Sex and Sexuality in America

This course examines the ongoing importance of sex, including sexual behavior and sexuality, in American culture and politics. We will use sex as a lens through which we can interpret major events and themes in United States history, and in the process we will uncover otherwise hidden beliefs and anxieties. From Puritans to the present day, we will analyze primary sources including court cases, letters, diaries, and memoirs alongside theoretical and historical scholarship.