This course focuses on aspects of the victimization of women and girls that are "Gendered" – namely, sexual abuse and intimate partner abuse. The course also explores the importance of race, class, and sexuality in gendered violence. In this class, racism, sexism, heteronormativity, transphobia, classism, nativism, privilege, as well as other forms and consequences of oppression are understood as real and will be discussed as such throughout the course. A framework that acknowledges the role that various forms of oppression, including intersecting oppressions, will be applied to all materials in the course.  

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the structural sources of gender-based violence; 
  • Understand how intersections of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, immigration status, and religion are reflected in women’s and girls’ experiences of gender-based violence;
  • Develop a robust understanding of key terms related to this topic; 
  • Increase critical thinking skills about violence against women and girls.

In this course, you will

  • Engage in weekly thought-provoking discussions with classmates and the instructor; 
  • Develop a holistic understanding of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) that centers on BIPOC women and femmes; 
  • Develop a lecture with a small group of classmates that focuses on a contemporary issue dealing with VAWG.