Examines gender discourses through North African and West African literary works by looking at the role(s) played by Islam and Christianity in the creation of the identities of African men and women. Includes discussion of the question of what gender is, and whether it is socially constructed. Only one of the following may be counted: African and African Diaspora Studies 340S, Islamic Studies 373 (Topic 8), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 16), Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 28), Women's and Gender Studies 340 (Topic 34). Three lecture hours a week for one semester.