Sexuality and the Body Politic(s)
WS608 – Fall 2016
Professor Susan E. Cayleff
This course provides a historical context for understanding culturally constructed beliefs and
ideals applied to multi-cultural women’s sexualities, 1820 – present. Topics that will be
addressed include:
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What were the prescribed sexual behaviors and attitudes expected of women of various races
and social classes in a given historical era
did these expectations of heterosexual able-bodiness change over time and how did these
ideals limit and/or empower women?
How were ideas about masculinity co-created alongside these ideals for femininity?
Specific constructs to be studied include:
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The Cult of True Womanhood among middle-class Euro-American women which
emphasized “Passionlessness;” “treating” and sexual favors employed by working-class girls;
The myth of slave woman’s sexual wantonness.
Expressions of transgenderisms
The cultural construction of lesbianism circa 1880; and “Butch/Femme” (among other) roles
in lesbian relationships; bisexual identities, and so on.
Ways in which able-bodied heteronormativity has been promulgated and institutionalized
The equating of restrained middle-class male sexuality (circa 1830s onward) with
marketplace dominance.
The “racialization” of sexual behaviors and standards of physical attractiveness.
Commodification of female bodies.
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Course Goals: This course will examine the following question and themes: What is the body?
What is the material body? What is the discursive body? The social body? What key
institutions control and define the body? What is the body’s relationship to: sexuality, labor,
race, ability, economics, law and medicine? How are “proper” and “improper” bodies
constructed in relation to age, race, physical ability, size, sexual identity and so on.
Topical Areas of Investigation are listed in course Blackboard site
REQUIRED TEXTS: all materials are available at KB Books
Foster (ed). Long Before Stonewall: Histories of Same-Sex Sexuality in Early America
Fout and Tantillo, eds. American Sexual Politics: Sex, Gender and Race Since the Civil War
Peiss and Simmons, eds. Passion & Power: Sexuality in History
Weitz, The Politics of Women’s Bodies: Appearance and Behavior
All Blackboard readings are shown on the course site.
EVALUATION METHODS
REFLECTION ESSAYS ON TWO WEEKLY READINGS:
DISCUSSION LEADER AND PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS
Some things to look for as you read: note the sources the historian uses: from what discipline(s)
does the historian borrow to tell a story, or elaborate a point of view? What issues of power are
discussed? How does the source address (or not address) issues of social class, queerness,
differently abled bodies, ethnicity, race and urban v. non-urban life? Is the author convincing?
What does the piece contribute to a history of that topic? To the history of sexuality? What
lessons can be learned by present day Women’s Studies scholars?
ON THE WEEK YOU FACILITATE: please locate one primary source relevant to your
week’s content and offer a written (one page) verbal (2-3 minute) analysis of the insights it
provides.
Format for primary source analysis is on Blackboard
SHORT PAPER (800-1000 word essay) You will choose one issue we have read/discussed to
date. (Suggestions appear under “Specific Constructs,” page one of this syllabus, but can extend
beyond these topics.) Specific instructions are on Bb.
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FINAL PAPER (15-16 pages) Specific instructions on Bb.
Students select their topics by Week Six and submit a one-page proposal stating their topic and
proposed source list to the professor.
 CRITIQUE of classmate’s final seminar paper:
 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: TWO EVENTS
COURSE SCHEDULE/ASSIGNED READINGS
Week 1:
Introduction/Course Mechanics
WHAT IS “BODY POLITICS”?
Handout/discussion: “The Geography of Desire”…adding to the map.
Free write: “The female body is…My body is…”
Week 2:
Theories and Paradigms
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Lorde, AudreFoucault, M.
Peiss and Simmons, eds.,
D’Emilio and Freedman, Week 3: September 10
Background to the 19th Century: The Sexed Body
 PadgugLorber, J.
Week 4
Free write: create two lists: bodily euphemisms; reconceptualize female bodily functions
FILM: TBA
Week 5:
The Racialized Body; Perspectives 1790-onward (and beyond)
Free-write/ or draw.
 Saillant, John.
 Hoades. D’Emilio and Freedman.
 HirataWeek 6: October 1
Week 6:
How Culture Constructs the Body: Women’s Bodies, Men’s Bodies in the 19th Century
 Mumford.
 Brown, T.
 Battam.
**** Brief proposal of your final research paper due: It must include the following
information:
Statement of topic
Era to be studied
Race/ethnicity/sexual orientation/identity/social class, ablebodiness and geographic
location relevant to your topic.
3-5 questions you will ask of the sources
A complete bibliographic citation from 5 primary sources (from the era, first-person
narratives, newspaper or then-contemporary print sources, etc.) and 6 secondary sources
(scholarly/interpretive sources). Note: students are limited to two Internet sources unless
the topic can be “placed” since 1990. If you are in doubt if your topic is “post 1990”
please confer with the professor and be certain before submitting your proposal.
Week 7:
The Medicalized Body: 19th and 20th Century Experts Define and Control Sexuality
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Riessman.
Barker-Benfield, G.JCushing, “Melancholia, Masturbation: Cured by the Removal of
Both Ovaries” [R]
 G. Chauncey, Jr.
Week 8: SHORT PAPER DUE
Same Sex Intimacy Among Middle-Class Euro-American Women: The Controlled Body
 Smith-Rosenberg, C.
 Rich.
 Faderman.
Week 9:
*Prof. assigns Critique Partners
Rebelliousness Bodies: Sexual Identities; Race and Social Class Dimensions; DifferentlyAbled Bodies
Free-write/ or draw: draw your rebellious body
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Thomas, Carol
Simson.
Rodrique
Halberstam
Week 10:
The Feared Body
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Mrozek, D
Newton, E.
Cayleff, Susan E: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, excerpts
READER
Shapiro, JP
Week Eleven:
* COMPLETED DRAFTS DUE TO YOUR CRITIQUE PARTNER.
The Feared Body II:
Kann, M.ark.
Peiss, K
Gonda, S.
W. Chapkis
Week Twelve:
RETURN EDITED DRAFT TO CRITIQUE PARTNER
“Reconfiguring” the “Imperfect” Body
 Lamm, Nomy.
 Kipnis, Laura.
 Shapiro,JP.
Week 13:
The Commodified Body
Kaw, Eugenia
 Morgan, KP
 Taylor
 K. Davis
Week 14
Film: TBA
Week 15
ALL RESEARCH PAPERS DUE DURING CLASS TIME
Reconceptualizing “Empowered” Bodies
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M.L. Felstiner.
M. Scoby
Weitz, R.
Shevy Healey
Week 16 December 10
Student presentations: 8-10 minutes max per student.
Please use this format:
1. Why this topic?
2. Research questions
3. Theoretical framework
4. Content found
5. Analysis of sources’ usefulness
6. Questions for future study
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