GRAS - Gender Race and Sexuality

Course Descriptions

GRAS 1020 Introduction to Gender, Race and Sexuality (3)

The primary objective of this course is to develop a critical, intersectional lens through which to understand social systems of power pertaining to gender, race, and sexuality. Students will identify how these categories intersect with others, such as ethnicity, class, religion, age, ability, body size, neurotype, nationality, and citizenship status. GCP Coding: (SSHB) (INTC). 

GRAS 1030 Women, Gender and Sexuality Around the World (3)

This course introduces students to current debates concerning the status and rights of women (cis and trans) and LGBTQIA2S+ people in the United States and around the world. Students will study how cultural, historical, political, and geographical factors affect the lives and roles of these groups in different countries. Students will also study the evolution of feminist and queer activism across the globe. Finally, students will consider what advantages and what dangers an increasingly global society poses specifically to women and LGBTQIA2S+ people. GCP Coding: (SSHB) (OCOM).

GRAS 2000 Topics in Gender, Race and Sexuality (3)

An intermediate-level exploration of topics related to gender, race, and sexuality. Repeatable up to two times when content differs.

GRAS 2010 Theorizing Feminisms (3)

Students will learn several theories of feminism, critically analyze them, and apply them to concrete social and political problems. Theory will be used as a tool for clarifying and demystifying oppressive patterns of thought, and as a tool for creating liberating alternatives.

GRAS 2040 Queer Theory (3)

Students will explore foundational works in queer theory, focusing on the relationships - and disagreements - between queer theory and other social and cultural theories. Rather than understanding queer theory as a singular or coherent school of thought, students will problematize queer theory as a field and a mode of analysis. Students will discuss theoretical issues in a quest to develop an understanding of the politics of queer sexuality.

GRAS 2060 Politics and Gender (3)

This course focuses on the women's movement as a social movement, investigating how the lives of individuals and the workings of the state have been affected by that movement. After studying the history of the American feminist movement, we will examine the political participation of women and gender minorities through activities such as voting, protesting, and holding public office. We will also discuss various governmental policy arenas (such as reproductive policy) that have been of particular interest to feminist activists.

GRAS 2080 LGBTQ+ Literature (3)

In this course, we will study literature and other art forms created by LGBTQ+ people. Focusing on literature from the U.S. from 1920-, we will study the genres of poetry, the novel, creative nonfiction, drama, and film. This will be supplemented by information and insights offered by critical and theoretical essays, as well as a study of the social and political events that run alongside the writing of this literature. At the core of our inquiry is the premise that the concepts of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, straight, and cisgender are all relatively recent categories for organizing sex, sexuality, and gender created by Western societies and cultures, rather than “natural” categories of human beings that have persisted throughout history. Our inquiry will necessarily be intersectional because sexuality, sex, and gender intersect with multiple other categories of identification include race, class, and immigration and disability status. GCP Coding: (ROC) (INTC). Cross-listed with ENGL 2086. 

GRAS 2082 Laws of Inequalities: Race, Gender and Class (3)

This course will focus on the various legal institutions that have played a major role in the discrimination and oppression on individuals based on race, gender, and class.  Students will examine how the law has been used throughout history to apportion power among groups of people according to race, gender, and class.  Cross-listed with LEGL 2080.

GRAS 2085 Wrongful Convictions (3)

The criminal justice system charges and convicts some people despite inadequate evidence of guilt, despite a lack of moral culpability, and sometimes, despite a defendant's factual innocence. In this class, students analyze current and past cases in which exoneration, commutation, or clemency have been pursued, when convictions are achieved due in part to coercion, violence, poverty, or diminished mental functioning. The course examines the challenges of ensuring conviction integrity when a defendant is "postconviction"; by studying past cases and institutional responses, students develop tools for evaluating claims of wrongful conviction and for assessing avenues of relief to correct miscarriages of justice. Cross-listed with LEGL 2080.

GRAS 2086 U.S. Literature of Diversity (3)

Explores diverse literature of the U.S. May focus on a specific time period or ethnic/cultural community, such as African American, Asian American, Native American, Latinx, LGBTQ, disability, etc. May be repeated for credit if content differs. GCP Coding: (ROC) INTC. Cross-listed with ENGL 2086.

GRAS 2088 Martin, Malcolm and America (3)

This course examines the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X.  Our primary objectives are to learn about their lives, explore the differences and similarities of their protest philosophies, and evaluate the myriad ways in which both impacted American society and politics. We will also learn about the historical contexts within which they both lived and consider their respective legacies. Cross-listed with HIST 2090.

