Research Seminar in Gender & Sexuality Studies (350-4-2)
Topic
Researching Gender/Sexual Minorities in History
Instructors
Martha Allegra Robinson Rhodes
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 3-410: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Topic: Researching Gender and Sexual Minorities in History.
Queens. Fairies. Inverts. Sapphists. Hijra. Uranians. Abatoni. Friends of Dorothy. The terms used to describe gender and sexual minorities in the past and around the world might be unrecognizable to us today - but they have all shaped our current identities. In this course we will be exploring queer histories in a global context to understand the people and experiences behind the categories. Rather than taking a chronological approach, or looking at countries in isolation, we will be focusing on some of the most hotly-debated topics in gender history, LGBT history and queer history: how have the identity categories we understand today developed over time and in different contexts? How have gender and sexual minorities sought to liberate themselves and others, and how have these efforts informed movements around the world today?
The central focus of your writing requirements will be your own research paper, on a topic of your choice, engaging directly with primary source materials. We will work on this step by step throughout the quarter, starting with defining a topic and research question, developing a bibliography and research strategy, producing a draft and commenting on each other's efforts, and, lastly, writing and presenting a final paper. The ability to conduct independent research is an extremely valuable skill, enabling you to develop as scholars and engage directly with the topics and questions we will be covering.
Learning Objectives
Conduct independent research in queer history; Explain how understandings of gender, sex and sexuality have changed over time and in different cultural contexts; Evaluate the relationship between LGBT history, queer history, and queer activism; Interpret primary sources in context
Teaching Method
Class discussion, readings, and an independent research project
Evaluation Method
Research project, paper (final), writing assignments, presentation
Class Materials (Required)
All required course materials will be provided on Canvas
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area