About The Class

Every other Spring semester since 2016, the class, Comm 161: Communication and Social Justice, has been focused on drag. In 2014, a version of the course was taught as a special topics course. In it’s current iteration, it is designed to give students theoretical, practical, and experiential knowledge related to drag, gender performativity, identity, as well as drag’s communicative/rhetorical aspects. We examine how gender, race, sexuality, representation, performance, and religion relate to drag. We work to recognize and identify how drag is and can be employed to work toward social justice. Core to the course is dialogue with invited guests from the drag community or with experience or expertise in drag. As a community engagement course, this course gives students an opportunity to critically reflect on their direct experience with a drag community partner. In the first year (2014), the course partnered with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Momma’s Boyz. In subsequent years (2016, 2018, 2020) Momma’s Boyz has been our community partner.