WOM 393: Transnational Feminism
W 12:15-2:55
Cross-listed with Sociology, Anthropology, and International Relations

Professor Heather Hewett: hewetth@newpaltz.edu

Course Description:
This course explores the evolution of transnational feminism, paying particular attention to the impact of globalization on women’s movements, the political and ethical issues surrounding solidarity between women, the development of human rights approaches, and women’s transnational activism.  Readings will be interdisciplinary, including scholarship from history, sociology, political science, literary studies, philosophy, postcolonial studies, and feminist studies.  The class will also examine memoir, fiction, nonfiction, journalism, blogs, photography, and documentary film.

Readings and viewings may include:
Nancy Naples and Manisha Desai, Women’s Activism and Globalization: Linking Local Struggles and Transnational Politics
Myra Marx Ferree and Aili Mari Tripp, Global Feminism: Transnational Women’s Activism, Organizing, and Human Rights
Fatima Mernissi, Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood
Leila Ahmed, A Border Passage
Nawal El Saadawi, Woman at Point Zero
Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski, Born into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids

WOM 393: Masculinities
M 6-8:40pm
Cross-listed with Sociology

Professor Karl Bryant: bryantk@newpaltz.edu

Course Description:
This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of masculinity studies. We will examine theoretical readings drawn from a variety of disciplines, as well as original materials from literature, film, and other forms of cultural production.  Students will consider the following questions: How is masculinity constructed and represented culturally, socially, and institutionally in contemporary society? How do race, class, gender, sexuality, age, ability, and nationality inflect understandings of masculinity? What is the relationship between masculinity and sexed bodies? What is the relationship between various forms of (dominant and subordinate) masculinities? What role do masculinities have in the production of inequalities? How do (or could) masculinities play a role in producing more egalitarian forms of gendered embodiment and social organization? While this course focuses especially on masculinities in the US, we will also have opportunities to learn about masculinities in cross-cultural and transnational contexts.

Examples of the kinds of topics we will cover include:

• Masculinity in Childhood and Adolescence
• Masculinity & the Workplace
• Relationships, Family, & Friendships
• Masculinity & Sexuality
• Violence & Masculinity
• Masculinity in the Media
• Global Masculinities
• Changing Masculinities

WOM393: Gender and Economic Crises
MR 9:25-10:40
Cross-listed with Econcomics

Professor Edith Kuiper: kuipere@newpaltz.edu

This course examines the role of gender in the economy, and in economic crises more in particular. The course addresses economic crises as a historical, sociological and political  phenomenon, and gender as context and time specific, and in relation to economic development. The course will address and explore the effects of the most recent financial and economic crisis on women and men, as well as the role of gender in the dynamics and the analysis of this crisis. The readings will be interdisciplinary, including scholarship and materials from history, sociology, political science, science studies, literary studies, postcolonial and feminist studies.  
As main texts or parts of texts will be included:

• Barker, D.K. & Kuiper, E. (2009) Routledge Major Works Series Feminist Economics, Critical Concepts, London & New York: Routledge.
• Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild, Global Woman, Owl Books, 2005.
• Krugman, P. (2002) The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008, New York: Norton & Co.
• Offen, Karen (2000) European Feminisms, 1700- 1950, A Political History, Stanford: Stanford University Press.
• Joan W. Scott (1988) Gender and the Politics of History, New York: University of Columbia Press. 
• Pujol, M. (1992) Feminism and anti-feminism and early economic thought, Aldershot, UK: Edward Elgar.

PSY498-3 & 4
Senior Seminar: Doing what Comes Naturally? Deconstructing the Concept of Instinct
Course Offering: Spring 2010
Cross-listed with Women's Studies
Professor Alison Nash (nasha@newpaltz.edu) and Professor Giordana Grossi (grossi@newpaltz.edu)
Course Description:
We often hear the words "instinct" and "innate" to explain certain animal and human behaviors. We also hear that certain sex differences are "biologically inherent". But what are instincts? What does it mean that a behavior, a preference, or a trait is innate or biologically inherent? What criteria are used to determine that a behavior is innate? In this course, we will try to answer these questions by analyzing the historical, theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of "natural" behaviors and by reviewing empirical studies on animals and humans. We will discuss contemporary views on the synthesis of nature and nurture -- epigenetics and neural plasticity -- as well as topics such as language, face perception, and sex differences.