Gender and Sexuality in Global Perspective
WGSST 2305
Spring 2014 (January 8th – April 18th)
Wednesday/Friday 2:20PM - 3:40PM
Cockins Hall 0232
Instructor: (Phoebe) Han Chen
Office: Dulles 30
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: chen.3340@osu.edu
Disability Accommodation
The Office for Disability Services (ODS) offers a variety of services and auxiliary aids
for students with documented disabilities. Students who have verification from Disability
Services are responsible for contacting the instructor as soon as possible to make
necessary arrangements. ODS is located in 150 Pomerene Hall; you can contact them at
292-3307.
Course Description
The objective of the course is to explore how issues around gender and sexuality are
constructed across cultures and countries. We will examine a variety of global processes
and approaches, including colonialism, nationalism, decolonization, postcolonialism,
globalization, and neocolonialism. We will develop a framework for thinking at the
intersections of identity, politics, culture, and knowledge in order to explore the complex
and contested ways in which multiple economic, political, and cultural institutions affect
people’s lives globally.
The is course specifically tailored to emphasize questions related to sexuality and desire,
and to identify the ways in which human sexuality intersects with other dimensions of
social life, such as gender, race, nationality etc.
Required Texts
1. Cynthia Enloe, Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of
International Politics. (University of California Press, 2001)
2. A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000)
Attendance and Class Participation 30
Leading Discussions
10 (5 X 2)
Response Papers
30 (10 X 3)
Research Paper
30
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Total
100
Course Requirements
1. Attendance and Participation: The most basic requirement of the course is to
attend all classes and participate in the discussions. This is a discussion based
course, so please come to class having done the readings and be prepared to
discuss your questions and comments with your fellow students. Students are
expected to engage in respectful intellectual dialogue in the classroom. Students
will be allowed two (2) absences. Each additional absence will result in the
deduction of two (2) points form your attendance and participation grade.
Leaving early or coming in late will also affect your attendance grade.
2. Leading Discussions: In addition, each student will serve as a discussion leader
twice during the semester individually or in a group. Discussion leaders should
open our class discussion with 5-8 minute presentation about the readings. Your
presentation should not simply summarize the readings. Instead, you should raise
questions and points of discussion, draw connections among the texts, and link the
reading to broader themes of the course.
3. Class response: There are three reflection papers (2-3 pages), to be submitted on
the days mentioned in the course schedule. You can choose a topic of your liking
for these papers, which can be a single reading, a set of readings, a theme or an
issue that has been discussed in the class, or any issue relevant to the overall
objectives of this course. Responses should reflect deep thinking and draw upon
relevant readings. These papers are to be typed, double-spaced, 12 point font with
1 inch margins. No late papers will be accepted.
4. Research Paper: The research paper (8-10 pages) will be on a topic of your
choice. The research paper is due on April 26th. Please drop off your papers in
my mailbox in the Women’s Studies Department, 286 University Hall by 4pm.
Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism
As defined by University Rule 3335-31-02, plagiarism is "the representation of another's
works or ideas as one's own: it includes the unacknowledged word for word use and/or
paraphrasing of another person's work, and/or inappropriate unacknowledged use of
another person's ideas." Plagiarism is one of the most serious offenses that can be
committed in an academic community; and it is the obligation of this department and its
instructors to report all cases of suspected plagiarism to the Committee on Academic
Misconduct. After the report is filed, a hearing takes place and if the student is found
guilty, the possible punishment ranges from failing the class to suspension or expulsion
from the university. Although the existence of the Internet makes it relatively easy to
plagiarize, it also makes it even easier for instructors to find evidence of plagiarism. It is
obvious to most teachers when a student turns in work that is not her or his own; search
engines make documenting the offense very simple.
These are some ways you can avoid plagiarism:


Always cite your sources (your instructor can help with this)
Always ask questions before you turn in an assignment if you are uncertain
about what constitutes plagiarism
 See your instructor if you are having difficulty with an assignment.
To preserve the integrity of OSU as an institution of higher learning, to maintain your
own integrity, and to avoid jeopardizing your future, DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!
