Professor Gregory Tomso

Professor Gregory Tomso Fall 2012 [email protected]

Theories of Sexuality and Gender Course Description This course introduces undergraduate students to basic approaches in the cultural study of sexuality and gender through the lens of contemporary critical theory. We will examine both sexuality and gender as intellectual, political, and discursive constructs that include, but also exceed, the domains of biology and identity. One important aspect of our work will be continually to confront and renegotiate what the terms sexuality and gender might mean, using their very instability and adaptability as guides for our own investigations. Students should be aware that this is predominantly a course in theory, though we will study film and other cultural products as part of our investigations. Class format is a mixture of lecture and discussion. This semester, in additional to reading foundational texts by Michel Foucault, Jeffrey Weeks, Gayle Rubin, and Judith Butler, we will focus on two topic areas of recent national interest: gay marriage and transsexuality/intersexuality. First, we will study the history of marriage as a state institution and the struggle for gay and lesbian civil rights as we consider “queer” alternatives to marriage as the foundation of social life. Second, we will study the (occasionally fraught) intersections of transsexual and intersex discourses as we consider the privileged role that bodily morphology plays in determining perceptions of sex and gender. Students from all majors who have completed their general education requirements are welcome in this course, though it is not for the weak of heart: the class involves substantial amounts of difficult reading and critical writing. For students in the English major, this course counts towards the major’s diversity requirement. Required Texts John Colapinto, As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl (ISBN: 9780061120565) Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality, Volume One (ISBN: 9780679724698) Jeffrey Weeks, Sexuality (ISBN: 9780415497121) NOTE: There are also several e-reserve readings available through the UWF library. Grading Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Reading Quizzes

25% 25% 25% 25%

To calculate your final grade for the course, simply average the grades on each exam along with your reading quiz average.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete this course will: Describe the contributions of Foucault, Weeks, Rubin and Butler to the field of sexuality and gender theory. Explain the importance of Foucault’s “repressive hypothesis” and the notion of “scientia sexualis” Define key terms and concepts central to the cultural study of sexuality and gender (such as heteronormativity, social constructionism, queer, transsexuality, intersex, essentialism, performativity) Survey, discuss, analyze and evaluate the political, historical and ideological contexts in which the struggle for gay marriage rights has emerged in the United States. Investigate alternatives to heteronormative social systems and kinship structures through the analysis of films and other cultural products. Survey, discuss, analyze and evaluate the historical emergence and contemporary expression of transsexuality and intersexuality. Investigate alternatives to the binary systems of sex, sexuality and gender through the analysis of films and other cultural products. Continuously interrogate the notion of “queerness” as a critical posture, philosophical perspective, identity, and political standpoint.

Grading Scale The course is based on a traditional 100-point system. Each assignment will be assigned a numerical grade on a scale of zero to 100. The grading scale used to calculate letter grades is: A AB+ B

94-100 90-93 87-89 84-86

BC+ C C-

80-83 77-79 74-76 70-73

D+ D DF

67-69 64-66 60-63 59 and below

Exam Format All exams are essay-based (with some short answer and other types of questions mixed in) and will be administered during class. Dates for the exams are indicated on the Schedule of Readings and Assignments. In-class reading quizzes will also contain multiple-choice questions.

Attendance Policy You are allowed two absences from class. You are responsible for all material and assignments that you miss. For each absence after the second, your final grade for the course will be lowered by one half of a letter grade. Missing more than six classes will result in automatic failure of the course. Absence from class does not automatically excuse you from essay or examination deadlines. You must sign and return the attached attendance and plagiarism acknowledgement by the third class meeting. If illness or family emergency causes you to miss more than two class meetings, it is your responsibility to contact me immediately to discuss your progress in the course. Serious illness or family tragedy does not necessarily entitle you to special consideration. In most cases, serious emergencies that prevent you from attending class and completing assignments should result in withdrawal from the course. Excessive tardiness to class will be considered an absence. It is your responsibility to get to class on time. If you miss the chance to be marked as present on the class role, it is your responsibility to see me after class to be marked as tardy. Contacting the Instructor Feel free to contact me if you need help on an assignment or if you would like to talk about the class or our readings. My email address is . Office hours for the fall semester are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My office is located in Building 50, upstairs, room 206. Please sign up for an office appointment by using the sign-up sheet attached to my office door.

