WS 260 Women of Color in the U.S.
“Women of color” is a term widely used in the academy and the larger society to refer to women located in subordinate racial and ethnic statuses. However, in this course we will explore its most radical meaning – that gender does not exist outside of its interaction with race as well as other structuring social divisions. Utilizing the analytical tool of intersectionality, we will examine the expectations, opportunities, and limitations that attend to the combination of statuses (e.g., race and gender; gender and class; ethnicity, sexuality, and class) that render “femininity” and “womanhood” into plural and historically specific concepts. We will draw on an interdisciplinary range of readings including theoretical pieces, first-person narratives, and empirical studies to enhance our understanding of critical issues in women’s lives and activism, such as their experiences of work, motherhood, sexuality, beauty, solidarity, education, and violence.