War is not a gender-neutral space. Wartime actors are marked by their gender and gender itself is re-imagined in the context of war. This course explores how narratives of gender difference, state power, and militarism overlap, disquiet, and mutually reinforce each other. Particular attention will be paid to several theoretical explorations: women as the bearers of culture, feminist critiques of war, refugee crises in which the camp is an alternative to the home, how masculinity is redefined during wartime, narratives that deploy the assumption of violent conflict as the “natural" or default mode of human interaction as compared to narratives that turn on the assumption of peace as the "natural" or default mode, and how wartime conditions can advance or limit claims about gender equality and gender justice. We will combine a more theoretical analysis with some current debates: women in combat in the U.S. military, rape in the U.S. military, rape as a crime of war, and the history of women in the peace movement.

If you have not taken any of the courses listed in the Enforced Prerequisites, please contact the instructor to request approval to enroll.

This course is in the Political Theory Subfield.

Course Requirements:

This class is a seminar. Preparing for seminar by completing the readings before class will be required. Your course grade will depend in part on your ability to discuss the reading in the seminar conversation Failure to contribute informed comments to the class discussion will lower your final grade. Students will take short reading quizzes and produce several analytic essays based on close reading of the required texts. This material focuses on violence and can be difficult and emotional so you should consider if this class is a good fit for you at this time.

Intended Audience:

Upper-division LSA students who have taken at least one political theory class, who have strong reading and writing skills, and who are interested in thinking about gender issues and war/ armed conflict.

Class Format:

This class is a seminar. There will be limited lecture. The class will mix full class discussion, small group discussion, reading quizzes, and student presentations. Plan to do the reading before coming to class.