This course is an introduction to transgender identities, history, and politics in the United States.  Through readings, films, guest speakers, discussions and small group activities, we will explore the diversity and complexity of transgender, genderqueer and gender-nonconforming people’s lived experiences in our society.  Specific topics we will examine include: trans autobiographies; critical trans politics and activism; trans intersections with race and racism; trans images in the media; trans people and celebrity; hate crimes; transgender youth; non-binary identities and transfeminism.  Authors we read will include: Janet Mock, Susan Stryker, Jazz Jennings and Big Freedia. Work for the course will consist of a midterm essay exam, presentations, a longer research essay and making a class-wide zine.

While about 1 in 5 people are disabled, people with disabilities [PWD] continue to be largely invisible and marginalized in all sectors of society. This course will be an introduction to the vibrant field of Disability Studies with an emphasis on intersectional feminist approaches to disability justice. The course will explore societal conceptualizations of physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental, environmental and psychiatric disabilities and chronic illnesses in U.S. culture as well as cover key definitions, cri[p]tiques and controversies that have emerged in current research and scholarship in the field. Through readings, lectures, films, guest speakers, written assignments, group presentations and discussions, students will learn about diverse and timely topics such as: the disability rights movement and disability history; the intersection of disability with race, class, and gender; crip theory; LGBTQ+ disabled communities; representations of disabled people in the media and popular culture; systemic ableism and impoverishment of PWD; and the medicalization of disability. Students will gain familiarity with critical disability studies approaches to analyze ableist cultural attitudes and practices and envision forms of activism that center people with disabilities in the larger quest for social justice.