LAW, SEXUALITY, & SOCIETY
Examines the legal and social development and implications of laws governing sexual behavior, human reproduction, media, privacy, and topics related to sexuality, sex and gender. Includes historical analyses of laws connected to present day regulations of sexuality, demonstrating the origins of many of the world's most frequently debated civil rights issues. Chief focus on the United States legal system, with some content including examinations of institutions around the world. Investigates taken-for-granted knowledge and assumptions about sexuality and look at legal, cultural and social constructions of sex in society. Covers intersectional social implications, including race, (dis)ability, class, etc. Topics include: obscenity, pornography, sex work, sexual surrogacy, birth control, abortion, sex education, sexual violence, sex offenders, sexual citizenship rights, trans and intersex legal topics.
Topics
- obscenity
- pornography
- sex work
- sexual surrogacy
- birth control
- abortion
- sex education
- sexual violence
- sex offenders
- sexual citizenship rights
- trans and intersex legal topics
Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: GEN&WS 101 , 102 , 103 or SOC/LEGAL ST 131 Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss social theory about law and human behavior, particularly human sexuality Audience: Undergraduate 2. Explain historical roots of modern sexuality-related laws and legal systems worldwide Audience: Undergraduate 3. Analyze topics related to sexuality and society; constructing arguments based on academic, peer-reviewed research Audience: Undergraduate 4. Examine sociolegal governance over a wide variety of sexual behaviors and gender/sex topics in a critical, thorough, and thoughtful manner Audience: Undergraduate 5. Comprehend and apply legal history, precedent, and course concepts to specific sociolegal cases concerning sexuality Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss social theory about law and human behavior, particularly human sexuality Audience: Undergraduate 2. Explain historical roots of modern sexuality-related laws and legal systems worldwide Audience: Undergraduate 3. Analyze topics related to sexuality and society; constructing arguments based on academic, peer-reviewed research Audience: Undergraduate 4. Examine sociolegal governance over a wide variety of sexual behaviors and gender/sex topics in a critical, thorough, and thoughtful manner Audience: Undergraduate 5. Comprehend and apply legal history, precedent, and course concepts to specific sociolegal cases concerning sexuality Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
Catalogue variants
- LAW, SEXUALITY, & SOCIETY · 3-4 credits.