Socio 120
SOC 212: SEXUALITIES
SPRING 2013 • T TH 12:30PM-1:45PM • 2LCC C003
Instructor: Ray Sin Teaching Assistant: Jessi Holzman
Office: 4126C BSB Office: 4061 BSB
Email: rsin2@uic.edu Email: jholzm2@uic.edu
Office Hours: Mon 1pm-2pm Office Hours: Tues 2pm-3pm
This syllabus outlines the content of this course and my expectations of you for the semester.
This is a very important course resource, so please read through it carefully.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
“Sexuality is something that society produces in complex ways. It is a result of diverse social practices that give meaning to social activities, of struggles between those who have the power to define and regulate, and those who resist. Sexuality is not given, it is a product of negotiation, struggle and human agency.” —Jeffrey Weeks (1986: 25)
Sex is everywhere. We see sexuality present in advertising, political rhetoric, legislation, advice columns, television shows, music, movies and all other aspects of everyday life. How do we study sexuality then?
Sexuality is a phenomenon that goes beyond its common perception as something solely biological or a jumping off point for marketing. In short, I am inviting you to join me in discovering what makes sexuality sociologically interesting.
This course is divided into five parts. In Part I, we will explore the different ways people have thought about sexuality across time, from framing it as purely biological to how it is socially produced to how queer theory burst onto the scene. In Part II, we will look at how sexuality is omnipresent, in multiple ways, in our everyday life. In Part III, we will consider how sexuality goes hand in hand with health. In Part IV, we will discuss how sexuality, despite being a private matter, is a highly politicized issue. We will end with discussing how sexuality is policed and controlled. We will also consider how inequalities surrounding
SPRING 2013 • T TH 12:30PM-1:45PM • 2LCC C003
Instructor: Ray Sin Teaching Assistant: Jessi Holzman
Office: 4126C BSB Office: 4061 BSB
Email: rsin2@uic.edu Email: jholzm2@uic.edu
Office Hours: Mon 1pm-2pm Office Hours: Tues 2pm-3pm
This syllabus outlines the content of this course and my expectations of you for the semester.
This is a very important course resource, so please read through it carefully.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
“Sexuality is something that society produces in complex ways. It is a result of diverse social practices that give meaning to social activities, of struggles between those who have the power to define and regulate, and those who resist. Sexuality is not given, it is a product of negotiation, struggle and human agency.” —Jeffrey Weeks (1986: 25)
Sex is everywhere. We see sexuality present in advertising, political rhetoric, legislation, advice columns, television shows, music, movies and all other aspects of everyday life. How do we study sexuality then?
Sexuality is a phenomenon that goes beyond its common perception as something solely biological or a jumping off point for marketing. In short, I am inviting you to join me in discovering what makes sexuality sociologically interesting.
This course is divided into five parts. In Part I, we will explore the different ways people have thought about sexuality across time, from framing it as purely biological to how it is socially produced to how queer theory burst onto the scene. In Part II, we will look at how sexuality is omnipresent, in multiple ways, in our everyday life. In Part III, we will consider how sexuality goes hand in hand with health. In Part IV, we will discuss how sexuality, despite being a private matter, is a highly politicized issue. We will end with discussing how sexuality is policed and controlled. We will also consider how inequalities surrounding