Course Information

8896.12 - Sem: Sexual Violence and the Law

Professor: Marc Spindelman
Semester: 2013 Spring

Second Writing Requirement? Yes
Seminar? Yes
Professional Responsibility? No
Prerequisites: Not open to students with credit for 796.21L.

Course Description

This seminar examines various theories of sexuality—both cross-sex and same-sex—and how they relate to notions of “sexual violence,” “sexual injury,” and “sexual harm.” How should these injuries be defined, and what efforts should (or must) the State undertake to regulate or eliminate them? Should sex-based harms be regulated by the State at all? If not the State, are there other forms of social regulation of sex-based injuries that should (or must) be pursued? Or are these regulations outweighed by their costs? Are cost-benefit analyses even appropriate to this particular domain of law and legal regulation? What other approaches to sex-based harms might be embraced and pursued? This seminar should be of interest to anyone interested in gender and sexual equality, the law governing rape (including marital rape), sexual harassment, trafficking, child sex abuse, marriage, or domestic violence, or other forms of sex-based harm like “gay bashing” or bullying, as well as to anyone interested in ideas of sexual liberty, liberation, and freedom. The course will primarily focus on legally relevant, non-case materials. Though the seminar will draw heavily on theory, considerable time will be spent unpacking and understanding how to apply the ideas in the materials assigned. A background in feminism or feminist theory or LGBT studies or queer theory may be helpful, but certainly is not necessary. Please feel free to contact the instructor with any questions.

The course materials listed above are for informational purposes only and should not be considered final. Students must check with the Registrar for a current list of closed courses.