SOCIOL 646 - Sociology of Gender

3 Credit(s)

Description:
How are gender and gendered identities socially constructed? In what ways does gender intersect with and influence issues of power and inequality in society? Gender is one of the most central axes of inequality, along with class, race, ethnicity, nationality, citizenship, and sexuality. We will examine gender as an ever-present organizing principle of social life that has broad-ranging effects, from micro-level individual interactions up to macro-level economic and political processes. We will consider different theoretical approaches and discuss the ways in which gender is social and cultural, rather than “natural” and “biological.” Next we will look at the construction of gendered identities, sexuality, and the performance of masculinity and femininity in everyday life. Furthermore, we will explore how gender relations are being shaped by, as well as are shaping, larger processes of globalization. By the end of this course, you should be familiar with sociological perspectives on gender and the social construction and reproduction of gender categories.

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