Global Intimacies: Sex, Power, Gender and Migration
About Course
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU)Description
Explore how freedom of movement impacts sex, gender and our ideas of intimacy
In this time of global capitalism, travelling between countries for work and leisure is common. Global mobility has blurred the boundary between strangers and changed the meaning of intimacy.
This course will develop your understanding of how our notions of intimacy have been changed by the intersection of money, mobility, and power with gender, love, and sex.
Discover the socio-cultural impact of migration, from domestic work to sex work
Through an exploration of common migration practices in society today, you’ll explore the shifting meaning of intimacy.
As you explore ideas on gender migration and domestic service, you’ll consider the millions working abroad in intimate settings as nannies or caretakers, as well as those in cross-border marriages, and living in transnational families.
You’ll also discuss LGBTQ+ migrants, sex tourism, and overseas surrogacy as you examine how global mobility is challenging traditional ideas of femininity and masculinity.
Explore feminism, queer and gender studies, globalisation, and migration studies concepts
You’ll be introduced to scholarly approaches to gender and queer studies, as well as ethnographic case-studies on globalisation and migration.
You’ll analyse how capitalism and its resulting economic disparity is challenging our concept of love, labour, and sex and ponder the agency of the individual in a capitalist society.
Learn with cultural anthropology and gender studies expert, Francisca Y K Lai
Holding a PhD in cultural anthropology with an emphasis on gender studies from Purdue University, Francisca is highly experienced in the intersection between gender, sexuality, and migration.
Francisca has also published an academic book as well as multiple international journals on the topics of gender, sexuality, and migration.
What topics will you cover?
1) Examine the changing notions of intimacy in a globalizing world.
2) Topics will include: (a) domestic work, (b) LGBT migrants, (c) sex tourism, (d) cross-border marriages, and (e) overseas surrogacy.
3) Approaches of feminism, queer studies, globalization, and migration studies will be examined.
4) Learning materials will be provided with a focus on ethnographic case studies.
Who developed the course?
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU)
National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan consistently ranks as one of the premier universities in East Asia.
- Established: 1956
- Location: Taiwan
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World ranking: Top 170
What Will I Learn?
- Explore ideas on gender, sexuality, money, mobility, and intimacy from a socio-cultural perspective.
- Discuss how global mobility is challenging traditional ideas of femininity and masculinity.
- Investigate the agency of the individual in a capitalist society.
- Reflect on personal values and respect others who have different values and ideas.