Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - GSWS 205 D100

Gender, Sexuality and Popular Culture (3)

Class Number: 6773

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Interrogates media and popular culture through the lens of gender and sexuality. A variety of media is used to analyze discourses and representations of gender, sex, and sexuality.

COURSE DETAILS:

This explores popular culture from feminist and anti-racist perspectives, focusing on sexuality, gender, race, and nation across various media. In this class, we will examine how race, gender, sexuality, and class are constructed and reconstructed in mass media and popular culture. Specifically, we will investigate how elements of popular culture are framed through the processes of production, consumption, representation, and reception.

We will engage critical visual analysis of representation and entrenchment of gender, race, sexuality, class, (dis)ability, ethnicity, and nationhood in popular culture. Our objective will be to develop and apply a feminist, critical, and intersectional lens to analyze popular culture. We shall also examine how processes of racialization are revealed, subverted, and/or challenged through popular culture.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

For more detailed information please see the GSWS website: https://www.sfu.ca/gsws/undergraduate/courses/goals

Grading

  • Attendance and Participation 20%
  • Media Review 30%
  • Midterm Essay 30%
  • Class Presentations 20%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

All readings will be available for download on Canvas Cloud.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.