Gender and Queerness

This course is an exploration of what “gender” and “queerness” mean in a global context. What does it mean to be “queer” in the USA as opposed to, say, in Vietnam or Japan? To what extent are the expression and practice of gender and sexual identity facilitated in different global contexts? How do different global cultural understandings of gender and sexuality, particularly from the non-West, help us to explore what it means to be “queer”? Students will explore why it is  important to pay attention to the language used to define and identify individuals with regard to their sexual and gender identities. Why are acts of the “performance” of gender and sexuality important in creating, sustaining, and protecting diverse sexual and gender identities across the world? This course will explore these questions and topics by engaging with content related to these issues from literature, film, documentary, oral histories, podcasts, art, fashion, and social media. Students will work on cross-cultural and cross-media projects in which they will explore the spectrum of gender and what it means to be queer. Participants in this course commit to upholding a safe space where all identities are celebrated.