Some of the most fraught political issues and questions in the United States today concern the place of transgender individuals in our society. It is surprising that academic philosophers have not been more visible in debates surrounding these issues, given that there ought to be a great deal for philosophers to say about sex and gender. In this course, we will examine and critique various accounts of what sex and gender consist in. We will then turn our attention to the numerous issues found in contemporary debates about transgender people, such as those that arise in athletics, education, workplaces, and other social institutions. Students will engage in respectful discussion, submit weekly reading response papers, and complete two written exams, with opportunities for extra credit throughout the summer.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4 - Philosophy of Sex and Gender