J.Daniels, Ph.D.
Hunter College
Jessie Daniels, Ph.D.
Ofc: Rm.1715W
Ofc Hours: 12:45pm Fridays
& by appt.
Fall, 2006
Women’s Studies
Email:jdaniels@hunter.cuny.edu
“THE POLITICS OF QUEER SEXUALITY”
Syllabus
WOMST 200.66
Section 001: Time: Tu/F 14:10-15:25pm Location: HN C109
Course Description
This course introduces students to the “politics of queer sexuality.” The term
“queer” as it is used in this course is an inclusive term used to refer to gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgendered and straight people who do not accept the hegemonic
norms of gender and sexuality. The course encompasses research from a variety
of fields, including the social sciences, humanities, and queer studies. In this
course, we will explore some of the history of queer politics, the right wing
backlash (often referred to as the “culture wars”), and the contemporary fight over
gay marriage. We will discuss theoretical issues, read historical and ethnographic
works, and view films in our quest to develop an understanding of the politics of
queer sexuality.
Course Objectives:
 To learn the contemporary theories about sexuality and gender identity.
 To understand how current debates about queer politics are rooted in
historical debates about the nature of sexuality.
 To become aware of the concept of “heteronormativity” and how it
informs understanding of the politics of queer sexuality.
 To apply the knowledge gained in this class to life beyond the
classroom.
Required Texts:
American Queer, Then and Now
David Shneer & Caryn Aviv, (Editors)
Paperback (ISBN: 1594511721)
Unpacking Queer Politics: A Lesbian Feminist Perspective
Sheila Jeffreys
Paperback (ISBN: 0745628389)
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J.Daniels, Ph.D.
Hunter College
Fall, 2006
Optional Texts
Required readings will be assigned from all of the following, as well as articles
from peer-reviewed journals. Required readings not in the required texts listed
above will be made available through Hunter Library Reserve and Blackboard:
Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. (Norton, 2006)
Michelle Goldberg.
Hardback (ISBN: 0393060942)
Social Perspectives in Lesbian and Gay Studies. (Routledge, 1993)
Peter Nardi & Beth Schneider (Editors)
Paperback (ISBN:0415167094)
Queer Family Values: Debunking the Myth of the Nuclear Family. (Temple, 1999)
Valerie Lehr
Paperback (ISBN: 1566396840)
The Trouble with Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life. (Free Press,
1999)
Michael Warner
Paperback (ISBN: 0674004418)
God Hates Fags: The Rhetorics of Religious Violence. (NYU Press, 2006)
Michael Cobb
Paperback (ISBN: 0814716695)
Fear of a Queer Planet. (University of Minnesota, 1993).
Michael Warner (Editor)
Paperback (ISBN: 0816623341)
Visual Texts
Throughout the semester, we will see a number of films. These are considered
visual texts for the class. Most of these films are not available via the Hunter
library system, so it is important that you are in class to view the films. (I do not
loan out the films and will not show them twice.) You should also plan on taking
notes on the films and you will be tested on them. All the films used are
documentaries that have a clear connection to other course material (lectures and
assigned readings) and you should think about these connections as you view the
films.
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J.Daniels, Ph.D.
Hunter College
Fall, 2006
Course Requirements
Attendance (10%) Your physical presence in the class is mandatory. Each
absence from class will deduct points from your overall course average. Failure
to attend class regularly will result in suspended access to Blackboard for this
class and the online course materials there.
Participation (20%) Participation in class discussions, both face-to-face and
online (via Blackboard), is required. For the in-class portion of your participation
grade, each student will be assigned a class to make a brief presentation about the
assigned reading. Over the course of the semester, you will have assigned
discussion topics on Blackboard, and be required to post about the connections
between films and readings on the discussion boards. You will be awarded points
for the QUANTITY of your participation (both in class and online) and given a
subjective assessment (from me) based on the QUALITY of your participation.
These will combine for a total of 100 points. These 100 points will make up 20%
of your grade.
Quizzes (20%) There will be frequent quizzes (usually one every other week)
and short (usually 5 to 10 questions) over lectures, readings and films. The
quizzes will be given online and available for approximately a week each time.
There will be no make-up quizzes. Over the course of the semester, the quizzes
will total 100 points and these will make up 20% of your grade.
Mid-Term Exam (30%). There will be one in-class, mid-term exam that will be
worth 30% of your grade (for a total of 30%). This exam will include a take-home
essay (750-1,000 words), multiple-choice (given in-class) and will be held in class
on the following date:
 Mid-Term Exam, Friday, 10/20 (30%)
The essay is due at the beginning of class on this date. There will be no make-up
exams given. If you know you will not be able to attend class on this date, it is
your responsibility to make arrangements to take the exam before the date
scheduled. (In the event of a verifiable emergency, students will be given a
different exam, in essay format, to fulfill the requirement.)
Cumulative Final Examination (20%). The final exam will represent 20% of
your course grade. It will be cumulative, covering all the material presented in
class. The format of the final exam will follow the same format as the mid-term,
that is, it will include both multiple-choice questions (given in class) and a takehome essay. The College sets the date and time for the final exam, please check
the registrar’s schedule.
