Interdisciplinary Concentration in Gender, Nation,
and Democracy
The end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first
centuries witnessed remarkable changes in the geo-political
structure of the world. Extraordinary developments-the fall
of the Soviet Union, the formation of the European Union, the
end of apartheid in South Africa, conflicts in the Middle East,
revolutions in Latin America, U.S. interventions in Afghanistan
and Iraq, rapid economic growth and accompanying social displacement
in Asia-have made us question our assumptions about citizenship
and nationhood. Scholars and policy makers alike have acknowledged
the centrality of gender in debates about the meaning of nation
and democracy in our changing world.
This concentration explores the intersection of gender, nation,
and democratic aspirations in various regions of the world.
The particular geographies of this concentration vary with the
courses students choose, but completion of the concentration
guarantees the student will have studied these issues in a transnational
perspective. The concentration explores the material, spiritual
and political conditions of women and how the constructions
of gender affect those conditions transnationally and in particular
geographical locations. Men's and women's access to political
power, expressive modes, and economic opportunity, and the role
of sexuality and reproduction in citizenship, are among the
topics that highlight the complexity of "democracy." Also bearing
on the understandings achieved in this concentration are the
influences of colonialism and neocolonialism; the effects of
religious fundamentalism and militarization on gender practices;
the relation between failures in nationalist and social reform
movements and gender oppression; and the link between nationalism,
capitalism, and patriarchy.
Faculty Sponsors
Ellen Friedman (English) and Cynthia Paces (History)
Curriculum
Core
Choose one from the following
- WGS 380/HON 338/Gender and Democracy* (counts as social
science and history)
- WGS 375/Global Feminisms* (counts as arts and humanities)
- WGS 310/HON 337/HIS 324: Women in Eastern History:1848-present*
(counts as social science and history)
Options
Important Note: Make sure
that 3 of the 6 courses in the concentration (including the
core course above) are Social Science and History and 3 are
Arts and Humanities
Choose five from among the following
Social Science and History
- WGS 380/HON 338/Gender and Democracy*
- WGS 375/Global Feminisms*
- WGS310/HON337/HIS324/Women in Eastern History:1848-present*
- WGS 381/ANT 311/Women and Migration*
- WGS 301/HIS 385/Women in America*
- WGS 260/AAS 280/Africana Women in Historical Perspective*
Arts and Humanities
- WGS 376/LIT 316/Global Women Writers*
- WGS 360/LIT 334/Latina/Latin American Women Writers*
- SPA 338/Women's Literature of Spain and Latin America*
- WGS 325/Feminist Theories (Prerequisite: 1 WGS course)
- WGS 365/AAS 375/Womanist Thought (Prerequisite:AAS280
or WGS260)
- PHL 375/Equality, Ethics, and the Law (Prerequisite
PHL 275 or permission of instructor)
*Courses without prerequisites
In addition to courses required by this concentration, a
student must complete one approved course in quantitative reasoning
and one approved course in laboratory science to satisfy
breadth requirements in liberal learning. Students should consult
their major or open option advisors about how best to complete
other liberal learning requirements.
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