Course

Introduction to Contemporary Issues in Sexuality Studies

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Gender, Sexualities and Women’s Studies
Course code
GSWS 1102
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Hybrid
Lecture
Seminar
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
GSWS 1102 introduces students to major contemporary issues in sexuality studies. Students will explore sexualities in relation to current political, social, and philosophical debates. Students will examine sexualities via interdisciplinary texts and current media. Topics will include an overview of sexuality theories, health and sex, media representations, and intersectional approaches to gender and identity.
Course content

Course content will include topics such as:

· Theories of Sexuality

· Identities and Labels

· Indigenous Perspectives and Experiences

· Masculinities and Gender

· Sex and Health

· Virginity

· Disability

· Social Media and Culture

· Technologies

· Pornography

· Religion and Law

· Sex Work

· Rape Culture

Learning activities

This course will employ a number of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some or all of the following:

1. Lecture

2. Small group discussions

3. Audio-visual presentations

4. Class discussion

5. Seminar presentations

6. Guest lectures
 
Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation must be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

Students may conduct research with human participants as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans.

One example of a possible evaluation scheme is as follows:

Class Participation and/or Presentations - 15%

Exams and Quizzes - 30%

Group Workshops including discussion and presentations - 10%

Research Proposal and/or Annotated Bibliography - 15%

Term Paper, Essay or Written Assignments - 30%

TOTAL  100%

 

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the successful student should be able to:

· Describe and discuss sexualities from theoretical and practical perspectives.

· Identify and analyse intersectional approaches to sexuality.

· Evaluate contemporary issues in sexuality from social, political, cultural, and philosophical perspectives.

· Connect sexuality with race, gender, and other forms of marginalization.

· Explain cultural contexts in relation to sexual identities, practices, norms, and taboos.

· Recognize how cultural contexts shift over time and differ among populations.

· Discuss and evaluate course material in relation to lived experiences and current events.

Textbook materials

Texts will be updated periodically. Some examples of possible texts include:

· Fischer, Nancy L., and Steven Seidman (Editors). 2016. Introducing the New Sexuality Studies. Third Edition. New Your: Routledge.

· FitzGerald, Maureen, and Scott Rayter (Editors). 2012. Queerly Canadian: An Introductory Reader in Sexuality Studies. Canadian Scholars Press.

· Naugler, Diane (Editor). 2012. Canadian Perspectives in Sexuality Studies: Identities, Experiences, and the Context of Change. Oxford University Press.

· Course Reader designed by instructor

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for GSWS 1102
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX GSWS 1XX (3)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO HIST 115 (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN WMST 1XX (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR WMST 1XX (3)
Columbia College (COLU) COLU ARTS 1st (3)
Emily Carr University of Art & Design (EC) EC SOCS 100 lev (3)
Fraser International College (FIC) FIC GSWS 1XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU ANTH 2120 (3)
Northern Lights College (NLC) NLC WGST 100 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC GSWS 100 (3)
Quest University (QU) QU TRN 1XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU GSWS 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU SOCI 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU SOCI 1XX (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW SOC 1XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO GWST_O 223 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV GRSJ_V 1st (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC WMST 298 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV SOC 1XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC GNDR 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC SOCI 1XXX (3)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU SWAG 100 (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
35
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
1
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1711
Times:
Start Time
9:30
-
End Time
12:20