Course Description



This course is an exploration of sociological approaches to sexuality. We will examine the ways that society shapes sexual identities, politics, and behaviors. And we will confront the ways societies are structured by sex and sexuality. The course critically considers legal and medical designations of normality and dysfunction, and addresses the construction of sex and gender, otherness, exoticism, pornography, global politics, marriage, partnership, family, fertility, repression, and panic.

Together we will examine the linkages between social structures and human experience. The course also emphasizes theoretical research issues, especially how and to what degree our understanding of sexuality is a direct result of the processes we use to define sexuality. Students will learn to critique popular discourses with critical sociological perspective and will be encouraged to form their own opinions.

Textbooks & Readings

All readings will be available on Canvas and should be completed before the designated classes. There are no required textbooks for this course, and this course requires no additional cost to students.

Course Objectives 

  • Students will have a working knowledge of sociological theories of sexuality

  • Students will feel comfortable identifying connections between sexuality and the social experience

  • Students will be able to deploy sociological research and adopt sociological perspectives in debating critical contemporary issues related to sex and sexuality

 

Assignment Descriptions

Students will be scored based on their command of the course material as well as the critical thinking skills they display in the assignment. This course involves five forms of assessment:

  • Unit Outlines (15%)

  • Attendance (10%)

  • Participation (15%)

  • Midterm Debate (25%)

    • Debate Reflection (10%)

  • Final Exam (25%)

Unit Outlines (15%)

  • At the beginning of the course, each student will be assigned a study group. Your group will work together to synthesize course readings and to improve your understanding of course material. Each member will be responsible for outlining 2 weeks of readings and sharing those notes with their group. These outlines will be distributed to me and to your group on the Tuesday of the week you’ve been assigned.

  • These outlines serve your group but you will be graded individually. You are encouraged to use these as study guides but you are also expected to read all of the course readings and to engage these summaries actively and critically.

Attendance (10%)

  • This course is discussion-heavy and attendance is imperative. Absences must be excused, or they will affect a student’s final grade in the course. Each student is granted one unexcused absence without penalty. After this, students will lose 1% from their final grade for each unexcused absence. There will be a sign in sheet at the front of the classroom at the beginning of each class. It is your responsibility to sign in to each class period.

Participation (15%)

  • Participation will be graded based on each student’s contributions to class discussion. To receive a “perfect” participation score, a student must make a substantive contribution each week. If you have an aversion to public speaking or if you require accommodations around participation, please speak with me during the first week of the semester to arrange for an assessment alternative.

Debates (25%)

  • Each study group will be given one opportunity to engage in a structured debate about a current event, legal battle, or policy initiative. Two weeks before each debate, groups will be assigned a topic and a position to defend (which they may adapt but not invert). Students should prepare ahead by carefully reading the course texts and the provided synopsis. Opening statements and an outline of key arguments (including evidence that these arguments are sociologically supported) should be prepared prior to the debate and submitted alongside a 1-page reflection on the day of the debate.

Debate Reflection (10%)

  • In addition to participating in your own debate, you will write a 5-page reflection in response to one of the other two debate topics in which you defend your own opinion and support it with evidence. You are expected to make use of research materials outside the course syllabus.

Final Exam (25%)

  • A comprehensive short answer and essay-based final exam will be administered at the end of the course in order to gauge each student’s mastery of the course readings and lectures.

Deadlines and Late Work

Late work will be accepted within one week of the deadline at the expense of one half-letter grade for lateness. Work will not be accepted more than one week past the deadline unless the student has discussed a medical or family emergency with the instructor and agreed upon an alternative deadline. Exceptions are made infrequently and under special circumstances.

 

SCHEDULE OF COURSE READINGS

I ask that you come prepared to discuss all of the assigned readings on Tuesdays. Tuesday classes will be committed to comprehension: Do you understand the readings and their contributions to the discipline? By arriving at this high level of understanding, we will “earn” Thursday’s critical discussion. On Thursdays, you’ll be invited to challenge and complicate the texts. I structure the week in this way to encourage you to build critical momentum on a foundation of close reading and to sidestep critiques that stem from misunderstanding.

