J.Daniels, Ph.D.Hunter CollegeFall, 2006

Jessie Daniels, Ph.D.Women’s Studies

Ofc: Rm.1715WEmail:

Ofc Hours: 12:45pm Fridays

& by appt.

“THE POLITICS OF QUEER SEXUALITY”

Syllabus

WOMST 200.66

Section 001: Time: Tu/F 14:10-15:25pmLocation: HN C109

Course Description

This course introduces students to the “politics of queer sexuality.” The term “queer” as it is used in this course is an inclusive term used to refer to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people who do not accept the hegemonic norms of gender and sexuality. The course encompasses research from a variety of fields, including the social sciences, humanities, and queer studies. In this course, we will explore some of the history of queer politics, the right wing backlash (often referred to as the “culture wars”), and the contemporary fight over gay marriage. We will discuss theoretical issues, read historical and ethnographic works, and view films in our quest to develop an understanding of the politics of queer sexuality.

Course Objectives:

  • To learn the contemporary theories about sexuality and genderidentity.
  • To understand how current debates about queer politics are rooted in historical debates about the nature of sexuality.
  • To become aware of the concept of “heteronormativity” and how it informs understanding of the politics of queer sexuality.
  • To apply the knowledge gained in this class to life beyond the classroom.

Required Texts:

American Queer, Then and Now

David Shneer & Caryn Aviv, (Editors)

Paperback (ISBN: 1594511721)

Unpacking Queer Politics: A Lesbian Feminist Perspective

Sheila Jeffreys

Paperback (ISBN: 0745628389)

Optional Texts

Required readings will be assigned from all of the following, as well as articles from peer-reviewed journals. Required readings not in the required texts listed above will be made available through Hunter Library Reserve and Blackboard:

Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. (Norton, 2006)

Michelle Goldberg.

Hardback (ISBN: 0393060942)

Social Perspectives in Lesbian and Gay Studies. (Routledge, 1993)

Peter Nardi & Beth Schneider (Editors)

Paperback (ISBN:0415167094)

Queer Family Values: Debunking the Myth of the Nuclear Family. (Temple, 1999)

Valerie Lehr

Paperback (ISBN: 1566396840)

The Trouble with Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life. (Free Press, 1999)

Michael Warner

Paperback (ISBN: 0674004418)

God Hates Fags: The Rhetorics of Religious Violence. (NYU Press, 2006)

Michael Cobb

Paperback (ISBN: 0814716695)

Fear of a Queer Planet. (University of Minnesota, 1993).

Michael Warner (Editor)

Paperback (ISBN: 0816623341)

Visual Texts

Throughout the semester, we will see a number of films. These are considered visual texts for the class. Most of these films are not available via the Hunter library system, so it is important that you are in class to view the films. (I do not loan out the films and will not show them twice.) You should also plan on taking notes on the films and you will be tested on them. All the films used are documentaries that have a clear connection to other course material (lectures and assigned readings) and you should think about these connections as you view the films.

Course Requirements

Attendance (10%) Your physical presence in the class is mandatory. Each absence from class will deduct points from your overall course average. Failure to attend class regularly will result in suspended access to Blackboard for this class and the online course materials there.

Participation (20%) Participation in class discussions, both face-to-face and online (via Blackboard), is required. For the in-class portion of your participation grade, each student will be assigned a class to make a brief presentation about the assigned reading. Over the course of the semester, you will have assigned discussion topics on Blackboard, and be required to post about the connections between films and readings on the discussion boards. You will be awarded points for the QUANTITY of your participation (both in class and online) and given a subjective assessment (from me) based on the QUALITY of your participation. These will combine for a total of 100 points. These 100 points will make up 20% of your grade.

Quizzes (20%) There will be frequent quizzes (usually one every other week) and short (usually 5 to 10 questions) over lectures, readings and films. The quizzes will be given online and available for approximately a week each time. There will be no make-up quizzes. Over the course of the semester, the quizzes will total 100 points and these will make up 20% of your grade.

Mid-Term Exam (30%). There will be one in-class, mid-term exam that will be worth 30% of your grade (for a total of 30%). This exam will include a take-home essay (750-1,000 words), multiple-choice (given in-class) and will be held in class on the following date:

  • Mid-Term Exam, Friday, 10/20 (30%)

The essay is due at the beginning of class on this date. There will be no make-up exams given. If you know you will not be able to attend class on this date, it is your responsibility to make arrangements to take the exam before the date scheduled. (In the event of a verifiable emergency, students will be given a different exam, in essay format, to fulfill the requirement.)

Cumulative Final Examination (20%). The final exam will represent 20% of your course grade. It will be cumulative, covering all the material presented in class. The format of the final exam will follow the same format as the mid-term, that is, it will include both multiple-choice questions (given in class) and a take-home essay. The College sets the date and time for the final exam, please check the registrar’s schedule.

