Queer Studies
The queer studies minor at Mills explores the social construction of sexuality in different historical, geographical, and cultural contexts as well as the histories, experiences, and cultures of diverse LGBTQ communities. With a specific focus on how sexuality intersects with race, class, gender, ability, religion, and national origin, queer studies at Mills is intersectional and transnational in its scope.
Queer studies course offerings are interdisciplinary, allowing students to study sexuality from a broad range of theoretical and methodological perspectives. Located amidst the vibrant queer communities of the San Francisco Bay Area, queer studies students also have numerous opportunities for service learning and community-engaged research.
The queer studies minor complements a wide range of majors. Whether students are interested in policy issues affecting queer communities, queer literature, queer history, critical theory, social movements, visual culture, etc., queer studies offers the opportunity to develop a critical analysis of sexuality and power. The queer studies minor prepares students to work in social justice oriented fields such as education and social services and also provides a strong foundation for graduate work in a number of different disciplines.
Students in the minor take an introductory course and a methodologies course. In addition, students take four queer studies electives of their own choosing. While the minor is offered by the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, queer studies minors benefit from a multi-disciplinary faculty advisory board.
Programs Goals:
- Students should understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures.
- Students should understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories.
- Students will learn to think critically.
Faculty
Judith Bishop
Alice Andrews Quigley Professor
Associate Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Vera Long 128, 510.430.3249, jbishop@mills.edu
Professional Interests: Women in world religions; theoretical approaches to gender, body, and sexuality; religion in public discourse
Priya Kandaswamy
Associate Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Co-Chair of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Vera Long 132, 510.430.3106, pkandaswamy@mills.edu
Professional Interests: Feminist and queer theory; race, gender, and US welfare politics; women of color in the US; theories of race and sexuality; sexuality and citizenship; geographies of race, gender, and sexuality
Brinda Mehta
Professor of French and Francophone Studies
Program Head of French and Francophone Studies
Mills Hall Room 326, 510.430.2212, mehta@mills.edu
Professional Interests: Nineteenth-century French literature, psychoanalysis and feminist critical theories, Caribbean and African francophone literatures
Staff
Nikole Wilson-Ripsom
Faculty Administrative Assistant
Vera Long 118, nwilsonripsom@mills.edu