COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will focus on issues surrounding theories of race and gender. These issues are theoretical, social, and political. The authors we will be reading offer various perspectives on how race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, and disability inform and contribute to the construction of individual and group identities. These authors are also concerned with societal or cultural stratification and marginalization associated with these categories. In addition to analyzing the way in which identities are constructed, we will discuss some of the strategies proposed to rectify inequities as well as possible resignification for individuals and groups with marginalized identities.
The readings in this class as well as the concepts that we will discuss throughout the term are often controversial. These issues can be very emotionally and politically charged and you may disagree strongly with opinions expressed in class or in the readings. Please be respectful of the positions expressed by others in class or over email and be careful to express your thoughts and opinions in a considerate way. Both in class and in written assignments, students should refrain from critiques, comments or statements that take a derogatory and demeaning position concerning any member of any race, ethnicity, economic class, gender, (dis)ability, nationality, family situation, age, educational level, or sexual orientation. It is by respecting the positions of others and acknowledging them as valid (even if they are not our own or we don’t understand them) that we can all engage in a conversation in class as well as a broader discourse-level conversation on the issues related to the course.
Some of the films and texts covered in this course, taken by themselves or out of context, might be offensive to some people. Students should realize that it is not my intention, nor is it the intention of the course to offend anyone in any way. The texts chosen for this course were done so for the purpose of academic and intellectual instruction and growth. If you find a particular text offensive, please let me know and I will give you an alternate assignment.
LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will analyze theoretical, social, and political contexts surrounding historical and contemporary ideologies and theories of race, ethnicity, gender, sex and sexuality

Students will appraise the validity and soundness of arguments in theoretical works.

Students will assess the conditions under which ideas about race, ethnicity, gender, sex and sexuality change.
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
Students will construct evidence-based written arguments in which they apply critical methodologies to a contemporary political, social, or cultural object.
PREREQUISTIES
There are no prerequisites for this course.
It is up to you to ensure that you are able to properly use the technology, including:
 uploading and downloading files
 submitting assignments through Blackboard
 creating a narrated multimedia presentation
The format of this course requires students to be open to learning new technologies and to be flexible when technological errors inevitably occur. We may use tools that are new to you. Should you have any problems or questions, please see the Help section of the course and do not hesitate to ask me or your classmates for assistance. All assignments (except for exams) will be submitted online for this course via the links in Blackboard and are due by 11:59pm on the due date, unless indicated otherwise on the schedule of assignments. In the event that Blackboard is down, you may email assignments.
REQUIRED TEXTS

Alcoff, Linda.
. New York: Oxford University Press,
2006.

Foucault, Michel.
. Trans. Graham
Burchell. New York: Picador, 2003.

Sullivan, Nikki.
2003.
. New York: New York University Press,
In addition to these texts (which should all be available at the GWU bookstore and will also be on reserve in Gelman), there will be PDFs of additional readings posted on Blackboard.
COURSE POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS
Attendance and Participation. You are expected to attend class and actively participate in discussions.
You are responsible for keeping up with the reading and assignment schedule and come to class prepared to discuss the readings/films.
Everyone gets 2 absences without penalty. After 2 absences, for every unexcused absence your attendance grade will decrease by 1/2 of a grade. For example, if you are absent twice, you will receive
100 for attendance. If you are absent 3 times, you will receive a 95, 4 times a 90, and so on. If you are unable to attend class, please let me know ahead of time by email. Excused absences will be granted in the case of documented illness or family emergency. If you have to leave town unexpectedly for any reason, please email me before you leave to arrange any excused absences or assignment extensions. Per GW policy, if you need to miss class to observe a religious holiday, you must let me know ahead of time in order for the absence to be excused.
Surveys. You will be asked to complete a survey at the beginning of the course and additional surveys during the course designed to provide feedback about various assignments. There are no right or wrong answers to these surveys. They are intended to assist the instructor in evaluating the effectiveness of particular assignments and to ensure that course objectives are being met throughout
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the term. You will receive points for completing the surveys that will go towards your participation grade.
Paper on representations of race or gender (Paper and Individual Multimedia Project). Each individual student will write a paper on representations of sex/gender/race/ethnicity, etc. in a cultural object of their choice (topic must be approved via email at least two weeks before the due date). The paper should be 3-5 pages, double spaced, and comply with MLA guidelines. In addition, each individual student will create a 5-7 minute multimedia presentation on their topic to be posted on a discussion board. Your presentation can use Keynote, Powerpoint, Voice Thread, iMovie or any other presentation or movie software. Your presentations must have an integrated audio or video component.
Response Papers & Leading Class Discussion. Each student will lead a class discussion over the course of the term. In addition to leading the discussion, you will be responsible for submitting a response paper on the reading(s) for that day. Students will sign up for dates to lead the class discussion during the first week of the course. Details about the requirements for the response papers can be found in the assignments folder.
Exams

Midterm - This exam will cover material from the first half of the term and will consist of short answer and essay questions. This exam will be completed in class.

Final Exam- This exam will primarily cover material from the second half of the term but will cumulative. This exam will consist of essay questions and will be completed during finals week at the date and time assigned for the course.
Research Paper & Presentation. In this paper you will apply the critical methodologies from the course to a cultural, political or social object that we have not covered in class directly. The short paper will be due via the link on Blackboard as a .doc or .rtf document. I expect your essays to be polished and be free of all grammar and spelling errors. I also expect your essays to have proper citations and follow
MLA style guidelines. The paper should be 6-8 pages, double-spaced. Your papers should have a strong and clear introduction, be well organized, and have a strong conclusion.

