TOPIC: Sociology of Gender and the Body

Can a haircut have effects on your educational experiences? Does
menstruation give girls stigma or power? Is boxing as emotionally
challenging as it is physically challenging? How do breast implants
differ from calf implants?

This class is an introduction to the sociology of gender and the body.
We will cover a wide range of topics, including: body image and
self-confidence, attractiveness, cosmetic surgery, menstruation,
reproduction, the body and sports, governmental control of the body,
disability, hairstyles, and dieting, among others. Within these, we
will talk about boys' bodies, girls' bodies, men's bodies, and women's
bodies. Although our main focus will be on gender and the body, we
will also study current theories in sociology of the body with
attention to other forms of inequality, including race and class.

Class meetings will be comprised of a combination of lecture and
discussion, so students must complete assigned readings and come to
class prepared to actively engage with the topic. Successful
completion of this course will result in a basic understanding of the
debates in the growing sub-field of sociology of the body, informed by
sociology of gender.