ASIAN 4421

Studying Korea Through Gender and Sexuality

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2015-2016.

The course explores contemporary Korean society and culture through the issues of gender and sexuality. In the 1980s the notion of gender and sexuality began to use to problematize women's position and gender relations in Korea by the groups of women's movement and the community of women's studies. Nowadays the discourse of gender and sexuality is one of the most controversial public discourse as well as personal politics in Korean society. The issues of gender and sexuality, which include conflicts, differences and contestation of Korean people depending on generation, class, sexual identity, etc. reflect changes and complexity of Korean society. Under neoliberal regime, these issues are also framed by economy. Thus, Korea newspapers report the emergence of the generation who gives up dating, marriage and childbirth because they cannot find jobs while at the same time young people's desire and idea for romantic love is getting strengthened in relation to consumption culture. By examining diverse readings and visual materials, this course aims to understand how the issues of gender and sexuality is working as one of organizing powers of Korean society in relation to family, state, globalization, colonial/postcolonialism, popular cultures and etc.

When Offered Fall.

Breadth Requirement (GB)
Distribution Category (CA-AS)

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