Courses:

Course Info

• Course Number / Code:
• 21A.218J (Spring 2007) 
• Course Title:
• Identity and Difference 
• Course Level:
• Undergraduate 
• Offered by :
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Massachusetts, United States  
• Department:
• Anthropology 
• Course Instructor(s):
• Prof. Heather Paxson 
• Course Introduction:
•  
• 
  
  21A.218J / SP.454J / WGS.454J Identity and Difference
  
  
  
  

  Spring 2007

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Course Highlights

  
  
  

  
  
  21A.218J / SP.454J / WGS.454J Identity and Difference
  
  
  
  

  Spring 2007

  
  
  

  

  The shadow of a person. Often, our identities are not concrete, fixed things but constantly adaptive, dynamic performances. This course deals with these issues and more. (Image courtesy of Josh Otis.)

  
  
  

  Course Description

  
  
  

  How can the individual be at once cause and consequence of society, a unique agent of social action and also a social product? This course explores how identities, whether of individuals or groups, based on single behaviors or institutional practices, are produced, maintained, and transformed. Students will be introduced to various theoretical perspectives that are used to make sense of identity formation, including essentialism, constructivism, stigma, deviance, discourse, and performance. We will explore the utility of these terms in discussing issues of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
  
  

  Recommended Citation

  
  
  

  For any use or distribution of these materials, please cite as follows:

  Heather Paxson, course materials for 21A.218J/SP.454J Identity and Difference, Fall 2006. MIT OpenCourseWare (http://ocw.mit.edu/), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on [DD Month YYYY].