Proposal with Annotated Works Cited: In advance of your research paper and presentation, you will be required to submit a research paper proposal (1-2 pages, double spaced) plus an annotated works cited page. These will be submitted via the assignment link on Blackboard.

Presentations: Each student will create a 5-8 minute presentation on their research paper topic that applies at least two methodologies from the course. Presentations will be done during the last couple of weeks of the course and a schedule will be determined after spring break.
Attendance
Participation
Surveys (15 points)
Entry Survey
Midterm Survey
5
5
100
50
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Exit Survey
Response Papers & Leading Class Discussion (150 points)
Response Paper to assigned reading
Leading discussion on assigned reading
Exams (300 points)
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Representations of Race/Gender Paper (155 points)
Paper
Multimedia Presentation
Research Paper (230 points)
Proposal and Annotated Bibliography
5
100
50
100
200
100
55
25
Draft of Final Paper
Final Paper
Presentation
TOTAL POINTS
30
100
75
1000
Style
All written assignments for this course should comply with MLA or style guidelines. Please use the style with which you are more familiar. Please consult with a current style guide or the Purdue OWL site for guidelines on MLA style.
Grading Scheme
930-1000 A
900-929
870-899
830-869
800-829
770-799
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
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730-769
700-729
670-699
C
C-
D+
630-669
600-629
D
D- below 600 F
Late Assignments
Late work is only accepted in the case of extenuating circumstances. Without extenuating circumstances, late assignments will receive a zero. Any and all requests for extensions must be made via email. The terms and conditions of any extension will be communicated to you via email so that we both have a written record.
Academic Integrity
The professor will strictly abide by the academic integrity policies as stated in the Code of Academic
Integrity. Academic dishonesty is defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own work, taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, and the fabrication of information. For additional information refer to the Office of
Academic Integrity and the Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Religious Holidays
Students should notify the instructor during the first week of the semester of their intention to be absent from class on their day(s) of religious observance;
Faculty should extend to these students the courtesy of absence without penalty on such occasions, including permission to make up examinations;
Faculty who intend to observe a religious holiday should arrange at the beginning of the semester to reschedule missed classes or to make other provisions for their course-related activities
Disability Support Services
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact the Office of Disability Support Services to establish eligibility and to coordinate appropriate accommodations.
Academic Center, Rome Hall, Suite 102
801 22nd Street, NW
Phone: 202-994-8250
Email: dss@gwu.edu
Website: http://gwired.gwu.edu/dss
University Counseling Center
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The University Counseling Center (UCC) offers 24/7 assistance and referral to address students' personal, social, career, and study skills problems. Services for students include:
 crisis and emergency mental health consultations
 confidential assessment, counseling services (individual and small group), and referrals
2033 K Street, NW, Suite 330
Phone: 202-994-5300
Email: counsel@gwu.edu
Website: http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel
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Date
January 14
January 16
January 21
January 23
January 28
January 30
February 4
February 6
February 11
February 13
February 18
February 20
February 25
February 27
March 3
March 4
March 6
Assigned Readings
(to be done before class)
Overview of the course (no reading)
Frankenberg (BB) & Sullivan (BB)
Alcoff,
, Chapter 4
Alcoff,
, Chapter 7
Alcoff,
, Chapters 8 & 9
Marshall, “Racial Classifications” (BB)
Hardimon, “Ordinary Concept of Race” (BB)
Guillaumin, “Race and Nature” (BB) watch Skin
Young, “Throwing Like a Girl” and
Young, “Throwing Like a Girl: Twenty Years
Later” (BB)
Yoshino, “An Uncovered Self” (BB)
Rodriguez, “Complexion” (BB) hooks, “Talking Back” and “marginality as site resistance” (BB) watch
Anzaldua, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” (BB)
Fanon, “The Black Man and Language” (BB)
Midterm Exam in class
Representation paper topic due via email
Foucault,
, Chapters 1-3
Foucault,
, Chapters 7, 8 & 11
Representation Multimedia
Presentation Due
Frye, “To See and Be Seen: The Politics of Reality” (BB)
D’ Emilio, “Capitalism and Gay Identity” (BB) watch Paris is Burning bell hooks, "Is Paris Burning?" (BB)
Butler, “Gender is Burning: Questions of
Appropriation and Subversion” (BB)
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March 10
March 18
March 20
March 25
March 27
April 1
April 2
April 8
April 10
April 14
April 15
April 17
April 22
April 24
Date TBD
May 12
Representation Paper Due
, preface & chapters 1-3
, chapters 4-6 & 7
Watch
Fausto-Sterling, “Of Gender and Genitals” (BB)
Wilchins, “All Together Now: Intersex Infants and IGM” (BB)
Alice Dreger TED talk (recommended)
Butler, “Doing Justice to Someone: Sex
Reassignment and the Allegories of
Transsexuality” (BB)
Paper topic due (via email)
Fanon, “The Lived Experience of the Black Man”
Butler, “Endangered/Endangering: Schematic
Racism and White Paranoia” and Crenshaw &
Peller, “Reel Time/Real Justice”
Research Paper Proposal + Annotated
Bibliography Due
Readings on Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, stop and frisk legislation/decisions and related material
Puar, “On Torture”
Final presentations
Final presentations
Final Presentations
Final Exam
Research Paper Due
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