Topics in Sociological Analysis (376-0-20)
Topic
Race/Gender/Sex & Science: Identities & Difference
Instructors
Steven G Epstein
Steven Epstein is Professor of Sociology and John C. Shaffer Professor in the Humanities. His research and teaching focus on the sociology of science, medicine, and sexuality.
Meeting Info
Parkes Hall 213: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
How do developments in the life sciences affect our understandings of who we are, how we differ, and how social inequalities are created, perpetuated, and challenged? This seminar explores how scientific claims and technological developments help transform cultural meanings of race, gender, and sexuality. Conversely, we will consider how cultural beliefs about race, gender, and sexuality influence scientific knowledge and medical practice. By studying controversies, we will explore the dynamic interplay among expert findings, social identities, and political arguments.
This course is cross-listed with GNDR_ST 332-0-21 and HUM 370-3-20.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Understand and explain how the meanings of social categories such as race, gender, and sexuality are affected by technologies and informed by developments in the natural and social sciences.
• Understand and explain how scientific processes and discourses as well as pathways of technological development are affected by broader social understandings of forms of identity, difference, and inequality such as race, gender, and sexuality.
• Understand contemporary debates in the United States surrounding social inequalities and hierarchies, social justice, identity, and belonging, especially in relation to race, gender, and sexuality.
• Understand a variety of social science perspectives on those debates.
• Understand how social scientists study science, technology, and medicine as social processes.
• Understand how to go about developing and writing a research paper that builds on class readings but investigates a topic of the student's choosing, with an emphasis on careful organization, clear argumentation, and effective writing.
Teaching Method
Seminar
Evaluation Method
In-class midterm, 2 short critical summaries of readings, 10-page research paper, short class presentation based on paper, class attendance, and class participation
Class Materials (Required)
All materials for this course will be made available on Canvas - no purchase necessary.
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area