CLASS SCHEDULE

Week 1: January 23 Introduction to Class, Review Syllabus, Cluster Group Selections

Week 2:  January 30  — THEORIZING RACE, GENDER, & SEXUALITY

Using an interdisciplinary approach this module examines the theoretical, conceptual, and analytical frameworks used to study the subjects of race, sex, gender, and sexuality.

Required Readings

The Anthropology of Race, Gender, and Sexuality

• Graves, Introduction (pgs. 1-22) and Part 1 Chps. 1-3 (pgs. 15-51); Part 2 Chp. 4 (pgs. 55-73).
• Joshi, S.T. (1999).  Documents of American Prejudice: An Anthology of Writings on Race from Thomas Jefferson to David Duke. Foreward, Chps. 1, 11, 20, 48, 50, 51 & 52 on CourseWorks Site.  Read at least three chapters.
• Ross, E. and Rapp, R.  (1997).  Chp. 10.  “Sex and Society A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology”, (pgs. 153-168) (G&S Reader).

Historical/Sociological Theories of Race, Gender, and Sexuality

• Foucault, Michelle. (1990). The History of Sexuality An Introduction Volume 1.  Random House, Inc. NY. (due by the fourth week of class)

• Staples, R (2006).  Exploring Black Sexuality, Introduction (pgs. xi-xxi).

• Rothenberg, P.  Race, Class, and Gender in the United States, Preface & Introduction, pgs. 1-4.
• Friedman, M. (1991).  “Reclaiming the Sex/Gender Distinction”.  NOUS, (25)2 pgs. 200-201.

Disciplinary Tensions

• Johnson, Patrick and Henderson, Mae.  (2005).  Black Queer Studies A Critical Anthology Introduction, Section 1 (due by week 4).

Website Resources: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p274.html

Supplementary Readings/Videos

• Back, Les and Solomos, John (eds.).  (2000) Theories Of Race and Racism A Reader.  Routledge, New York.
• Benedict, R. Race: What It Is Not,  (pgs. 113-118) (RR)
• Graves, Joseph (2002).  The Emperor’s New Clothes Biological

Theories of Race at the Millennium.  Rutgers University Press, NJ.

• Krajeski, J.P. Cultural Considerations in the Psychiatric Care of Gay Men and Lesbians, pgs. 553-554.
• Winant, H.  The Theoretical Status of the Concept of Race, (pgs. 181-194) (RR)

Video Resources: The Illusion of Race Part 1 Genetics, human variation, evolution, scientific classification and more:

Web resources:

Genetics, human variation, evolution, scientific classification and more:

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-01.htm

Week 3: February 6 — THEORIZING RACE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY con’t

Using an interdisciplinary approach this module examines the theoretical, conceptual, and analytical frameworks used to study the subjects of race, sex, gender, and sexuality.

VITAL Training with John Frankfurt, Educational Technologist I Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL).  Contact Information: [email protected], (212) 854-1865.

Required Readings

The Anthropology of Race, Gender, and Sexuality

• Arnfred, Signe (2005). Introduction.  “Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa:

Introduction” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.

Historical/Sociological Theories of Race, Gender, and Sexuality

• Lorber, J.  “Night to His Day”: The Social Construction of Gender, pgs. 54-64.  (RCGS)
• Hubbard, R. The Social Construction of Heterosexuality, pgs. 65-68. (RCGS)
• Katz, J. The Invention of Homosexuality, pgs. 69-80.  (RCGS)

• Somerville, S. Introduction (pgs. 1-15)

Methodological Issues

• Denzin, N., & Lincoln, Y. “ Introduction: The Discipline and Practice of Qualitative Research” pgs. 1-46. In The Land of Qualitative Research.
• Vidich, J. & Lyman, S. “Qualitative Methods: Their History in Sociology and Anthropology”, pgs. 55-130. In The Land of Qualitative Research.
• Johnson, Patrick and Henderson, Mae.  (2005).  Black Queer Studies A Critical Anthology, Section III.

Supplementary Readings

• Ellis, Havelock, Studies in the Psychology of Sex. Vol. I, Sexual Inversion. 1897.  London: University Press, 1900.   Butler Stacks RC558.E43 1975

• Ellis, Havelock, “Sexual Inversion in Women”.  Alienist and Neurologist 16 (1895): 141-58.

