Histories of Sexuality in the Modern World

WGS

259

Histories of Sexuality in the Modern World

A broad introduction to the field of the history of sexuality, focusing on the period since the eighteenth century. The course considers changing conceptualizations of sexual desire, “normal” sexual behavior, and sexual orientations and binaries, and examines the connections between these ideas and shifting political, economic, cultural, religious, and social systems. The course also traces the efforts of states, nations, and local and international actors to regulate sexuality and sexual behavior by diverse legal, social, political, and medical means. The class takes a world historical approach; specific examples will be drawn from parts of Western Europe, the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Particular attention will be given to the connections between changing ideas of sexuality, and those regarding hierarchically ordered categories of difference such as race, class, and gender in these various contexts. For History majors and minors, this is designated as a world history course.

Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

Yes

COPT - CSIPD (CSI Pluralism and Diversity), COPT - CSISSA (CSI Social Scientific Analysis)

012536