Theories of Difference:

Lots to sort through as we look at theories that seek to explain gender and sex differences --  what differences are there, why do they exist and what do they mean for the way we organize and live our lives!

As you read these theories pay attention to both the explanations offered and the assumptions that may be less explicitly stated.

Conflict and Gender

Hatty argues that our definitions of violence are political -- why does she say this? What does it mean in terms of how gender informs our understanding of conflict?

What are the ways in which gender should inform our analysis of conflict?

Doing Gender

We're going to spend the first day thinking about definitions, a bit of a review of how gender has been thought about and what it means to think about gender as a social construct.

These first couple of readings may use many terms that are not yet part of your everyday vocabulary -- things like agency, relationality, essentialism, etc. What terms are giving you trouble? Which ones would you like to explore collectively?