Web resources: Slavery, the origins of race, ancient views of difference, 19th century race science, and more.

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-02.htm

Dr. Joseph S. Caruso, African Studies Librarian – [email protected]

Columbia University Libraries’ research collections on Africa south of the Sahara contain over 100,000 book titles & over 1,700 current  serials in history, political science, law, sociology, anthropology, economics, geography, geoscience, literature, ethnomusicology, and the visual  arts. Since 1995, Columbia has also been actively acquiring video titles in support of recent curriculum trends on campus.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/africa/index.html

Week 4:  February 13 —  RACIALIZED SEXUALITIES and SOCIAL FORMATIONS

This section examines the intersection of racial sexual and gender formation theory in a transnational context.  We will explore the way in which race, sex, and gender formations vary across place and space.  Likewise, what is the role of the researcher in studies on marginalized communities?

Required Readings

Anthropological Theories of Race, Gender, and Sexuality

• Becker, H.  (2005).  Chp. 1.  “Efundula: Women’s Initiation, Gender, and Sexual Identities” in Colonial and Post-Colonial Northern Namibia in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.
• Ratele, K.  (2005).  “Kinky Politics” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.

Historical/Sociological Theories of Race, Gender, and Sexuality

• Staples, R (2006).  Exploring Black Sexuality, Chp. 1-2 (pgs. 1-36).

• Omi and Winant, “Racial Formations” pgs. 12-21.  (RCGS)

• Gray- White, D. Ar’n’t I a Woman Introduction & Chps. 1-2 (pgs. ).
• Russell, Color Complex, Introduction, Chps. 1-3 (pgs. 9-61).
• Hill-Collins, P. (2004).  Introduction, Chps. 1-2 in Black Sexual Politics African Americans, Gender, And Then New Racism.
• Frankenberg, R. “White Women, Race Matters,” pgs. 447- 461 (RR)
• Gilman, S.  (1985).  “Black Bodies, White Bodies: Toward an Iconography of Female Sexuality in Late Nineteenth Century Art, Medicine and Literature.”  Critical Inquiry 12(1): 204-242.
• Magubane, Z.  (2001).  “Which Bodies Matter? Feminism, Poststructuralism, Race, and the Curious Theoretical Odyssey of the “Hottentot Venus”, Gender and Society, Vol. 15(6), 816-134.
• Hammonds, Evelyn.   (1997).  “Toward a Genealogy of Black Female Sexuality: The Problematic of Silence.” in Jaqui Alexander and Chandra Talpade Mohanty (Eds.).  Feminist Genealogies, Colonial Legacies, Democratic Futures.

• Somerville, S. Queering The Colorline.  Chps. 1-3

Methodological Issues

• Christians, C. “Ethics and Politics in Qualitative Research,” pgs. 208-244. In The Land of Qualitative Research. (Weeks 4-5).
• Ladson-Billings, G. “Racialized Discourses and Ethnic Epistemologies,” pgs. 398-432. In The Land of Qualitative Research. (Weeks 4-5).

Supplementary Readings

• Krajeski, J.P. Cultural Considerations in the Psychiatric Care of Gay Men and Lesbians, in Culture, Ethnicity & Mental Illness (ed.) Albert D. Gaw, pgs. 553-572.

Video Resources: Maseko, Z. (1998).   The Life and Times of Sara Baartman  “The Hottentot Venus”.

Week 5:  February 20 — CROSS-CULTURAL GENDER NOTIONS?

Is the concept of gender transcultural and therefore transhistorical?  What factors are used to socially organize societies?  How can researchers engage in comparative sexuality studies if no consensus exists about analytical concepts?

Required Readings

• Amadiume, Ifi.  (1987). Introduction and Chp. 1.  Male daughters, female  Husbands, Gender, and Sex in an African Society.

• Oyewumi, Oyeronke. (1997). Introduction and Chp. 1. The Invention of Women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis: Minnesota.
• Oyewumi, Oyeronke.  (2003).   Introduction in African Women & Feminism Reflecting On The Politics of Sisterhood, Oyeronke Oyewumi (ed.).  Africa World Press, Inc., NJ.
• Arnfred, S. (2005). Chp. 2.  “‘African Sexuality’/Sexuality in Africa: Tales and Silences” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.

