PSYC 3223 Sex and Gender
This course explores the social and psychological aspects of sex and gender. It also aims to identify ways in which sex and gender are both social and psychological phenomena that change over time and vary across cultures. In this course, students will critically examine the idea that sex and gender are fixed biological realities and discuss what feminist scholars have contributed to our understanding of gender as a major organizing aspect of society. Course readings focus on feminist theories and the empirical applications of these theories to show how gender arises out of everyday interactions and is shaped by larger institutions such as education, work, and the family. Students will discuss how gender inequalities are revealed through social and psychological patterns and examine how gender hierarchy is both reproduced and challenged through the link between social structures and interpersonal experiences. Other topics include: race and class, the body, sexuality, education, work, and transgenderism.