political, social, and cultural contexts, and takes an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach to narratives, issues, practices, and arguments regarding reproductive justice within the context of the social determinants of health. Topics are framed with attention to age, gender identity, gender expression, race, Indigeneity, colonization, class, and immigration status and may include contraception, abortion, fertility, normative kinship, childbirth, child rearing, loss, age, familial environment, forced/coerced sterilization, and access.