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J.Daniels, Ph.D.
Hunter College
Fall, 2006
Grades
Attendance
10%
Participation
20%
Quizzes
20%
Mid-Term Exam
30%
Final Exam
20%
_____________________________________
Total
100%
The grading scale I use in this class is the same scale used by Hunter College and
is as follows:
A+ = 97.5-100%
A = 92.5-97.4%
A- = 90.0-92.4%
B+ = 87.5-89.9%
B = 82.5-87.4%
B- = 80.0-82.4%
C+ = 77.5-79.9%
C = 72.4-77.4%
C- = 70.0-72.3%
D = 60.0-69.9%
F = 59.9% and below
Your grade is determined by your effort, ability, and the points you accumulate by
doing the work, participating in class, completing assignments and submitting
them in on time throughout the semester. I have a firm belief that grades should
reflect students’ effort and ability on the assignments given to the entire class.
Therefore, I do not negotiate grades with students after the semester is completed.
What I Expect from Students in the Class
 Attend class.
 Participate in discussions and exercises, both in class and online.
 Treat others in the class with respect.
 Do the assigned readings as scheduled.
 Do discussion assignments as required and post them on time.
 Take exams on dates in syllabus.
 Contact the instructor with any concerns related to the course. Please use email.
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J.Daniels, Ph.D.
Hunter College
Fall, 2006
Hunter College Policies
ACADEMIC HONESTY
It is important that all the work you do for this course reflects your own effort,
ideas, and writing. This is called “intellectual honesty” or “academic honesty.”
The College has a strong policy regarding this, and it reads as follows:
“Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating
on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and
official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty.
The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity
and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College
Academic Integrity Procedures.”
“Any deliberate borrowing of the ideas, terms, statements, or knowledge of
others without clear and specific acknowledgement of the source is intellectual
theft and is called plagiarism.” Hunter College 2003-2006 Graduate Catalog,
page 12.
“It is not plagiarism to borrow the ideas, terms and statements, or knowledge of
others if the source is clearly and specifically acknowledge. Students who
consult such critical material and wish to include some of the insights, terms or
statement encountered must produce full citations in an appropriate form.”
Hunter College 2003-2006 Graduate Catalog, page 12
If you ever have any questions about how to avoid plagiarism, please email me:
jdaniels@hunter.cuny.edu.
SERVICES FOR DISABLED STUDENTS
There is an Office of Disabled Students in Student Services, 1128 East Building,
772-4857. Support services and accommodations are available to provide students
with disabilities greater accessibility to the academic environment. Those eligible
include students with mobility, visual and hearing impairments. It also includes
students with learning disabilities, psychiatric disorders or any medical condition
that limits one or more of life’s basic functions.
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J.Daniels, Ph.D.
Hunter College
Fall, 2006
Course Calendar, Part 1, Weeks 1-8
Date
Required Reading
Topic
W
k
W,
8/30
---------
1
F, 9/1
2
M., 9/4
Adam, Barry D. “Care, Intimacy,
and Same-Sex Partnership in the 21st
Century,”
---------
Tu, 9/5
W, 9/6
F, 9/8
3
Tu,
9/12
F, 9/15
4
5
6
7
Tu,
9/19
F, 9/22
Tu,
9/26
F, 9/29
M, 10/2
Tu,
10/3
F,10/6
M, 10/9
Readings on Bisexuality from
NYTimes (Bb);
Storr, “Postmodern Bisexuality,”
(Bb)
--------S&A, pp.1-7;
pp.217-228
Herman, “ ‘I’m Gay’: Declarations,
Desire, and Coming Out on PrimeTime Television,” (Bb); Rich, A.,
“Compulsory Heterosexualiy &
Lesbian Existence,” D’Emilio, J.,
“Capitalism & Gay Identity.” (handout)
OPTIONAL:Jolly, “Coming Out of
the Coming Out Story: Writing
Queer Lives.” (Bb)
S&A, pp.53-90;
Cobb (intro), God Hates Fags (NYU
Press).
S&A, pp.193-216
CLASSES BEGIN
Welcome and Introduction to the Course
FILM: “I Exist” (Instructor’s Copy)
COLLEGE CLOSED
Lecture: “Queer Sexuality: Key Terms, Key Debates”
FILM: “Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the
Developing World”
COLLEGE FOLLOWS MONDAY SCHEDULE
Discussion: What Prompts an Uprising?
