Provides an introduction to Women's Studies and Gender Studies as fields that place women and gender at the center of inquiry. Examines topics such as work, family, reproduction, sexuality, politics, art, literature, and contemporary media. Explains the diversity of methods and theories employed in Women's and Gender Studies scholarship, emphasizing the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and class.

This course introduces students to the fields of Women’s and Gender Studies through the examination of history, culture, and current events as they shape and are shaped by women’s and gender studies issues, values, beliefs and artifacts. The course begins by exploring the “roadblocks” to learning, particularly controlling images about women, gender and feminism. The course takes an issue-based approach to the historical study of US feminisms and gender studies by identifying and exploring the social issues, values, beliefs, events and objects that promoted feminist activism at specific moments in history. Once this shared foundation is laid, the course explores key concepts and aesthetic and intellectual objects in the study of gender and sexuality. These key concepts include (1) the social construction of gender, (2) intersectionality, (3) privilege and oppression, and (4) feminist praxis.