SOC324

Explores the social and cultural constructions of sexuality, infertility, pregnancy, and parenting with a specific focus on the social control of women and general emphasis on how various groups' experiences differ based on sexual orientation, class, race, and cultural background. Topics may include sex education in schools, sex in high school and college, birth control and sterilization, infertility, adoption, assisted reproductive technologies, pregnancy, surrogacy, miscarriage, fetal surgery, abortion, and childbirth. In addition to readings about these topics in non-Western countries and international surrogacy and adoption arrangements, discussion of how bearing children and mothering are used to "reproduce" the nation in various contexts.