History 233 - The Science of Sex

The Science of Sex

Spring
2025
01
4.00
Christopher Rudeen

TU TH 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Smith College
HST-233-01-202503
Ford 240
crudeen@smith.edu
This lecture course surveys the history of sex or sexology from the late 1800s to the present day. The course explores the global referents used to create the categories of sexology—the ways in which racialized, colonized, and otherwise marginalized groups were studied and exploited to create knowledge about sexuality. The course also explores how this knowledge was popularized, especially in popular fictional texts. How have scientists studied sex and constructed sexual selves, and how has this changed over time? Whose sex was studied by scientists? How can we use this history to understand sex today? Enrollment limited to 40. (E)
Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.
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