GENDERS, SEXUALITY AND LITERATURE

3rd
Tri SY 2000-2001 / M321 / T 240-550
Mr. Ronald Baytan

Course Description
GENDLIT is an introduction to the study of gender and sexuality and their multifarious lives in
the world of literature, represented here by works of selected male and female authors mostly
written in the last thirty years. Nineteenth century and pre-war works, however, are included in
the readings to facilitate discussion of the evolution of sexuality from the invention of the
homosexual in the 19th century to the production of queer identities in the late 20 th century.
Though this is not a theory course, we shall be discussing key theoretical concepts necessary to
the reading and evaluation of the assigned literary texts. In this course, we shall look at feminist,
homosexual, and queer discourses—their points of intersection and differences; and more
importantly, how these discourses are fleshed out, represented and questioned in literature. We
shall look at the various ways with which male and female, gay and lesbian writers, have
inscribed their gender and sexuality in their writings. We shall also look into the political,
historical, cultural, theoretical, and literary concerns of these writers. As a literature class, we
shall zero in on the styles, themes, modes, techniques, and literary devices embedded in the texts,
and how these elements relate to and reinforce the identity politics of the texts and the authors.

Ideally, at the end of the term, students should emerge from this course knowledgeable of the
basic issues, concepts, and theoretical concerns related to the discourses of gender and sexuality.
They should also be able to make a stand on the issues concerning marginalized sexual identities,
and should be able to express this renewed consciousness creatively through artistic output and
well-written academic papers. They should also be able to see the power of literature to make
interventions in critical discourses and to transform the many lives its seeks to represent and
inevitably re/fashion.

Methodology and Structure

Each three-hour meeting is divided into the following: (1) check-up quiz/activity; (2) lecture on a
particular theoretical concept or issue; (3) pre- or post-discussion activity; (3) discussion of the
assigned literary texts. This is a HEAVY READING course; thus, students are expected to come
to class well-prepared for an interesting academic discussion by showing evidence of their
mastery/understanding of the assigned texts. Students without the readings and who have not
read the assigned texts, will be asked to step out of the classroom.

Major Requirements
3 Short Papers. 2 to 3 pages, double-spaced, 12 points, no summary, on an assigned film, play, or
novel; may include a creative work.
Term Paper. 7 to 10 pages on an assigned and approved novel.
Oral Exam. A pre-final exam covering an assigned novel / full-length play, and the discourses.
Literature Festival/Poetry Recital. Group work. To be discussed with the teacher.
Written Exam. A midterm exam covering all the assigned texts and discussions.

Class Policies
Attendance in class is a must. Students are allowed only 2 absences (or 4 instances of tardiness).
Tardiness is 1/2 absence. Coming to class an hour late or beyond, is equivalent to 1 absence.
Unruly and disruptive behavior (e.g. chatting, stepping out of the classroom without permission)
is not permissible. The Discipline Office will take care of students committing this offense.
Honesty is required of all Lasallians. All papers, written assignments, projects, and other tasks
must be products of one’s creativity; they must be original. Any student caught guilty of
plagiarism (submitting someone else’s work as one’s own) and/or cheating will automatically be
dropped from the course and expelled from the University.
Submission of requirements on time. Late submission of papers or other requirements will merit
a 0.0 (for major ones) or a huge deduction (for minor ones). Failure to submit any of the major
requirements merits a 0.0 for the final grade; short papers, two 0.0’s for the corresponding chunk
of grade.
No make-up for any missed quiz, exam, or any in-class activity. Regarding the quiz, students
who come late may answer only the questions he or she has come in time for. Other students may
not offer any form of assistance to latecomers (e.g. material, question, book, etc.).
Students without the assigned text/s will not be allowed to enter the classroom and take part in
any activity.
Respect for peers, facilitators, and guests, is a must at all times, regardless of one’s racial,
cultural, sexual, or religious background. Open-mindedness is a must.

Consultation Hours
MWF 930-1030. 130-230. TH 130-230. Other time slots by appointment.
The Literature Department WH406 (Go to WH 401 first.)

Core Readings: Theory

Belsey, Catherine, and Jane Moore, eds. The Feminist Reader: Essays in Gender and the Politics
of Literary Criticism. London: Macmillan, 1989.
Bergman, David. "The Homosexual Discourse." Contemporary Literary Criticism, ed. James
Draper. Michigan: Gale Research, 1993.
Butler, Judith. Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of 'Sex'. London: Routledge, 1993.
Cleto, Fabio, ed. Camp: Queer Aesthetics and the Performing Subject: A Reader. Ann Arbor:
The U of Michigan Press, 1999.
Dollimore, Jonathan. Sexual Dissidence: Augustine to Wilde, Freud to Foucault. Oxford:
Clarenden, 1991.
Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality, trans. Robert Hurley. New York: Penguin, 1984.
Garcia, J. Neil C. Slip/pages: Essays in Philippine Gay Criticism 1991-1996. Manila: DLSU
Press, 1998.
Jogose, Annamarie. Queer Theory: An Introduction. New York: NYU Press, 1996.
Sedgwick, Eve K. Epistemology of the Closet. York: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1991.
Stein, Edward, ed. Forms of Desire: Sexual Orientation and the Social Constructionist
Controversy. New York: Routledge, 1992.
Weedon, Chris. Feminist Practice and Poststructuralist Theory. Oxford: Basill Blackwell, 1987.

