This course takes a close look at current debates on race, gender, and ethnicity in American society. It begins with an overview of definitions of race, gender, and ethnicity, exploring what they have meant in the past and what they mean now. Then the course examines the intersections between race, gender, and ethnicity, asking the following questions: How do race and ethnicity differ, and how are they related? What difference does race make? How are race and gender related? Where does sexual orientation fit into the discourse on gender, and how does it fit into discussions on race and ethnicity? Current debates on race, gender, and ethnicity were highlighted by the 2008 election of the first African-American president and the ever-growing prominence of women in the highest levels of American politics. Does this mean that we have entered a post-racial era? Where exactly do we stand on women and gender-related issues? What about the place of GLBT issues in the public domain? This course explores these themes and topics.
Prerequisites
ENG 110