Topics in Sociological Analysis (476-0-23)
Topic
Gender, Power, Politics
Instructors
Ann Shola Orloff
847/491-3719
1808 Chicago Ave. Rm. 201
Meeting Info
Parkes Hall 222: Wed 9:30AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
"Gender, Power, Politics"
This seminar will investigate how gender shapes politics, and how politics in turn shapes gender, with gender conceptualized as a set of relations, identities and cultural schema, co-constituted with other dimensions of power, difference and inequality (e.g., race, class, sexuality, religion, citizenship status). We aim to understand gendered politics and policy from both "top down" and "bottom up" perspectives. What do states do, via institutions of political participation and representation, citizenship rights and policies, and official categorization to shape gender relations? How do gender relations influence the nature of policy, classification systems, and citizenship? How have movements and counter-movements around the transformation of gender developed, and how have gendered divides influenced politics of all sorts? We expand on conventional conceptions of political participation and citizenship rights to include grassroots democratic activism, the creation of alternative visions of democracy, social provision and economic participation, as well as examining formal politics and policies. We will read and discuss scholars drawing on diverse theoretical and methodological traditions, and we engage with analyses of a variety of contexts across the world (the US, other rich capitalist democracies, postcolonial states and beyond), striving to situate states and political mobilization in global contexts. Because this course is interdisciplinary, students will gain greater understanding of the diverse disciplinary approaches to gendered politics of political science, sociology, history and gender and sexuality studies.
Teaching Method
Seminar/discussion
Evaluation Method
two short or one long paper; weekly discussion posts; class participation
Class Materials (Required)
All materials for this course will be made available on Canvas - no purchase necessary.
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Sociology/MORS PhD Students