Grades

Attendance 10%

Participation 20%

Quizzes20%

Mid-Term Exam30%

Final Exam20%
______

Total 100%

The grading scale I use in this class is the same scale used by Hunter College and is as follows:

A+ = 97.5-100%

A = 92.5-97.4%

A- = 90.0-92.4%

B+ = 87.5-89.9%

B = 82.5-87.4%

B- = 80.0-82.4%

C+ = 77.5-79.9%

C = 72.4-77.4%

C- = 70.0-72.3%

D = 60.0-69.9%

F = 59.9% and below

Your grade is determined by your effort, ability, and the points you accumulate by doing the work, participating in class, completing assignments and submitting them in on time throughout the semester. I have a firm belief that grades should reflect students’ effort and ability on the assignments given to the entire class. Therefore, I do not negotiate grades with students after the semester is completed.

What I Expect from Students in the Class

  • Attend class.
  • Participate in discussions and exercises, both in class and online.
  • Treat others in the class with respect.
  • Do the assigned readings as scheduled.
  • Do discussion assignments as required and post them on time.
  • Take exams on dates in syllabus.
  • Contact the instructor with any concerns related to the course. Please use e-mail.

Hunter College Policies

ACADEMIC HONESTY

It is important that all the work you do for this course reflects your own effort, ideas, and writing. This is called “intellectual honesty” or “academic honesty.” The College has a strong policy regarding this, and it reads as follows:

“Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.”

“Any deliberate borrowing of the ideas, terms, statements, or knowledge of others without clear and specific acknowledgement of the source is intellectual theft and is called plagiarism.” Hunter College 2003-2006 Graduate Catalog, page 12.

“It is not plagiarism to borrow the ideas, terms and statements, or knowledge of others if the source is clearly and specifically acknowledge. Students who consult such critical material and wish to include some of the insights, terms or statement encountered must produce full citations in an appropriate form.” Hunter College 2003-2006 Graduate Catalog, page 12

If you ever have any questions about how to avoid plagiarism, please email me: .

SERVICES FOR DISABLED STUDENTS

There is an Office of Disabled Students in Student Services, 1128 East Building, 772-4857. Support services and accommodations are available to provide students with disabilities greater accessibility to the academic environment. Those eligible include students with mobility, visual and hearing impairments. It also includes students with learning disabilities, psychiatric disorders or any medical condition that limits one or more of life’s basic functions.

Course Calendar, Part 1, Weeks 1-8

Wk

/ Date / Required Reading / Topic
W,
8/30 / ------/ CLASSES BEGIN
1 / F, 9/1 / Adam, Barry D. “Care, Intimacy, and Same-Sex Partnership in the 21st Century,” / Welcome and Introduction to the Course
FILM: “I Exist” (Instructor’s Copy)
2 / M., 9/4 / ------/ COLLEGE CLOSED
Tu, 9/5 / Readings on Bisexuality from NYTimes (Bb);
Storr, “Postmodern Bisexuality,” (Bb) / Lecture: “Queer Sexuality: Key Terms, Key Debates”
FILM: “Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World”
W, 9/6 / ------/ COLLEGE FOLLOWS MONDAY SCHEDULE
F, 9/8 / S&A, pp.1-7;
pp.217-228 / Discussion: What Prompts an Uprising?
FILM: “Before Stonewall” (Hunter Reserve)
3 / Tu, 9/12 / Herman, “ ‘I’m Gay’: Declarations, Desire, and Coming Out on Prime-Time Television,” (Bb); Rich, A., “Compulsory Heterosexualiy & Lesbian Existence,” D’Emilio, J., “Capitalism & Gay Identity.” (hand-out)
OPTIONAL:Jolly, “Coming Out of the Coming Out Story: Writing Queer Lives.” (Bb) / Lecture: “Narratives of ‘Coming Out’ & the Politics of Queer Sexuality“
F, 9/15 / S&A, pp.53-90;
Cobb (intro), God Hates Fags (NYU Press). / Discussion: Coming Out, Politics & Place
FILM: “The Times of Harvey Milk” (Hunter Reserve)
4 / Tu, 9/19 / S&A, pp.193-216 / FILM: “Licensed to Kill”
Discussion: Understanding Hate Crimes, Pt.1
F, 9/22 / ------/ COLLEGE CLOSED
5 / Tu, 9/26 / Noelle, “The Ripple Effect of the Matthew Shepard Murder,” (Bb) / Lecture: “Anti-Gay Violence & Queer Community Response” [AVP - Presentation]
F, 9/29 / Fausto-Sterling, “The Five-Sexes,” “The Five_Sexes Revisited”(Bb); Russell, “Sexual Minority Youth and Suicide Risk” (Bb) / FILM: “The Brandon Teena Story”
Discussion: Understanding Hate Crimes, Pt.2
6 / M, 10/2 / ------/ COLLEGE CLOSED
Tu, 10/3 / ------/ COLLEGE FOLLOWS MONDAY SCHEDULE
F,10/6 / S&A, pp.29-51
Sedgwick, “How to Raise Your Kids Gay,” (from Fear of a Queer Planet, Warner, Michael, Ed.) / Lecture: “Theories of Origin, Theories of Change”
7 / M, 10/9 / ------/ COLLEGE CLOSED
Tu,
10/10 / Goldberg, “The Political Uses of Homophobia” (hand-out); Wolkomir, “ ‘Giving It Up to God’: Negotiating Femininity in Support Groups for Wives of Ex-Gay Christian Men” (Bb) / Discussion: Can People Change Their Sexual Orientation?
FILM: “One Nation Under God” (Instructor’s Copy)
F, 10/13 / TBA / Lecture: “LGBT Rights (and the lack thereof) in the U.S. & Globally”
8 / Tu, 10/17 / TBA / Discussion: Equal Rights?
FILM: “Out at Work” (Hunter Reserve)
F, 10/20 / ------/ Mid-Term Exam