GRAS 2090 Slavery in the United States (3)

This course surveys the history of African slavery in the U.S. from the origins of the Atlantic slave trade to the final collapse of slavery during the Civil War. Topics include slavery as a system of labor, family life and culture among the enslaved, the ways in which the enslaved resisted slavery, and the lasting impact of the institution on American race relations. Particular attention will be paid to the diversity of experiences among the enslaved, as well as to different approaches in how scholars have studied the history of American slavery. GCP Coding: (ROC) (OCOM). Cross-listed with HIST 2090. 

GRAS 2110 Ecofeminism and Environmental Justice (3)

In this course we will take an interdisciplinary approach to the interrelated movements of ecofeminism and environmental justice, examining how they have manifested and developed in the realms of philosophy, activism, and literature. Our guiding questions will include: 1) how diverse experiences of oppression intersect with and affect the relationships that different human beings have with what we call “nature” and the environment; 2) what role literary representations and human languages themselves can and do play in these various human relationships with their environments. GCP Coding: (ROC) (WCOM). Cross-listed with ENGL 2110. 

GRAS 2120 Literature of Oppression and Resistance (3) 

This course will explore the experience of oppression and resistance from the perspectives of people of different races, nationalities, genders, and time periods. As we read and discuss these texts, our goals will be to better understand the complex dynamics by which oppression operates physically, psychologically, and culturally and the equally complex ways that those who are oppressed find to resist and sometimes even triumph over the forces of oppression. We will explore the roles that religion, law, community traditions, literature, and economics play in both oppression and resistance to it, paying particular attention to the various strategies that writers employ to expose, explore, and contest the misuses of power. One of our ongoing questions will be whether or not (and how) the act of writing itself can be an effective form of resistance. GCP Coding (ROC) (WCOM). Cross-listed with ENGL 2120. 

GRAS 2122 Latin American Magical Realism (3)

In this course we will explore some of the most important works of magical realist fiction written in Latin America in the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries. We will examine how the interplay between the supernatural and the mundane in these works illuminates issues related to gender, race, and political power in the Latin American countries from which they emerged. Texts (which we will read in English translation) may include: Jorge Luis Borges, Ficciones; Juan Rulfo, Pedro Páramo; Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude; Isabel Allende, The House of the Spirits; Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate; Samanta Schweblin, Fever Dream, and additional short stories and plays to be distributed in class and in Canvas. GCP Coding: (ROC) (WCOM). Cross-listed with ENGL 2110. 

GRAS 2125 Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (3)

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the psychological and social issues relevant to sexual orientation and gender diversity. Students will be encouraged to think critically about topics such as developmental issues, identity, families, relationships, intersections with race and ethnicity, mental health, physical health, minority stress, work and career concerns, and attitudes toward minority communities. Throughout the course, cultural and international issues will be discussed, and an emphasis will be placed on an empirical approach to the science and practice of psychology. Cross-listed with PSYC 2125.

GRAS 2240 Feminism and Families (3)

Are feminism and family-values compatible? Why do so many women feel they have to choose between work and family? How is social media shaping debate about gender and families?  What are the origins and politics of the tradwife movement? Is housework, real work?  How do feminist and queer theories impact/understand the institution of marriage?  This course will review the changes in family life that feminist and other social movements have sought, considering what remains to be done to improve families for everyone.

GRAS 2260 Men and Masculinities (3)

This course examines men and masculinities through a critical lens, looking carefully at an institutionalized system of behaviors and beliefs that is assumed to be a natural phenomenon (as well as culturally universal and historically eternal). The goal of the course is to reach an understanding of various masculine behaviors, myths, ideologies, and experiences; to comprehend the relationship between masculine practice and social power; and to delineate choices for future directions in the behavior and belief systems of individual men and the society at large. 

GRAS 2370 U.S. Women's History (3)

This course examines the lives of women in America during the years from the Revolution to the present day.  We will investigate the ways in which women have functioned as agents of historical change, as their lives and actions have both impacted and been impacted by major historical events.  Particular attention will be paid to the changing nature of the family, changes to the work women did (both paid and unpaid), and the involvement of women in social and political reform.  We will also investigate the diversity of women’s experiences in the past.  Just as today, “women” cannot be spoken of as a monolithic block—women throughout America’s history have been divided and often had difficulty uniting across lines of class, race, and ethnicity.

GRAS 2390 Philosophy of Sex and Love (3)

For all the time we spend organizing our lives around sex and love--online and off--most of us spend surprisingly little time thinking about what "sex" and "love" mean. We rest on platitudes about love, while asking very little about what it is, and what it should be. Sex is on many people's minds, but what counts as good sex is often narrowly crafted by those of dominant social statuses, with alternatives obscured by taboos and silence. Students should come to this course with an open mind and willingness to consider Western, traditional, and/or mainstream views of sex and love through challenges from queer, feminist, anti-racist, and decolonial perspectives. Cross-listed with PHIL 2390. 

