Critical Trans Studies (354-0-20)

Instructors

Eli Kean

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 3-410: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

What is 'critical' about Critical Trans Studies? In this seminar class, we will explore gender not simply as an aspect of individual identity, but also as a social system that regulates expansive possibilities of gender identity and expression. Throughout the course we will explore issues such as knowledge production and trans epistemologies, in/visibility and legibility, bodily autonomy and medical gatekeeping, gender surveillance, and the ethics of research. We will engage with and critically discuss texts from the fields of legal studies, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, race/ethnic studies, and disability studies, with a commitment to centering the experiences and perspectives of trans and non-binary people both inside and outside of the academy.

Registration Requirements

Prerequisite: GNDR_ST 235, or Permission of Instructor (permission number required)

Learning Objectives

Students will…
1. Explore the experiences of transgender people in the U.S. as affected by social status, citizenship, race, ability, and sexuality
2. Identify and critique assumptions about gender within U.S. social institutions such as government, media, religion, and the economy
3. Articulate connections between gender diversity, settler colonialism, and cisheteropatriarchy
4. Apply theories and concepts of critical trans studies to real-world situations
5. Analyze current threats to the lives and livelihoods of trans and non-binary people in the U.S.

Teaching Method

seminar, discussion, readings, writing assignments, class participation

Evaluation Method

writing assignments, class participation, project (final), group work, peer assessment

Class Materials (Required)

In Canvas

Class Attributes

Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Ethics & Values Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-registration is reserved for Gender & Sexuality Studies students Prerequisites: GNDR_ST 210, GNDR_ST 235, or Permission of Instructor.
Add Consent: Instructor Consent Required