This class explores how the categories of gender and sexuality were defined, represented, enforced, and transgressed in ancient Greek and Roman literature. What were the expectations for normative gendered behavior in Greece and Rome? What were considered appropriate sexual acts? What evidence is there for transfolks, nonbinary folks, and other types of gender or sexual identities? No prior knowledge is needed.
Most of the required readings for this class are available through Canvas. The one book you need to purchase for this class is listed below; it can be purchased from the University Bookstore (https://www.ubookstore.com/student) as well as through amazon.com and other sites (prices vary between $4-11). Note that majors and minors in Classics are eligible to apply to the Undergraduate Textbook Fund: https://classics.washington.edu/undergraduate-textbook-fund
Nehamas, Alexander and Paul Woodruff, trans. 1989. Plato Symposium. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing. [ISBN: 978-0872200760]