This course broadly examines the literature of the construction of race, gender and nature from the perspective of critical studies of science, technology and environmental studies. In this course, we will focus on those accounts that take seriously the question of ideological constructions of race, gender and nature. We will approach our discussions with several key questions in mind. First, how has scientific practice naturalized racial and sexual difference? How have discourses of scientific objectivity have been used to "authorize" social hierarchies organized by race, gender and nation? How is domination of "nature related to these hierarchies? What does understanding the history of the social construction of these categories suggest about the relationship between knowledge and practice? This course examines the social construction of race, gender and nature in and through four general areas: 1) colonialism and industrialization; 2) scientific racism; 3) environmental/ecology studies; and 4) critical science studies. Among the topics we will explore are constructions of "wilderness," colonial environmental history, ecofeminism, the history of eugenics, Social Darwinism, sociobiology and environmental/ecological history, theory and analysis (including a discussion of the urban environment and "environmental justice"). Requirements: Students will be evaluated on 4 criteria: 1) class presentation and leading discussion (20%); 2) Short critical response paper (15%); a medium length research paper (30%); 4) Participation in seminar activities and discussion (35%). Enrollment limit: 19. (expected: 19.) Peoples and Cultures.

Hour: SZE