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THE FEMALE BODY IN THE WORLD: GENDER AND CONTEMPORARY BODY POLITICS IN CROSS CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

GEN&WS 423
Course Description

Explores the social, cultural, and political construction of the female/feminine body. Considers specifically the bodies of women and girls, transgender women, non-binary people that embody the feminine, female masculinities, and bodies that identify and are identified as female, as bodies that have historically and traditionally been sites of political contention, of societal meaning making, of cultural symbolism, and active resistance. Seeks to challenge what we think we know about bodies, challenging tacit knowledge and investigating how normative discourses of the female/feminine body are formed across cultures, around the world. Considers the impacts of phenomena such as globalization, neoliberalism, "global" feminism, imperialism, capitalism, and human rights movements on cultural conceptions of health, ability, beauty, representation, and the "value" of female/feminine bodies.

Prerequisties

Sophomore standing

Satisfies

This course does not satisfy any prerequisites.

Credits

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Offered

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Grade Point Average
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Instructors (2025 Fall)

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