REL 272
Sex in Society: The Cultural Constructions of Reproduction
Fall 2009
Division II
Cross-listed
WGST 272 / ANTH 272
This is not the current course catalog
Class Details
Why is reproduction such a controversial subject in medicine as well as religious and cultural discourses more broadly? And why is the reproductive body subject to such highly ideological and yet contradictory types of practices across the globe? This course seeks to examine the myriad ways that societies police the range of practices surrounding reproduction–including fertility, conception, pregnancy, birth, abortion, and motherhood. The class will pursue a comparative analysis of reproduction across major cultures and religions, as well as a deeper understanding of specialized topics such as the new reproductive technologies, the medicalization and ritualization of obstetrics in America, the continuing controversies over abortion across the globe, and the fracas over motherhood in the US popularly dubbed the ‘Mommy Wars’. Throughout the course, we remain focused on the cultural, social, and medical construction of birth and reproduction more generally. To this end, we explore the varying ritual and medical practices that surround birth in different cultural contexts, from high tech to low tech settings and societies. We will deconstruct the process of human reproduction through readings culled from a variety of cultures and disciplines including anthropology, medicine, religious studies, sociology, and women’s studies. By the end of the course, we will appreciate how and why reproduction in such a contentious issue today.
The Class:
Format: seminar
Limit: 25
Expected: 25
Class#: 1213
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Limit: 25
Expected: 25
Class#: 1213
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation:
participation in a weekly class blog, course presentations, final papers
Prerequisites:
none
Enrollment Preferences:
seniors and majors in Anthropology, Sociology, Religion, and Women's and Gender Studies
Unit Notes:
formerly ANTH 392
Distributions:
Division II
Notes:
This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
REL 272 Division II WGST 272 Division II ANTH 272 Division II
REL 272 Division II WGST 272 Division II ANTH 272 Division II
Attributes:
ENVI Humanities, Arts + Social Science Electives
INST Global Health Studies Electives
INST South + Southeast Asia Studies Electives
PHLH Science and Medicine
REL Comparative Inquiry Courses
WGST Feminist Theory Courses
INST Global Health Studies Electives
INST South + Southeast Asia Studies Electives
PHLH Science and Medicine
REL Comparative Inquiry Courses
WGST Feminist Theory Courses
Class Grid
-
HEADERS
Column header 1
CLASSESColumn header 2DREQColumn header 3INSTRUCTORSColumn header 4TIMESColumn header 5CLASS#
-
REL 272 - 01 (F) SEM Sex in Society
REL 272 - 01 (F) SEM Sex in SocietyDivision IIW 1:10 pm - 3:50 pm
North Academic Building 0401213 -
REL 272 - 02 (F) SEM Sex in Society
REL 272 - 02 (F) SEM Sex in SocietyDivision IIT 1:10 pm - 3:50 pm
Weston 0201920
Megamenu Social