Gender, Power, and Violence

3 credits · Undergraduate

Gender-based violence is a pervasive social issue rooted in power, oppression, and systemic inequities. This course critically examines the intersections of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability in shaping experiences of violence, from intimate partner violence and sexual assault to state-sanctioned violence and structural harms. Using feminist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed frameworks, students explore the role of social work in both responding to and preventing gender-based violence. Topics include historical and contemporary movements for gender justice, community-led interventions, survivor advocacy, policy and legal responses, and transformative justice approaches. Through case studies, applied learning, and engagement with survivor-centered and abolitionist perspectives, students develop the knowledge and skills to support survivors, challenge harmful systems, and advocate for social change.