Perspectives in Diversity

This course introduces students to the interconnected effects of race, ethnicity, class and gender on human beings. Students will examine how each individual has been socially constructed and how structured systems of inequality work. Students will also explore how these systems affect people’s health, life chances, self-concept, and material well-being. Along with the exploration of race and ethnic issues, the class will also study institutionalized racism and discrimination. Approaches to gender will consider the ways in which males and females are socialized to become boys and girls, issues of class will be fully integrated throughout the course as the class examines how economic status has had positive effects on people and privilege and thus shows the connections between power, wealth, and poverty.