ABOVE CLASS OPEN TO MAJORS ONLY
ABOVE CLASS COLL INTENSIVE WRITING SECTION
ABOVE CLASS OPEN TO UNDERGRADUATES

This course intends to show how historians have used the topic of
prostitution to analyze major aspects of modern societies such as
gender and class relations, state structures, scientific and medical
beliefs, the market, and ideologies such as nationalism and racism.
By examining a broad range of approaches to the history of
prostitution in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the class
introduces students to important areas and problems in women’s
history and the history of sexuality. The course adopts a
comparative perspective on the history of prostitution in Europe,
the US, China, and Africa. As we will see, attitudes toward
commercialized sexuality greatly varied over time and between
countries. Why this was (and still is) the case is one important
question we will address.  Key readings include: Judith R.
Walkowitz, "Prostitution and Victorian Society: Women, Class, and
the State" (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1980);
Timothy J. Gilfoyle, "City of Eros: New York City, Prostitution, and
the Commercialization of Sex, 1790-1920." (New York: Norton, 1992);
and Louise White, "The Comforts of Home: Prostitution in Colonial
Nairobi" (Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 1990).
There also will be various theoretical and historical essays
available as e-resources.

The course places special emphasis on practicing research and
analytical skills essential for history majors, and on polishing
students’ writing skills through the use of in-class writing
workshops. Students will also be expected to do brief oral
presentations facilitating class discussion of assigned readings.

Requirements: Three ten-page papers (55% of the final grade), one
midterm (10%), one final (15%), and regular, active participation in
class discussion (20%).