Acknowledgement of Attendance and Plagiarism Policies Before signing this form, read the attached syllabus carefully and read the University’s Plagiarism Policy online at http://uwf.edu/cas/aasr/Plagiarism.pdf. Also, you must complete the library’s online plagiarism tutorial, available at: http://library.uwf.edu/tutorials/writing_skills/avoiding_plagiarism.cfm

After completing the tutorial, you must print out the email with your plagiarism quiz score and attach it to this form. No credit will be given for any exams or essays until you have submitted this paperwork.

I, ________________________________, attest to the following:

I have read and understood the UWF Plagiarism Policy online at http://uwf.edu/cas/aasr/Plagiarism.pdf and I have completed the online library tutorial. On my honor as a student, I pledge not to plagiarize or receive unauthorized assistance on any exam or writing assignment for this course. I am aware that plagiarism or cheating in any form will result in failure of the course and possible expulsion from the University. I understand that there is an absence policy in effect for this course, and that excessive class absence (i.e., missing more than two classes) will result in a reduction of my final course grade or, if I miss more than six classes, in failure of the course. If I am late to class, I agree that it is my responsibility to see the professor after class on the day that I am late to be marked as “tardy” rather than “absent” on the roll. I understand that excessive tardiness will be counted as an absence.

SIGNATURE:_________________________________________

DATE:_______________________________________________

Schedule of Readings and Assignments *Items marked with an asterisk are available via electronic reserve. You must print a copy of all e-reserve readings and bring them to class. Aug 28

Course Overview Reading Due for first class: José Muñoz, “Stages: Queers, Punks, and the Utopian Performative”* & “Conclusion: ‘Take Ecstasy with Me’ ”* In-class reading quiz on Muñoz

Aug 30

Jeffrey Weeks, Sexuality, Chapters 1 & 2

Sept 4

Jeffrey Weeks, Sexuality, Chapter 4

Sept 6

Gayle Rubin, “Thinking Sex”* (read half of the article for this class, and half for the next class)

Sept 11

Gayle Rubin, “Thinking Sex”* (second half)

Sept 13

Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality, 1-35

Sept 18


Sept 20


Sep 24

Monday: Exam 1, take-home portion due by 11:00 p.m in e-learning dropbox

Sept 25

Exam 1 (In class portion)

Sept 27

Nancy Cott, “An Archaeology of American Monogamy”*

Oct 2

Nancy Cott, “Monogamy as the Law of Social Life”*

Oct 4

No Class

Oct 9

George Chauncey, “Gay Rights, Civil Rights”*

Oct 11

George Chauncey, “How Marriage Changed”*

Oct 16

Michael Warner, “Beyond Gay Marriage”* (read half of the chapter for this class, and half for the next class)

Oct 18

Michael Warner, “Beyond Gay Marriage”* (second half)

Oct 23

Mark Oppenheimer, “Married, With Infidelities” (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/magazine/infidelity-will-keep-ustogether.html?pagewanted=all) (Print out the entire article and bring a copy to class.)

Oct 24

Wednesday: Exam 2, take-home portion due by 11:00 p.m in e-learning dropbox

Oct 25

Exam 2

Oct 30

Cheryl Chase, “Hermaphrodites with Attitude”* Film: XXXY (2000) Porter Gale & Laleh Soomekh http://www.isna.org/videos/xxxy Intersex Society of North America WWW site: http://www.isna.org/ Entire homepage “Our Agenda”: http://www.isna.org/faq/patient-centered Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.isna.org/faq o What is intersex? o How common is intersex? o What's wrong with the way intersex has traditionally been treated? o Is a person who is intersex a hermaphrodite? o What's the difference between being transgender or transsexual and having an intersex condition? o Why Doesn't ISNA Want to Eradicate Gender? o Who was David Reimer (also, sadly, known as "John/Joan")? o What's the history behind the intersex rights movement?

In-class film: One in 2000 (2006) Ajae Clearway (26 mins) Nov 1

John Colapinto, As Nature Made Him, Preface and Chapters 1-6

Nov 6

John Colapinto, As Nature Made Him, Chapters 7-12

Nov 8

Judith Butler, “Doing Justice to Someone”*

Nov 13

Dean Spade, “Mutilating Gender”*

Nov 15

No Class

Nov 20

Butler, Introduction to Bodies That Matter, pages 1-16*

Nov 22

No Class

Nov 27

In-Class Screening: Paris is Burning (1990) Jennie Livingston (75 mins)

Nov 29

Judith Butler, “Gender is Burning”* (read entire essay for this class)

Dec 4

Judith Butler, “Gender is Burning”* (re-read entire essay for this class)

Dec 6

Exam 3 (in class portion) / Last day of class

Dec 10

Exam 3 take home portion due in e-learning dropbox