Contesting Gender: What is a Woman?

Quarters
Winter Open
Location
Olympia
Class Standing
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Arita Balaram
AP Spoth

This program will examine the categories of gender within and beyond the psychological discipline. Together, we will take up the contested question, "what is a woman?", exploring how ideas of gender are socially constructed, how feminist thought has developed different critiques of ideas of gender, and how broad social processes shape the way that people understand themselves and others in their communities. We will critically engage with research on gender, history, and culture from cis and trans scholars who are working to define and redefine our understandings of gendered practices and norms.

In asking the question, "what is a woman?", we will also ask how race, ethnicity, class, ability, and immigration interact with gender in shaping how people understand their own and other's identities. We will look at how gender shows up in the power relationships within diverse communities and how scholars have explored possibilities for change.

This class will be fully remote, with 4 hours of synchronous meeting time each week. Asynchronous activities will include online whiteboard exercises, collective annotation assignments, and discussion board activities.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

4 – Psychology of Gender

4 – Gender Studies

Registration

Course Reference Numbers
So - Sr (8): 20279

Academic Details

This program is preparatory for careers and future studies in psychology, community advocacy, gender and sexuality studies, and political change.

8
50
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

Schedule

Winter
2026
Open
Remote (W)

See definition of Hybrid, Remote, and In-Person instruction

Evening and Weekend
Schedule Details
Remote/Online
Olympia