 

January 15th & 17th

THE SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SEXUALITY

Readings:

  • Course syllabus, come with questions Thursday

In week 1, we’ll review the syllabus and begin a discussion about what a sociological approach to sexuality involves. How does this differ from other approaches? How will this shape our course? We’ll also cover some introductory language and get everyone familiar with the basic theoretical frameworks that shape this course.

 

January 22nd & 24th (last week of add/drop)

CONSTRUCTING SEX, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY

Readings:

 

January 29th & 31st

CONSTRUCTING NORMALITY & DYSFUNCTION

Sexuality & Medicine

Readings:

 

February 5th & 7th

CONSTRUCTING THE SEX CRIME

Sexuality & Law

Readings:

 

February 12th, 14th & 19th

DEBATES

February 12th: Groups 1 & 2

February 14th: Groups 3 & 4

February 19th: Groups 5 & 6

 

 

February 21st

CONSTRUCTING OTHERNESS

Exoticism & Pornography

Readings:

 

February 26th & 28th

MARRIAGE, NONMANOGAMY, HOOKUP CULTURE

Readings:

 

SPRING BREAK

 

March 12th & 14th

REPRESSION & SUPPRESSION, THE CLOSET & THE DOWN LOW

Readings:

 

March 19th & 21st

SEX PANICS

Readings:

 

March 26th & 28th

CHILD SEXUALITY

Readings:

 

April 2nd & 4th

SEXUALITIES THAT ‘MATTER’

Readings:

  • Perverse Presentism: The Androgyne, the Tribade, the Female Husband, and other Pre-Twentieth Century Gender, in Female Masculinities, Judith Halberstam

  • Doing the Work of Love, (in We Real Cool), bell hooks

 

April 9th, 11th & 16th

FERTILITY, FUTURITY & SEXUAL TECHNOLOGIES, SEXUAL FUTURES

Readings:

  • Gaga Sexualities, Jack Halberstam

  • Cruising Utopia, excerpt, Jose Munoz

In Class: Future Baby, Film

 

April 23rd & 25th

QUEER THEORY 

 

April 30th & May 2nd

Final Exam Prep

 

Notes & Resources

Please note that my selection of course texts is not an endorsement of the arguments presented.   I hope that you confront each text critically, even those whose titles you enjoy on spec. I find many of the arguments presented in these works to be compelling and I find others to be quite problematic. I believe the best way for you to shape and articulate your own beliefs is to be challenged to confront diverse arguments, and to develop a rich vocabulary for engaging, critiquing, and repairing them. My hope is that you leave this class better able to ground your work, service, and political beliefs in sociological logic.

Written Work

Written materials must be typed and submitted in the format required by your instructor. Strive for a thorough yet concise style. Cite literature appropriately, using APA requirements. Develop your thoughts fully, clearly, logically and specifically. Proofread all materials to ensure the use of proper grammar, punctuation and spelling. For writing support, please contact the Connors Family Learning Center (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Attendance 2.0

Consistent with BC’s commitment to creating a learning environment that is respectful of persons of differing backgrounds, we believe that every reasonable effort should be made to allow members of the university community to observe their religious holidays without jeopardizing their academic status. Students are responsible for reviewing course syllabi as soon as possible, and for communicating with the instructor promptly regarding any possible conflicts with observed religious holidays. Students are responsible for completing all class requirements for days missed due to conflicts with religious holidays.

Accommodation and Accessibility

Boston College is committed to providing accommodations to students, faculty, staff and visitors with disabilities. Advanced notice and formal registration with the appropriate office is required to facilitate this process. There are two separate offices at BC that coordinate services for students with disabilities:

Scholarship and Academic Integrity

Failure to cite references is plagiarism. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not necessarily limited to, plagiarism, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, cheating on exams or assignments, or submitting the same material or substantially similar material to meet the requirements of more than one course without seeking permission of all instructors concerned. Scholastic misconduct may also involve, but is not necessarily limited to, acts that violate the rights of other students, such as depriving another student of course materials or interfering with another student’s work. Please see the Boston College policy on academic integrity (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for more information.