Writing Center
I am available to assist you with assignments and help you improve your work during my
office hours or by appointment. The university also provides an incredible writing
resource with the University Writing Center. The Writing Center allows you to make
appointments to get assistance from trained writing tutors. To utilize this universitysponsored service, contact the Writing Center at (614) 688-5865 or visit
http://cstw.osu.edu/writingCenter/default.cfm for more information.
Class Schedule:
*The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the class schedule.
January 8 Introduction and Course Overview
January 10 Locating Ourselves
Peggy McIntosh, “White Privilege”
Frye, “Oppression”
Andrea Smith, “ Heteropatriarchy and the Three Pillars of White Supremacy”
January 15 Key Concepts I: Understanding “Others”
Gloria Anzaldúa, “The Homeland, Aztlán/ El otro México”
Gloria Anzaldúa, “Movimientos de rebeldía y las culturas que traicionan”
Gloria Anzaldúa, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”
January 17 Key Concepts II: Orientalism
Edward Said, “Introduction”
January 22 Key Concepts III: Difference
Audre Lorde, “Age, Race, Class and Sex: Women Redefining Difference”
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, “Cartographies of Struggle”
January 24 Key Terminologies
Ania Loomba’s “Defining the Terms: Colonialism, Imperialism,
Neocolonialism, Postcolonialism”
January 29 In-class Film: Life and Debt
January 31 Decolonization
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and
Colonial Discourses”
Uma Narayan, “Dislocating Cultures”
Andrea Smith, “American Studies Without America”
1st Response Paper Due
February 5 Cynthia Enloe, “Bananas, Beaches and Bases” (Chapters 1, 2)
February 7 Cynthia Enloe, “Bananas, Beaches and Bases” (Chapter 3)
February 12 Cynthia Enloe, “Bananas, Beaches and Bases” (Chapters 4, 5)
February 14 Cynthia Enloe, “Bananas, Beaches and Bases” (Chapters 6, 7)
February 19 Cynthia Enloe, “Bananas, Beaches and Bases” (Chapters 8, 9)
February 21 Jamaica Kincaid, “A Small Place” (Part 1)
February 26 Jamaica Kincaid, “ A Small Place” (Part 2)
February 28 Issues in Globalization and Neocolonialism: Women’s Labor
Grace Chang, “Global Exchange”
Rhacel Parrenas, “Migrant Filipina Domestic Workers”
March 5 Issues in Globalization and Neocolonialism: Gender and Migration
Eleonor Kofman, “Gendered Global Migrations”
2nd Response Paper Due
March 7 In-class Film: Lesbian Factory
March 12 No Class. Spring Break.
March 14 No Class. Spring Break.
March 19 Sexuality and Nationalism I: Gender and Nationalism
Jyoti Puri, “Redoubtable Essences: Nationalisms and Genders”
Partha Chatterjee, “Colonialism, Nationalism and Colonized Women: The
Contest in India”
March 21 Sexuality and Nationalism II: Problematizing Nationalism
Jyoti Puri, “Checking (Homo)Sexualities at the Nation’s Door: Nationalisms
and Sexualities”
V. Spike Peterson, “Political Identities/Nationalism as Heterosexism”
March 26 Sexuality and Identity I: Sexuality, Nation and State
Jyoti Puri, “Sexuality, Nation and State”
Travis S.K. Kong, “Sexualizing Asian male Bodies”
Gayatri Gopinath, “Funny Boys and Girls: Notes on a Queer South Asian
Planet”
March 28 Sexuality and Identity II: Challenging the “Normal”
Kerwin Kaye, “Transgendering: challenging the ‘normal’”
Gayatri Reddy, “With Respect to Sex: Negotiating hijra Identity”
April 2 Women and Religion I: In-class Film: Persepolis
April 4 Women and Religion II: Charting Feminism in Muslim Nations
Margot Badran, “Between Secular and Islamic Feminism/s”
April 9 Women and Religion III: Gender and Neoliberalism
Gokariksel and Mitchell, “Veiling, Secularism, and the Neoliberal Subject”
Inderpal Grewal, “Security Moms”
April 11 The Prospects for Feminist Solidarity
Richa Nagar and Amanda Lock Swarr, “Introduction: Theorizing Transnational
Feminist Praxis”
3rd Response Paper Due
April 16 Research Paper Workshop
April 18 Conclusion