Special Topics in the Humanities (370-3-20)

Topic

Race/Gender/Sex & Science

Instructors

Steven Epstein

Meeting Info

555 Clark B03: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

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 a range of cases, we will explore the dynamic interplay among expert findings, social identities, and political arguments.

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 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.

Evaluation Method

Short take-home essay, in-class midterm, 10-page research paper, short class presentation based on paper, class attendance, and class participation.

Class Materials (Required)

All course materials will be available on Canvas.

Class Attributes

Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.