Topics in Sociological Analysis (376-0-20)
Topic
Stigmatized Sexualities
Instructors
Mark Griffith
Meeting Info
Harris Hall L04: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
"Stigmatized Sexualities"
From abstinence-only sex education programs to the public response to songs like WAP by Cardi B & Megan thee Stallion, we are bombarded with messaging that sexuality is stigmatized. But why is sexuality so taboo? How do social forces shape the way we view, experience, and regulate sexuality? Using a sociological lens, this course explores the intersection of sexuality and stigma. We will begin by exploring foundational theories of both stigma and sexuality in the social sciences. Armed with these frameworks, we will then engage with in-depth case studies of different stigmatized sexualities, including homosexuality & bisexuality, asexuality, HIV/AIDS, infidelity, sex work, kink, ethical non-monogamy, and disabled sexualities. The course will empower students to interrogate their own assumptions and to critically examine the forces that perpetuate sexual inequality in society. By the end of the course, students will have gained a deeper understanding of how stigma operates at both the individual and structural level. The final assignment requires students to write a proposal for a research project that would answer a sociological question of their choice about stigma and sexuality.
Taught with GNDR_ST 331-0-20.
Learning Objectives
1. Gain familiarity with sociological theories of stigma and sexuality, and understand
the evidence in which these theories are grounded.
2. Practice applying these theories to real world social issues, including one's own lived
experiences.
3. Understand the explicit and implicit ways in which stigma and sexuality profoundly
shape social inequality, especially as they intersect with race, ethnicity, and class.
4. Identify a research question related to stigma and sexuality and think through how to answer it with sociological data and methods.
Teaching Method
Facilitated discussion
Evaluation Method
Canvas discussion posts, class participation, initial project proposal, literature review, final paper
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