• Morgan and Wieringa (2005).  Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives.  Introduction, Chps. 7 & 9.

• Cruz-Janzen, M. (2001). Latinegras Desired Women—Undesirable Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Wives.  Frontiers 22(3), 1-16.

Methodological Issues

• Kempado, Kamala (2004).  Chps. 1 & 2 “Introduction: Thinking About The Caribbean” and “Past Studies, New Directions: Constructions & Reconstructions of Caribbean Sexuality” in Sexing the Caribbean Gender, Race, and Sexual Labor.

Video: Oyewumi, Oyeronke Quicktime Video CourseWorks, African Philosophy and Gender Humphries, J.M. (2005).  Recent Africana Philosophy in Three Movements Symposium. The Institute for the Study of Race and Social Thought, April 7-8, 2005, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  75MB, playing time 46:17 minutes.

Supplementary Readings

• Olowo-Freers, B., & Barton, T.  (1992). In Pursuit of Fulfillment: Studies Of Cultural Diversity And Sexual Behaviour In Uganda: An Overview Essay and Annotated Bibliography.  Marianum Press, Kisubi, Uganda.
• Kempado, Kamala (2004).  Sexing the Caribbean Gender, Race, and Sexual Labor. 

Week 6: February 27 – BLACK FEMALE GENDER NORMS, BEHAVIORS & THE FAMILY

This module examines black female gender norms, behaviors, and family roles.  Drawing from empirical research on Black Lesbian-headed households we will explore how we have come to understand contemporary forms of gender performance in lesbian relationships, and how the intersection of race and class influence Black Lesbian gender presentations.

Required Readings

• Eves, Alison.  (2004).  “Queer Theory, Butch/Femme Identities and Lesbian Space.”  Sexualities 7(4): 480-96.
• Faaderman, L. (1992).  “The Return of Butch and Femme: A Phenomenon in Lesbian Sexuality of the 1980s and 1990s.” Journal of the History of Sexuality 2(4): 578-596.
• Moore, M.R. Unpublished Manuscript.  “Lipstick Or Timberlands?  Meanings Of Gender Presentation in Black, Lesbian-Headed Households.”
• Weston, K. (1993).  “Do Clothes Make the Woman?  Gender Performance Theory and Lesbian Eroticism.”  Genders 17: 1-21.
• Silvera, M. (1992).  “Man Royals and Sodomites: Some Thoughts on the Invisibility of Afro-Caribbean Lesbians.”  Feminist Studies 18 (3): 167-177.

• Morgan and Wieringa (2005).  Introduction, Chps. 1 & 6 “I Want To Marry The Woman Of My Choice Without Fear Of Being Stoned” and My Attitude Is Manly A Girl Needs To Walk On The Aisle” in Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives.

Methodological Issues

• Gamson, J.  (2003). “Sexualities, Queer Theory, and Qualitative Research,” pgs. 540-568.  In The Land of Qualitative Research.
• Weston, K.  (2004).  “Fieldwork in Lesbian and Gay Communities”, pgs. 177-184.  In Approaches To Qualitative Research A Reader on Theory and Practice.

Supplementary Readings

• Hill-Collins, P. (2004).  Chp. 8. “No Storybook Romance: How Race and Gender Matter,” in Black Sexual Politics African Americans, Gender, And Then New Racism.

• Staples, R (2006).  Exploring Black Sexuality, Chp. 5 (pgs. 79-98).

• Zavella, P.  (1997).  Chp. 26.  “Playing with Fire” The Gendered Construction of Chicana/Mexicana Sexuality in (G&S Reader) pgs. 392-408.

Week 7 March 5 –  WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT BLACK FEMALE SEXUALITY BY READING THE STORIES OF BLACK WOMEN?

This section examines black female sexuality through the lenses of personal stories and narrative–Black Erotica.  This under-researched area requires more analytical investigation as to what theoretical frameworks and methodologies can be used to systematically analyze oral histories and erotica to understand black female pleasure, desire, and sexual development.

