This survey course will look at the construction of femininity on stage. Theatre has always been a place where the construction of the gender identity of women has readily happened, with or without their participation. The course will consider the works of women playwrights from Aphra Behn (The Rover, 1677-1681) to Diana Son (Stop Kiss, 2000) as cultural commentary. In addition, we will look at plays that have made significant statements about the role of women in society, such as Euripides' The Trojan Women, Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, Dion Boucicault's The Octoroon, and Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. Finally, we will explore the work of contemporary feminist playwrights. Format: seminar. Evaluation will be based on class participation, a midterm exam, and several short position papers. No prerequisites. No enrollment limit (expected: 20).