FILM: “Before Stonewall” (Hunter Reserve)
Lecture: “Narratives of ‘Coming Out’ & the Politics
of Queer Sexuality“
Discussion: Coming Out, Politics & Place
FILM: “The Times of Harvey Milk” (Hunter Reserve)
FILM: “Licensed to Kill”
Discussion: Understanding Hate Crimes, Pt.1
--------Noelle, “The Ripple Effect of the
Matthew Shepard Murder,” (Bb)
Fausto-Sterling, “The Five-Sexes,”
“The Five_Sexes Revisited”(Bb);
Russell, “Sexual Minority Youth and
Suicide Risk” (Bb)
-----------------
COLLEGE CLOSED
Lecture: “Anti-Gay Violence & Queer Community
Response” [AVP - Presentation]
FILM: “The Brandon Teena Story”
Discussion: Understanding Hate Crimes, Pt.2
S&A, pp.29-51
Sedgwick, “How to Raise Your Kids
Gay,” (from Fear of a Queer Planet,
Warner, Michael, Ed.)
---------
Lecture: “Theories of Origin, Theories of Change”
COLLEGE CLOSED
COLLEGE FOLLOWS MONDAY SCHEDULE
COLLEGE CLOSED
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J.Daniels, Ph.D.
Tu,
10/10
8
F,
10/13
Tu,
10/17
F,
10/20
Hunter College
Goldberg, “The Political Uses of
Homophobia” (hand-out);
Wolkomir, “ ‘Giving It Up to God’:
Negotiating Femininity in Support
Groups for Wives of Ex-Gay
Christian Men” (Bb)
TBA
TBA
---------
Fall, 2006
Discussion: Can People Change Their Sexual
Orientation?
FILM: “One Nation Under God” (Instructor’s Copy)
Lecture: “LGBT Rights (and the lack thereof) in the
U.S. & Globally”
Discussion: Equal Rights?
FILM: “Out at Work” (Hunter Reserve)
Mid-Term Exam
Course Calendar, Part 2, Weeks 9-13
Date
Wk
9
10
Tu, 10/24
Lecture: “Gender Politics, the Myth of the Nuclear Family & the
Struggle over Gay Marriage”
FILM: “Tying the Knot”
Lecture: “The Trouble with ‘Normal’ & the Framing of the Gay
Marriage Debate”
Warner, Ch.2, 3
from The Trouble
with Normal, (Hand
Out);
Johnson (Bb)
Tu,10/31
Taylor & Rupp,
“Drag Queens,”
(Bb); Nanda,
“Hijras” (Bb)
S&A, pp.91-121;
S&A, pp.123-166;
Discussion: Drag & Performing Gender
FILM: “Wigstock”
Lehr, Ch.4, “Social
Problems and
Queer Family
Values” (Hand
Out);
Hicks (Bb); Stacey
(Bb)
Schrock (Bb);
Eyre(Bb);
Epstein(Bb)
S&A, pp.181-192;
pp.232-242
Jeffreys, Unpacking
Queer Politics,
pp.1-31
Discussion: The ‘Gayby’ Boom & the Political Struggle over Gay
Families
FILM: “Daddy & Pappa”
Tu, 11/7
F, 11/10
12
Topic
F, 10/27
F, 11/3
11
Required Reading
Tu, 11/14
F, 11/17
Discussion: Changing Mores & the Politics of Queer Sexuality
FILM:”Gay Sex in the 70s”
Discussion: Transgender Issues
FILM: “Gender Rebel”
Discussion: Transgender Issues
Discussion: ACT UP & Queer Nation
FILM “Fight Back, Fight AIDS: 15 Years of ACT UP” [Hunter
College copy]
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J.Daniels, Ph.D.
13
Tu, 11/21
W, 11/22
W, 11/22
F, 11/24
Hunter College
Jeffreys, Unpacking
Queer Politics,
pp.32-56
------Jeffreys, Unpacking
Queer Politics
pp.57-143
-------
Fall, 2006
Discussion: Lesbian Politics
FILM: “No Secret Anymore”
COLLEGE FOLLOWS FRIDAY SCHEDULE – CLASS MEETS
ON WEDNESDAY
Lecture: “Unpacking Queer Politics: A Lesbian Feminist Critique”
COLLEGE CLOSED – THANKSGIVING BREAK
Course Calendar, Part 3, Weeks 14-16
Date
Required Reading
Topic
Wk
14
Tu,
11/27
F, 12/1
15
16
Tu,
12/5
F, 12/8
Tu,
12/12
W,
12/13
Tu,
12/19
Jeffreys, Unpacking
Queer Politics pp.144162
Crawley, S. “Are
Butch-Fem Working
Class and AntiFeminist?” (Bb)
S & A, Conclusion,
pp.245-268
Discussion: The Politics of Butch & Femme
FILM:”Butch Mystique”
Yip, “Queering
Religious Texts: An
Exploration of British
Non-heterosexual
Christian and
Muslims’ Strategies of
Constructing SexuallyAffirming
Hermeneutics” (Bb)
FILM: “Trembling Before G-d”
Lecture: “Fear of a Queer Future: The Politics of Looking Ahead”
---------
Guest Speaker: Rev. Pat Bumgardner, MCCNY
LAST CLASS
---------
LAST DAY ALL CLASSES FOR THE COLLEGE
FINAL EXAM
COLLEGE HOLIDAYS & IMPORTANT DATES
Lectures – notes will be posted.
Films – study questions will be posted.
Guest Speakers
Exams
8