Introduction to Sexuality Studies

Sexuality and gender define what it is to be human: they are at the core of our existence. But how does society define and reinforce these concepts? How do these concepts impact our relationships within society, and what analytical tools have been developed to study their role in social and familial relationships? This three-week summer programme provides an excellent interdisciplinary introduction to the important debates around sexuality and gender in the social sciences. Students will be equipped with the analytical tools to study these themes critically and reflexively. This programme is an ideal opportunity for emerging scholars in the field of sexuality and gender to connect to peers. This three-week course explores the historical, cultural, political, and economic dimensions of sexual norms and behaviors. It examines the history of sexuality studies as an emerging discipline in the 19th Century, tracing its development from essentialism to constructivism, as well as the basic concepts of sexuality and gender. Both historical and socio-cultural boundaries of sexual norms and behaviors will be explored, as well as the construction of normativities, such as heterosexuality.   Early admission deadline: 1 February 2025. Final admission deadline: 15 March April 2025. Applications are processed throughout the year on a rolling basis.