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SICK: A Seminar on the Relationships Between Society, Sexuality, and Disease
Organized and moderated by Ananya Mukherjea
October 13, November 10, December 8
6-8:00pm
Room 410, LGBT Community Center
208 West 13th Street

This series of open seminars considers the social construction and social politics of diseases -- how they enter our consciousness; how they enter our bodies; how they enter our culture -- in terms of gender, sexuality, and sex. Particularly, we'll look at diseases like HIV/AIDS and syphilis that have historically been closely associated with the sexual (and political) margins of society. Also, we will consider poorly understood and vaguely defined diseases like hysteria and ADD that are often portrayed in very gendered terms. And finally, we'll consider the sexual moralism and fear that surrounds discourses of health and pathology. Readings for the seminar will span a variety of disciplinary and literary sources.

Ananya Mukherjea is assistant professor of women's studies and sociology at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island. She is also a board member of CUNY's Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS).

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