Instructor: Joanna Ravello
Meeting Time: We 4-6:45pm
Section: 0004
Please check eCampus for up-to-date meeting times and location.
A caste system divides people into hierarchical groups based on aspects of their social identity. Within a caste, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages with your position. As such, the Western beauty caste system, emblematic of larger socio-political beauty norms in the U.S., sorts and stratifies women according to phenotype. Historically, Black womenÛªs hair and bodies have been positioned at the bottom of the Western beauty caste system. Engaging critical social theories, such as Black feminist thought and critical race theory, as a methodology, the purpose of this seminar will be to deconstruct, problematize, and interrogate the Western beauty caste system by centering the experiences of women in the African diaspora. Consistent with the methodologies of Black feminist thought and critical race theory, this course engages numerous forms of oppositional scholarship found in peer-reviewed/non-peer reviewed articles, books, documentaries, film, movies, art, music, poetry, spoken word, radio, podcasts, websites, etc.
General education outcomes: C3, A3
3 credits