Course Calendar, Part 2, Weeks 9-13

Wk

/ Date / Required Reading / Topic
9 / Tu, 10/24 / Lecture: “Gender Politics, the Myth of the Nuclear Family & the Struggle over Gay Marriage”
FILM:“Tying the Knot”
F, 10/27 / Warner, Ch.2, 3 from The Trouble with Normal, (Hand Out);
Johnson (Bb) / Lecture: “The Trouble with ‘Normal’ & the Framing of the Gay Marriage Debate”
10 / Tu,10/31 / Taylor & Rupp, “Drag Queens,” (Bb); Nanda, “Hijras” (Bb) / Discussion: Drag & Performing Gender
FILM: “Wigstock”
F, 11/3 / S&A, pp.91-121; S&A, pp.123-166; / Discussion: Changing Mores & the Politics of Queer Sexuality
FILM:”Gay Sex in the 70s”
11 / Tu, 11/7 / Lehr, Ch.4, “Social Problems and Queer Family Values” (Hand Out);
Hicks (Bb); Stacey (Bb) / Discussion: The ‘Gayby’ Boom & the Political Struggle over Gay Families
FILM: “Daddy & Pappa”
F, 11/10 / Schrock (Bb); Eyre(Bb); Epstein(Bb) / Discussion: Transgender Issues
FILM: “Gender Rebel”
12 / Tu, 11/14 / S&A, pp.181-192; pp.232-242 / Discussion: Transgender Issues
F, 11/17 / Jeffreys, Unpacking Queer Politics, pp.1-31 / Discussion: ACT UP & Queer Nation
FILM “Fight Back, Fight AIDS: 15 Years of ACT UP”[Hunter College copy]
13 / Tu, 11/21 / Jeffreys, Unpacking Queer Politics, pp.32-56 / Discussion: Lesbian Politics
FILM: “No Secret Anymore”
W, 11/22 / ------/ COLLEGE FOLLOWS FRIDAY SCHEDULE – CLASS MEETS ON WEDNESDAY
W, 11/22 / Jeffreys, Unpacking Queer Politics pp.57-143 / Lecture: “Unpacking Queer Politics: A Lesbian Feminist Critique”
F, 11/24 / ------/ COLLEGE CLOSED – THANKSGIVING BREAK

Course Calendar, Part 3, Weeks 14-16

Wk

/ Date / Required Reading / Topic
14 / Tu, 11/27 / Jeffreys, Unpacking Queer Politics pp.144-162
Crawley, S. “Are Butch-Fem Working Class and Anti-Feminist?” (Bb) / Discussion: The Politics of Butch & Femme
FILM:”Butch Mystique”
F, 12/1 / S & A, Conclusion, pp.245-268 / Lecture: “Fear of a Queer Future: The Politics of Looking Ahead”
15 / Tu, 12/5 / Yip, “Queering Religious Texts: An Exploration of British Non-heterosexual Christian and Muslims’ Strategies of Constructing Sexually-Affirming Hermeneutics” (Bb) / FILM: “Trembling Before G-d”
F, 12/8 / Guest Speaker: Rev. Pat Bumgardner, MCCNY
16 / Tu, 12/12 / ------/ LAST CLASS
W, 12/13 / ------/
LAST DAY ALL CLASSES FOR THE COLLEGE
Tu, 12/19 /
FINAL EXAM

COLLEGE HOLIDAYS & IMPORTANT DATES

Lectures – notes will be posted.

Films – study questions will be posted.

Guest Speakers

Exams

1