AN 417:

S/he, “Two Spirits”:
Gender Cross-Culturally

Introduction

This course will explore anthropological perspectives on gender cross-culturally to examine how genders are constructed, negotiated, and maintained in a range of culturally settings. The intersection of gender categories with other aspects of culture, such as power-wielding, myth, folklore, and family structures will also be examined. Students will investigate masculinity and femininity, homosexuality, gay males, lesbians, transgenderism, bisexuality, and other ways of expressing one's sexuality and gender identity. We will examine biological and cultural bases of gender categories; how genders are defined cross-culturally; and gender expression in a variety of cultural settings, non-western and western, including Native North America, Latin America, Asia, and the the Middle East, historically and in the present.

Texts

The following texts will be used and should be purchased at the Bridgewater State College Bookstore or another local bookstore:

• Evelyn Blackwood and Saskia E. Wieringa, Eds., Female Desires, Same Sex Relations and Transgender Practices Across Cultures. New York: Columbia U. 1999
• Serena Nanda, Neither Man Nor Woman:The Hijras of India. Wadsworth, 1990
  Ian Lumsden, Machos, Maricones, and Gays: Cuba and Homosexuality. Temple U. Press, 1996
• Xerox Article Packet

NOTE: Limited copies of additional texts will be ordered. Students will select one additional text for a class project. Do not purchase supplementary texts until topics are selected in class.

This course will demand that you do a lot of reading, thinking, discussing and sharing. Students will be required to read class assignments on time and come to class prepared to discuss issues with classmates. Additional assignments, such as internet searches, may be announced in class.

Students will be expected to attend class regularly (absences in excess of FOUR will result in reduction in grade); participate in class discussions; and complete assignments on time.

Assignments

The following assignments will be required:

1. Each student will prepare one Oral Presentation based upon the reading of one of the ethnographies/collections listed on the accompanying Gender/Sexuality/Homosexuality Ethnographies. I will ask students to team up to present information to the class on the subject matter related to the ethnography or collection of articles you select.

2. Students will prepare an in-depth research project, based either on the ethnography you read or a topic related to gender/sexuality cross-culturally. You will write a ten-page research paper, using primary and secondary sources related to your topic. You may work with another student to do this project.

3. Each student will prepare two short papers, approximately three pages each, based upon readings for a particular week, in which you critically analyze the readings for that week. You must do more than simply summarize the readings! You should reflect upon and analyze issues raised in the readings you select in the context of that and previous class discussions, your own experience, knowledge from other sources/courses, etc. I may assign students to prepare papers for given weeks.

4. Papers must also be prepared on Nanda's Neither Man Nor Woman, and on Lumsden's Machos, Maricones and Gays, during the week in which that material is assigned.

The following weight will be given to various class assignments:

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The Society of Lesbian and Gay Anthropologists (SOLGA) of the American Anthropological Association was founded in 1988. SOLGA promotes communication, encourages research, develops teaching materials, and serves the interests of gay and lesbian anthropologists within the association. This site was designed by C. Todd White.