Gender and sexuality across culture 19 January-23 March

Learning outcomes Discuss and compare notions and practices of sex, gender and sexuality cross- culturally. Describe how the concepts of sex, gender and sexuality have been developed and defined within anthropology. Illustrate anthropological theories of gender and sexuality with ethnographic examples. Critically explore Western notions of gender and sexuality. Situate notions of gender and sexuality within broader processes of identity formation on, for example, national and trans-national levels.

Introduction – concepts (2 weeks) What do sex, gender and sexuality mean and how have anthropologist dealt with these concepts? What is the relationship between sexualities and genders? How are other differences such as class, race, geography and post-colonial relations addressed in anthropological studies of sex, genders and sexualities? Intersection between the study of sex, genders and sexualities with traditional anthropological concerns about kinship. How the nature/culture divide as past of Western folk model, has informed anthropological analysis of kinship, sex, genders and sexualities.

Theme 1: Gender, sexuality and agency (3 weeks) Performativity- and queer theory Theories of agency and embodiment Monographs: Boellstorff, Tom The Gay Archipelago: Sexuality and Nation in Indonesia. Rofel, Lisa Desiring China: Experiments in Neoliberalism, Sexuality, and Public Culture. Frisk, Sylva Submitting to God: Women and Islam in Urban Malaysia.

Theme 2: Gender and globalization (3 weeks) Gender, religion, and globalization Masculinities and globalization Monographs: Malmstr, Maria Just like couscous: gender, agency and the politics of female circumcision in Cairo. Wekker, Gloria The Politics of Passion: Women's Sexual Culture in the Afro- Surinamese Diaspora. Goldstein, Donna Laughter Out of Place. Race, Class, Violence, and Sexuality in a Rio Shantytown.

Teaching One lecture per week – placing research on the different themes theoretically and historically within the anthropology of gender and sexuality. One seminar per week The comparative approach will be dealt with through empirical material when reading ethnographies. Some of the ethnographies will be mandatory readings and others will be individually chosen.

Examination Individual examination consists of three parts: Individually examination consists of oral presentation of two monographs at two different occasions (Friday seminars). Active participation in seminars (oral). A take home exam, which will run during the course and consist of the writing of a research proposal.