GNDR 1061 - Introduction to Gender Studies

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab None
Course Description: Introduction to Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary course focused on the ways that sex and gender influence social, cultural, and political systems.  This course addresses interconnections among systems of oppression (such as sexism, racism, classism, ethnocentrism, homophobia/heterosexism, transphobia, ableism, and others) in order to read and analyze gender, exploring how it impacts one’s understanding of and experiences in and around the world.  This course is required for the Gender Studies Certificate.
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science, 9 Ethical/Civic Responsibility

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. History of the field
2. Health and reproductive justice
3. Social and cultural constructions of gender, sex, power, and intimacy
4. Feminist activism
5. Feminism
6. Power and privilege
7. Intersectionality
8. Learning gender
9. Femininities and masculinities
10. Inscribing gender on the body
11. Gender and social systems, such as media, economic, political, legal, religious systems, and the arts

1. identify key issues, questions, and debates in the interdisciplinary field of Gender Studies.
2. evaluate how feminist scholarship has developed tools for thinking about gendered experience.
3. apply tools for thinking about gendered experience to individual and societal problems.
4. analyze social and cultural assumptions about gender.
5. articulate how to use intersectional theory, which demonstrates how systems of oppression interact to influence people’s lives.
6. discuss key ethical questions in the field.

05. 03. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

05. 04. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Competency 2 (7-10)
09. 02. Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.

09. 03. Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.

09. 04. Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.

09. 05. Identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

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