Required Readings (selected chapters)

• Rose, T.  (2003).  Longing to Tell Black Women Talk About Sexuality and Intimacy.
• Bashir, S. (2002).  Best Black Women’s Erotica 2.
• Powers, R. (2002).  Black Silk A Collection of African American Erotica.
• Decosta-Willis, M., R.  Martin, R., & Bell, R.  (1992).  Erotique Noire Black Erotica.
• Moore, L.  (1997).  does your mama know? An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories.
• Larato, N.  (2008)  “The Meeting” Forthcoming publication in Missionary No More: Purple Panties2, Zane Publications.
• Lorde, A.  (1984).  Sister Outsider: Essay and Speeches.  The Crossing Press, Berkeley, California.
• Bell hooks, (2000).  Salvation Black People And Love.
• Staples, Robert (2006). Chp. 7.
• Johnson, Patrick and Henderson, Mae.  (2005).  Black Queer Studies A Critical Anthology, Section IV, pgs. 289-297.
• Mahcera, M.  (2005).  “Opening a Can of Worms: A Debate of Female Sexuality in the Lecture Theatre” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.
• Diallo, A.  (2005).  “Paradoxes of Female Sexuality in Mali.  On the Practices of Magnonmaka an Bolokoli-kela” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.
• Haram, L.  (2005).  Chp. 10.  “‘Prostitutes’ or Modern Women?  Negotiating Respectability in Northern Tanzania” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.

• Morgan and Wieringa (2005).  Chps. 5 & 8 “I Am A Pet Goat, I Will Not Be Slaughtered’ and I’m In The Black Sheep Of My Family” in Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives.

Supplementary Reading

• Nin, A.  (1969).  Delta of Venus Erotica. Simon & Schuster, New York.
• Nin, A.  (1994). The Diary of Anais Nin Volume One 1931-1934.  Harcourt Inc., Florida.
• Hooks, B.  (1993).  Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery. Boston, MA: South End Press.

Week 8:  March 12 — FLEX DAY/Guest Speaker

• Research Paper Presentations?

Week 9: March 19  — SPRING RECESS!

Week 10: March 26 — RE-IMAGINING BODIES

This module examines how we think about the body: Performativity, “post-fordist” bodies in the age of AIDS, and subversive carnal practices in an unlikely place:  Three topically distinct, methodologically juxtaposed yet uncannily consonant pieces on body, identity, and selfhood.

Required Readings

• Butler, J.  Excerpt from “Introduction” to Bodies That Matter, Chp. 35 (G & S Reader).
• Martin, M. The End of the Body? Chp. 36 (G & S Reader).
• Lancaster, R.N. Guto’s Performance Notes on the Transvestism of Everyday Life, Chp. 37 (G & S Reader).

• Dellenborg, L. (2005).  A Reflection on the Cultural Meanings of Female, Circumcision.  Chp. 3.  “Experiences from Fieldwork in Casamance, Southern Senegal” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.
• Dean, J. (1999).  “Virtual Fears.”  Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, (24)4, 1069-1078.
• Sharpe, C.E.  (1999).  Racialized Fantasies on the Internet.  Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 24(4), 1089-1096.
• Staples, R.  (2006).  Exploring Black Sexuality.  Chp. 9 (pgs. 157-174).

Supplementary Readings

• Butler, J.  (1990).  Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity.  New York: Routledge.
• Brunner, DuBose, D. Challenging Representations of Sexuality Through Story and Performance.  Pgs. 169-181 in Overcoming Heterosexism And Homophobia Strategies That Work edited by James T. Sears and Walter L. Williams (1997).

• Castells, M. (1997).  The Information Age: Economy, Society, and Culture: Vol. II The Power of Identity.  Blackwell Publishers Ltd., Massachusetts, pgs. 1-12.

Vital Assignment Due 1 Torkwase Dyson

It’s About Small Things: A Telematic Performance in Cinema Art Narratives

Week 10: April 2 — FEMALE SEXUALITY, STRUCTURAL INEQUALITY, and TRANSNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY

This section examines the interdependent relationship between black female sexuality and structural inequality.   How do culture and religious values, and gender construction intersect with the process of racializing sexes and sexing races used to create systems of inequality?  How do constructions of black female sexuality shape and influence public policy and in turn how does public policy reinforce social regulation of black female bodies?

