Racial, Sexual, Gender, and Class Identities and Their Intersections

In addition to the many ways in which the social construction of gender, sex and race are included in the other areas of specialization, many of our courses and our faculty research projects focus on how each are produced out of power relations. Research and teaching related to these preoccupations include postcolonial studies; multiculturalism; diaspora and migration studies; critical race theory; identity politics; orientalism and gender; studies of the social construction of whiteness and of masculinity; performance and performativity. Further, faculty consider the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, religion, national identity, and so forth. Such issues are woven throughout most courses. However, the department also offers specific courses in the history of science and sexuality, queer theory, and prostitution.