GWS203 Politics of the Veil

In this course, students will analyze the cultural construction of women’s dress within the Middle East, Central Asia, and Northern Africa. The central questions that will guide their analyses are: What is a veil, what does it symbolize, and how does it communicate? How do the intersections of politics, tradition, gender, and religion play a part in dress codes? Is it a feminist act to wear certain clothing, or is misogyny inherent in women's dress? How do the effects of colonialism appear in dress codes? How can we decode the ways in which media represent veil-wearing women? How can we develop the self awareness needed to address our own biases? Fulfills open, liberal arts, humanities, and social science electives.