GRAS 2410 History of Disability (3)

This course explores the history of disability and its emergence as an international human rights issue. We approach disability as a social construct, assuming that the experience and comprehension of disability have differed over time and place. The struggle for legal, social, and economic equality for persons with disabilities has, likewise, depended upon historical context. This course considers the birth of the asylum in Europe and North America, the role of medicine, education, and social policy in defining and “treating” disability, disability and the law, and the emergence of the disability rights movement in the United States and globally. Students will have the opportunity to do original research on the history of disability rights and make a number of oral presentations. GCP Coding: (SSHB) (OCOM). Cross-listed with HIST 2410. 

GRAS 2550 Gender, Culture and Leadership (3)

This course provides an analytic framework to understand the roles that gender, race, ethnicity, class and sexuality play in defining leadership and power. From an intersectional feminist perspective students will examine inequities in paid and unpaid workforces, explore career goals and develop leadership strategies of their own. GCP Coding: (SSHB) (WCOM).

GRAS 2610 Women, Gender and Sexuality in Social Justice Organizations (3)

This course will examine contemporary issues related to gender and sexuality in the foundation and leadership of social justice organizations. We will examine the social justice organization's role in promoting such issues as women's and LGBTQ global political participation, economic opportunities, access to education, messages about sexual and gender violence, reproductive justice, and amnesty. Students will be challenged to "put their passions into practice" by applying their increased knowledge of social justice organizations to the creation of their own organization, including a final presentation that could be made to potential funders. We will also focus on aspects of governance unique to feminist organizations. GCP Coding: (SSHB) (WCOM).

GRAS 2620 Women and the Law (3)

Women still face substantial obstacles in every area of political, social, and economic life, yet most people continue to deny that gender inequality is a serious problem. The legal system perpetuates this denial as well and historically has attempted to discount or justify gender discrimination. This course will focus on the past and current developments of laws, programs, and institutions which impact gender issues. It will focus on the social and legal implications of gender-based rulings and will explore the factors which underlie such rulings.

GRAS 2700 Psychology and Women (3)

The purpose of this course is to provide you with an understanding of psychological perspectives on women throughout the life span. Together we will discuss the research regarding gender stereotypes, development of gender roles, gender comparisons, women and work, love relationships, sexuality, women’s physical and mental health, violence against women, and women in later adulthood. Cultural, international, and topical issues will be explored. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on an empirical approach to the science and practice of psychology as it applies to women, gender, and sexuality studies. Cross-listed with PSYC 2700.

GRAS 2760 Urban Studies (3)

This course explores some central themes and concerns in the social scientific study of urban spaces, in particular, the “city” as cultural construct, the “city” as the site and object of local and global social struggles, and the “city” as part of the cultural imagination of the social, inequality, justice, and the “good life. Students interested in pursuing public policy and urban planning careers gain skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and policy analysis. GCP Coding: (SSHB) (CRI). Cross-listed with ANSO 2760.

GRAS 2790 Asians in America (3)

This course examines comparatively the experiences, histories and cultural worlds of Asian communities of different national origins and identifications of the United States. It introduces the historical, political, cultural and economic processes that shape Asian and Asian American community and identity formation. We explore how these identities have been shaped by cultural history, migration, and globalization. Students gain career skills in intercultural competence, critical thinking, and policy analysis. GCP Coding: (GLBL) (CRI).Cross-listed with ANSO 2790.

GRAS 3000 Issues in Gender, Race and Sexuality (3)

An advanced-level exploration of issues related to gender, race, and sexuality. Repeatable up to two times when content differs. 

GRAS 3130 Race and Ethnicity (3)

What is race, ethnicity? Are they still relevant to understanding the contemporary world? This course examines the construction of race and ethnicity and the ways their meanings have changed in the U.S. and cross-culturally. It offers a critical understanding of how racial and ethnic politics inform institutional and social policies, the organization of everyday social life, cultural expression, and resistance movements. Students interested in the pursuing careers addressing social-economic inequality gain skills in inter-cultural competence, understanding public policy, and critical thinking. Cross-listed with ANSO 3130.

GRAS 3140 Modern Imperialism (3)

How do we explain the origins and evolution of western imperialism? It is often assumed that conquest and domination must be explained by the lust for power and riches. But most imperialists in Europe and America believed they were making the world a better place. Imperialism, they argued, would bring about an end to slavery, expanded rights for women, greater religious tolerance, and, eventually, good government and the rule of law across the globe. This course traces the arc of what Europeans called “the civilizing mission” and explores the relationship of imperialism and anti-imperialism to the language and practice of human rights. Cross-listed with HIST 3140.

GRAS 3200 Gender, Race and Sexuality in the Arts (3)

This course explores artists and artistic movements that address issues of gender and sexuality. The course focuses on art forms from such fields as dance, theatre, music, film, visual arts or performance art. Students will analyze artistic work and correlative scholarship from other fields, such as film studies, performance studies, theatre history, dance studies, and art history. Repeatable when content differs.