The sources of the literary texts / readings, are indicated on the first leaf of each reading.

Suggested Grading System

Quizzes/Activity 10%
Recitation 10
Short Papers 20
Term Paper 20
Oral Exam 15
Written Exam 15
Lit/Poetry Festival 10
GENDERS SEXUALITY & LITERATURE
3rd
Tri SY 2000-2001 / M321 / T 240-550
Mr. Ronald Baytan

Suggested Schedule
1 J9 Introduction to the Course. Policies. 8 F27 Edmund White: Reprise
Requirements. Diagnostics David Leavitt: A Place I've Never Been
What Is Gender? Due: SHORT PAPER # 2
Toril Moi: Female, Feminine, Feminist 9 M6 Philippine Gay Culture and
2 16 Feminisms. Sexual Politics. Literature
Gynocritics Neil Garcia: Philippine Gay Culture:
Belsey and More: The Story So Far Reflections on a Study
Gilbert and Gubar: Sexual Linguistics: Garcia: Redefining Masculinity
Gender, Language, Sexuality Jaime An. Lim: Short Time
Nick Joaquin: Summer Solstice Honorio Bartolome de Dios: Lalake
Angela Manalang Gloria: Soledad. Nicholas Pichay: Maselang Bagay ang
Revolt from Hymen Sumuso ng Burat
Estrella Alfon: Magnificence 10 13 Queer, Camp and Performativity
3 23 French Feminism Annamarie Jogose: from Queer Theory
Chris Weedon: Feminist Fabio Cleto: Queering the Camp
Poststructuralism and Psychoanalysis Judith Butler: from Bodies That Matter
Helene Cixous: Sorties: Out and Out: J. Neil C. Garcia: The Conversion
Attacks/Ways Out/Forays Merril Mushroom: Courtship Rituals
Marjorie Evasco: Dreamweavers. Jeanette Winterson: The Poetics of Sex
Caravan of the Waterbearers R. Zamora Linmark: from Rolling the
Ruth Elynia Mabanglo: Gahasa. Kung R's
Ibig Mo Akong Makilala Due: SHORT PAPER # 3
4 30 Feminism and Non-Western Women 11 20 FILM
Gayatri Spivak: Three Women's Texts ORAL EXAM on Realuyo's Novel
and a Critique of Imperialism Due: TERM PAPER
Luisa Aguilar Igloria: Confession. 12 27 Presentation of Term Papers &
Charlson Ong: A Tropical Winter's Tale Literature/Poetry Festival
Zhang Jie: Love Must Not Be Forgotten 13 A3 Finals Week. Course Cards.
Due: SHORT PAPER # 1
5 F6 FILM & Discussion NOVELS (Term Paper)
WRITTEN EXAM Alan Hollinghurst, The Folding Star
6 13 Introduction to Sexuality Bino Realuyo, The Umbrella Country**
Warren Blumenfeld and Diane Dorothy Allison, Bastard Out of Carolina
Raymond: Sexuality Edgardo M. Reyes: Laro sa Baga*
Michel Foucault: Perverse Implantation Edmund White, Farewell Symphony
David Bergman: Homosexual Discourse Eric Gamalinda, My Sad Republic
Armistead Maupin: Letter to Mama Gina Apostol, Bibliolepsy
7 20 Essentialism and Social Jeanette Winterson: Sexing the Cherry
Constructionism Manuel Puig: Kiss of the Spider Woman*
Edward Stein: from Forms of Desire Ninotchka Rosca, Twice Blessed
Leonore Tiffer: from Sex Is Not a Pai-Hsien Yung, Crystal Boys
Natural Act Yukio Mishima: Confessions of a Mask
Walt Whitman: selected poems
Radclyffe Hall: Miss Ogilvy Finds *For this work, the student must do a
Herself comparative study of the novel and its screen
8 27 Dissident Desires adaptation.
Eve Sedgwick: Axiomatics **Everyone must read this novel.
Jonathan Dollimore: Wilde and Gide in
Algiers NOTE: Some meetings especially discussion
Leslea Newman: Letter to Harvey Milk periods may be devoted to on-line sessions.