The course is conducted in English。

This course is an introduction to the sociological study of gender, with a strong focus on the phenomena in the United States and Taiwan. Gender as a meta-category is omnipresent in our lives. Even before birth, we ask, "Is it a boy or a girl?" Based on the answer provided, the treatment of the child is different. The gender assigned at birth carries through and shapes our life courses till the day we die. Why? How? What is gender exactly, and why does it persist in such ways? How is it shaped and constructed? How does gender intersect with other social categories, such as race and class, and together influence individuals' life chances? In this class, we aim to learn the answers to these questions through a sociological lens. By the end of the course, students should have a nuanced sociological understanding of gender and be familiar with approaches to analyzing intersectional gender power relations. This course requires students to read 20-50 pages of academic papers and readings every week, and these readings will be a major part of the midterm and final exam. Please consider your course loads and capacity before taking this class.

The goal of this course is to think more critically about gender in everyday life and society and to evaluate various arguments about gender based on the evidence presented in social scientific research. By the end of the course, the students should be able to: • Understand the social construction of gender and sexuality. • Discuss how the social environment shapes one’s gendered behavior and experiences. • Examine how gender and sexuality are intersected with social inequalities such as race, ethnicity, social class, and nationality. • Interrogate the oppression against sexual minorities. • Attain a more analytical view of your own gendered behavior as you enter social relationships and institutions.

This course requires students to read 20-50 pages of academic papers and readings every week, and these readings will be a major part of the midterm and final exam. Please consider your course loads and capacity before taking this class. Class Participation (21%) Throughout the semester, we will have 7 pop quizzes about readings during our lectures. Each pop quiz is worth 3 points for the final grades. You are allowed to miss one of them to get full points for the class participation grades. If you take all 7 pop quizzes in the class and answer all of them correctly, the extra point will add to your final grade. A student can get a maximum of 21 points for their participation grades. Midterm (30%) The midterm will take place in Week 8 (10/22). It is a closed-book exam aimed at testing your learning progress for the first part of the semester. Final Exam (30%) The final exam will take place in the last week of the semester (12/17). It is a closed-book exam aimed at testing your learning progress for the second part of the semester. Final Paper (20%) You are required to submit a 1500-word final paper at the end of the class. In the final paper, you have to discuss at least one key concept from the course and apply it to your life experiences, analyzing the unequal gender/sexuality power dynamics in those experiences and discussing what you think could be the possible solution to these circumstances. For example, what was the gender division of labor within your family when you grew up? How do gender stereotypes affect how you behave when you are at school, in the workplace, or around your grandparents? And how can you change the unequal or problematic gender/sexuality dynamics in these circumstances to prevent them from happening in the future? In this assignment, you have to clearly explain the situation/context/relationship you are going to analyze, then utilize what you learn in the class to analyze it. You must cite the reading(s) and lecture materials for your final essay (the citation format is not mandated). You are not allowed to use outside reading for this assignment. You must use the class readings and materials to analyze your experiences, instead of stating your own opinions without referencing the class readings. The due date for the final paper is by the end of 11/30 (Sunday).

All the required readings are uploaded on NTU Cool.

待補