Gender, Liberalism, and Postcolonial Theory

What makes the concept of gender useful to think with, both within academia and beyond? How does gender relate to the political projects of feminism and liberalism? What explanatory potential do gender and liberalism hold for addressing (or obfuscating) social inequalities, racism, and other forms of oppression? Drawing on multiple disciplines in the social sciences, this course offers students analytical tools to theorize gender, sexuality, and liberalism in the contemporary world. Building on critical interventions of post-colonial theorists, we will explore anthropological contributions to the study of gender, sexuality and liberalism through ethnographic writings. Open to graduate students and seniors.