REL-320 Sexuality and Gender in Buddhism

GER: IEJ (Identities, Equity, and Justice) and WC (World Cultures)
This course explores cultural, social, philosophical, and historical dimensions of sexuality and gender within Buddhist traditions across the globe. We examine sutras, novels, poetry, biographies, memoirs, art, and film that span over two millennia to investigate Buddhist approaches to gender and gender roles, understandings of femininity and masculinity, views on the body, ideas about family structures, desire, and sexuality. In this course will also look at how contemporary Buddhists of color and LGBTQI+ Buddhists have grappled with issues of intersectionality and no-self in terms of their own identities. Successful completion of REL-224 Introduction to Buddhism recommended. 4 credits.