Required Readings – Student Led Conversation

• Hill-Collins, P. (2004).  Chp. 7. “Assume The Position: The Changing Contours of Sexual Violence,” in Black Sexual Politics African Americans, Gender, And Then New Racism.
• Silberschmidt, M.  (2005).  Chp. 11.  “Masculinities, Sexuality and Socio-Economic Change in Rural and Urban East Africa” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.
• Helle-Valle, J. (2005).  “Understanding Sexuality in Africa” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.
• Jungar, K. and Oinas, E.  (2005).  Chp. 4. “Preventing HIV? Medical Discourses and Invisible Women” in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa.

• Morgan and Wieringa (2005).  Chps. 2 & 4 “Immoral and Satanic: Loving Secretly in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania” and I Don’t Force My Feelings For Other Women, My Feelings Have To Force Me” in Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives.
• Fogg-Davis, Hawley. A Black Feminist Critique of Same-Race Street Harassment

Vital Assignment Due 2 Hawley Fogg-Davis

A Black Feminist Critique of Same-Race Street Harassment

Week 11: April 9 — MULTIPLE GENDERS MULTIPLE SEXUALITIES: A CONVERSSATION

This module examines the multiplicity, complexity, and constructed nature of Black female gender and sexual modalities by engaging a panel of black heterosexual, intersexed and transgender persons (FTM)/(MTF) to examine and explore their sexual development.

Guest Panel: To be organized

Required Readings

• Hill-Collins, P. (2004).  Chp. 3. “Prisons For Our Bodies, Closets For Our Minds: Racism, Heterosexism, and Black Sexuality.” in Black Sexual Politics African Americans, Gender, And Then New Racism.

• Gibson, M. Marinara, M, & Meem, D.  “Bi, Butch, and Bar Dyke: Pedagogical Performance of Class, Gender, and Sexuality.”  CCC 52:1/September 2000.
• Stimpson, C.  “On Being Transminded,” Signs Vol. 25(4): 2000, 1007-1011.
• Roen, K. “Either/Or” and “Both/Neither”: Discursive Tensions in Transgender Politics,” Signs, 27(2): 2002, 501-522.
• Preves, S. “Sexing the Intersexed: An Analysis of Sociocultural Responses to Intersexuality,” Signs, 27(2): 2001, 523-556.
• Markkowitz, S. “Pelvic Politics: Sexual Dimorphism and Racial Difference,” Signs, 26(2): 2001, 389-414.
• Morgan and Wieringa (2005). Chp. 3 “Some Say I am Hermaphrodite Just Because I Put on Trousers” in Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives.

Vital Assignment Due 3 Multiple Genders Multiple Sexualities Panel

Week 12: April 16 – ENVISIONING THE FUTURE: TOWARD AN EMANCIPATORY BLACK FEMALE SEXUALITY

This module explores new ways of conceptualizing the “self”.  Based upon our exploration of the changing nature of race, sex, and, gender relations is an emancipatory black female sexual identity emerging in the 21^st Century?  Moreover, is it even possible in an antiblack, racist, and homophobic world?  If so, what theoretical, conceptual, and analytical frameworks can be used to explore this phenomena?  What is the researcher’s role in this process?

Required Readings

• Hill-Collins, P. (2004).  Chp. 6. “Very Necessary: Redefining Black Gender Ideology,” in Black Sexual Politics African Americans, Gender, And Then New Racism.

• Hill-Collins, P. (2004).  Chp. 9. “Why We Can’t Wait: Black Sexual Politics And the Challenge of HIV/AIDS,” and Afterward in Black Sexual Politics African Americans, Gender, And Then New Racism.
• Coalhole, M.  (2005).  Chp. 12.  “Re-Conceptualizing African Gender Theory: Feminism, Womanish and the Arere Metaphor” in Re-thinking African Sexualities.

• Staples, R (2006).  Exploring Black Sexuality, Chp. 10 (pgs. 175-188).

• Morgan and Wieringa (2005).  Chp. 10 “Present-day Same-sex Practice s in Africa in Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives.
• Kempado, Kamala. (2004).  Chp. 8 “Resistance, Rebellion, and Futures” in Sexing The Caribbean Gender, Race, and Sexual Labor.

Week 14:  April 23 Student Presentations

Week 15: April 30 LAST DAY OF CLASS – Student Presentations

FINAL RESEARCH PAPERS DUE

Week 16: May 7  (Study Days)