Consent: Race, Sex, and the Law

In the context of recent student organizing on college campuses, the word “consent” has become headline news. But what is “consent” and what does it have to do with the history of race and sexuality in America? In this course, we will use history, law, and feminist theory to understand the origins of consent, to trace its operation as a political category, and to uncover the many cultural meanings of “yes” and “no” across time. Themes addressed include: slavery, marriage, sex work, feminism, and violence, from the founding of American democracy to the present.