GRAS 3230 Domestic Violence (3)

In order to better understand the present condition of those who experience intimate partner violence and abuse, we will investigate the social construction of violence and the criminal justice institutions that are implicated in it, including the law, policing, the courts, and corrections. The feminist, critical race, and queer theories applied in this course position intersectionality at the center of the discourse.

GRAS 3370 Intersectional Feminist Philosophy (3)

This course considers what it means to engage in philosophical thinking from positions of the “Other” in the mainstream Western tradition.  Students are introduced to influential texts in feminist, anti-racist, and queer philosophy, learning to identify interlocking threads of connection between various oppressed groups. Required readings include intersectional analyses of sexism and misogyny, racism and white supremacy, cisgenderism and cisnormativity, heterosexism and heteronormativity, classism, ableism, and colonialism. 

GRAS 3550 Feminist Criminology (3)

This course provides an overview of the gendered experience of crime. The course is divided into three sections: gendered patterns of law violation, gendered patterns of violent victimization, and gendered experiences and outcomes in the criminal justice system. We will learn major theoretical perspectives in each of the three areas, with a special emphasis on feminist and intersectional approaches and methodologies. Course topics include: women’s violent offending, gender-based hate crimes, rape culture, intimate partner violence, sexual panics, prison rape, and gender hierarchies in prison.

GRAS 3975 Trauma Psychology (3)

This course provides an introduction to psychological trauma from the lens of clinical science. Students will examine the historical and contemporary conceptualizations of psychological trauma and consider factors (physiological, psychological, and sociocultural) that influence both negative, and positive, outcomes after potentially traumatic experiences. The course will review the evidence base for effective posttraumatic stress disorder treatments. Emphasized topics include race-based and gender-based trauma as well institutional betrayal and courage. Empiricism and human diversity will be emphasized throughout the course. Cross-listed with PSYC 3975.

GRAS 4000 Advanced Research Topics in Gender, Race and Sexuality (3)

An advanced, in-depth analysis of a specific area or issue pertaining to gender, race, and sexuality, leading to an independent research project. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

GRAS 4050 Multicultural Psychology (3)

Introduces students to multicultural psychology, which examines the interplay between culture, social identity, and human behavior. This class explores the fundamental principles, theories, and practical applications of multiculturalism and social justice issues within psychology. Students will examine their own identities, beliefs, assumptions, and behaviors as influenced by their sociocultural background. Students will also build multicultural knowledge, awareness, and skills essential for engaging with individuals from diverse sociocultural backgrounds. Topics covered include: ability, age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spirituality, socioeconomic status, and other dimensions of diversity inherent in American society. By delving into the dynamics of socialization, privilege, oppression, intergroup conflict, communication, and advocacy, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding multiculturalism and social justice. Cross-listed with PSYC 4050.

GRAS 4075 Queering Psychology (3)

This course explores the intersection of psychology and queer theory, examining how traditional psychological frameworks can be reimagined to better understand LGBTQIA2+ identities and experiences. Students will delve into historical and contemporary perspectives, analyzing the impact of societal norms and cognitions of queer identities. Through critical discussions, case studies, and community engagement, we will challenge heteronormative and cisgenderist assumptions in psychology and advocate for more inclusive practices. Cross-listed with PSYC 4075.

GRAS 4300 Global Sex, Gender and Sexuality (3)

This course takes a cross-cultural approach to sex, gender, and sexuality by examining global variations in sex/gender systems, social-cultural constructions of sex and gender, and alternative sexualities across diverse social and cultural contexts. Emphasis is on global systems of these topics and understanding how they are lived and experienced by communities around the world outside of Euro-American contexts. Students interested in pursuing careers in global policy and advocacy gain valuable skills in interpersonal communication and critical thinking. Cross-listed with ANSO 4300.

GRAS 4400 Human Sexuality (3)

Examines human sexual behavior within the cultural, social, and political context. Topics discussed include historical/cross-cultural sexual attitudes, reproductive health and rights, the range of sexual experience, gender differences and roles, sexual orientation, sex and disease, sex and the law, and sex and social responsibility/personal ethics. Cross-listed with PSYC 4400. 

GRAS 4650 Transformative Thinkers in Gender, Race and Sexuality (3)

Specialized study of the work of a single author whose work has had a transformative effect in feminist, queer, critical race, and/or decolonial thought. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

GRAS 4800 Poverty Law (3)

This course examines the complex relationship between poverty and the legal system in the United States. Students will explore how laws both shape and are shaped by socioeconomic inequality, through critical analysis of case studies, court decisions, legislative materials, and other texts. Topics include access to justice, housing and homelessness, criminalization of poverty, welfare law, labor rights, and education equity. Class discussion will analyze on how the law can serve as both a tool of oppression and a potential mechanism for social change. Cross-listed with LEGL 4800.