SOC 223/WMST 223, Section 1, Spring 2002 Office: Faner #4338
Tue & Thu 8.00-9.15 a.m. Phone: 453-3891 (O)
Park 202 Email: fuiyeechin@hotmail.com
Office Hours: Thur
11-1.00 p.m. or by appointment.
Required Texts:
Disch, E.
1997. Reconstructing Gender:
A Multicultural Anthology, 2nd edition.
Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.
Kimmel, Michael S. 2000. The Gendered
Society. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Course Description:
This
course is designed to familiarize you with an overview of men and women’s roles
in U.S. society, particularly focusing on their roles in the economy and the
family. Gender is a product of social
interaction and a central force in shaping social life. We socially construct
gender. This course seeks to explore
sociological perspectives on gender, examining the gender roles of men and
women, while paying special attention to gender’s interrelationships with race,
class, and sexual orientation in contemporary America.
Course Objectives:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of such concepts as gender, discrimination, feminism, and patriarchy.
2. Display basic knowledge of gender’s significance in U.S. history, culture, and social structure.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking about the dialogue emerging from different theories and perspectives pertaining to gender, race, class, and sexuality.
4. Apply concepts from personal and/or family
experience to analyze gender as a form of human mutuality that must be
understood to enhance the common good.
Assignments:
Participation: You should plan to speak up in this class. Feel free to bring up points that you find especially interesting to discuss. Questions are always welcome. If you see something outside of class that you think relates to our discussion feel free to bring it up. Disagreement is fine as long as it is done respectfully. Our differences are what will make the discussion interesting. Participation is worth 10%. Active participation makes sure you receive your total 10 points.
Attendance: Excessive absences, lack of participation, and things like tardiness and sleeping in class will cost you points. Attendance is worth 10%.
Quizzes: There will be three quizzes given periodically throughout the semester. Sorry, no make up quizzes. Each quiz is worth 10%.
Journal: Each week you are to choose one of the readings from the Reconstructing Gender text or The Gendered Society that we will not be reading in class to write a journal on. You may not use the same article more than once. For each journal you should pick out an essay, read it, and present your thoughts on it.
I would like you to illustrate your viewpoints with
analytical descriptions, instead of just purely descriptive essays. Tell me why you take a particular stand or
viewpoint by supporting them with theories you have learned from the class or
textbooks. It is fine to disagree with
the authors of the readings and the instructor. However, I do expect you to put real thought into this. You
should make specific references to readings, lecture, and class discussion. These assignments should be typed, double-spaced, and two-page in length. Each entry is worth 20%.
The journals are due on scheduled dates at the beginning of class. Late journals will not be accepted. There are all together six journals.
Exams: The mid-term and final exams will include multiple choices, short answers and essay questions. You should draw upon your readings, the lectures, and class discussions to answer these questions. Make-ups of exams may be allowed if the student provides a written excuse from a qualified professional.
Research Paper: You will write a 12-page research paper on a topic that is designated for your group. You must incorporate class materials and at least four scholarly resources into your presentation. We will spend a portion of the class discussing the details of this assignment. Your paper is due on the day your group is supposed to give the presentation. Your grade for this project will be a group grade. If you believe members of your group did not participate fully in the preparation or delivery of the presentation, you should talk to the instructor at least one week BEFORE the presentation. To receive credit you must turn in ONE complete Group research paper with all members’ name listed, a full bibliography of your research paper, a detailed presentation outline, and the discussion questions on the day of the presentation. The research paper will be worth 100%.
Group Presentation: You will be given 10-15 minutes to present your paper in the class. Also, you must develop 2-3 discussion questions which can generate class discussion following the presentation. Make your presentation as interesting as possible. If you need to use the overhead projector or a VCR, please arrange with me two weeks before your presentation. Points will be given according to the content of your research paper, and the uniqueness of your presentation. Each presentation is worth 30%.
Grading and Evaluating Your Performance
Attendance 10 450-500 = A
Presentation 30 350-399 = C
Quizzes 30 300-349
= D
Journals 120 0 -299 = F
Mid
Term 100
Research
Paper 100
Final
Exam 100
------------------------------
Total
points 500
Classroom Norms
Attendance
- You are expected to attend class regularly.
You may miss up to five classes without being penalized. These absences include sick days, religious
holidays, and personal holidays. Any
absences beyond these five will result in a deduction of points from your final
average for each day missed. I will
take attendance on a random basis.
Tardiness
- You should come to class on time.
Walking into class late is disrespectful to both your instructor and
your fellow students and will not be tolerated.
Missed
Work - You are responsible for information you miss. You may borrow notes from your classmate. Late work will not be accepted. If you foresee that you will be missing a
class where you have to turn in your work, please arrange to turn it in early,
either to me (Faner #4338) or to the Sociology Department office mail box
(Faner #3384). If you have any
question, please feel free to call me or email me.
Plagiarism
- Cheating/Academic Dishonesty: COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS REGARDING
PLAGIARISM AND OTHER FORMS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY WILL BE UPHELD IN THIS
COURSE. If you are not familiar with
the definitions and consequences of cheating or with your rights, refer to your
Student Conduct Code or see an academic advisor.
You
should be aware of plagiarism in every paper or assignment you write. Any time you use the ideas of someone else
you must give them credit. You should
put quotation marks around all direct quotations and cite the author at the end
of the passage. If you are unsure of
the proper way to do this see me before you turn in any work. Any work that has been plagiarized will
receive a failing grade and may be turned in to the university as a violation
of the student code of conduct.
Readings
- I will not discuss everything that your texts cover. I see no point in simply telling you what
your book already told you. However,
you are responsible for all of the information I ask you to read. This means that if you read something that
you do not understand, it is up to you to ask me for clarification. We will use class time to discuss and build
on the readings. I write each lecture
with the assumption that you have read the assigned readings for the day. In
order to follow the lecture and participate in the class discussions it will be
necessary to do the readings before coming to class.
Office
Hours - You should make use of my office hours. If you have any concerns about the class I will be quite happy to
discuss them with you. I realize some
people feel uncomfortable speaking out in a group. It is fine to come and talk to me in private about issues that
interest you. I prefer you interact
with the class but speaking to me also counts as participation.
E-mail
- My e-mail address is listed on the first page of this syllabus. E-mail can be
used as a general means of contacting me.
You can e-mail me comments about class, questions, paper drafts, or
anything else that you think I should be aware of. I check this e-mail account often.
Ground Rules to Keep in Mind
You
should think about these ground rules during all classroom interactions. You are expected to follow them at all
times.
1. Acknowledge that racism, sexism, classism,
and homophobia exists.
2. Acknowledge that one of the meanings of
racism/sexism is that we have been systematically taught misinformation about
our own groups and especially members of other groups.
3. We can not be blamed for misinformation we
have learned, but we are responsible for repeating misinformation after we have
learned otherwise.
4. Do not blame victims for their oppression.
5. We will assume that people are always doing
the best they can.
6. We will actively pursue information about
our own groups and those of others.
7. We will share information about our own
groups with other members of the class and we will never demean, devalue, or in
any way “put down” people for their experiences.
8. We have an obligation to actively combat the
myths and stereotypes about our own groups and other groups so that we can
break down the walls that prohibit group cooperation and group gain.
9. We want to create a safe atmosphere for open
discussion. Thus, at times, members of
the class may wish to make a comment that they do not want repeated outside the
classroom. If so, the student will
preface his or her remarks with a request and the class will agree not to
repeat the remarks. ** Ground rules by Lynn Weber, Center for Research on Women,
Memphis State University, Memphis, TN 38152.
Anticipated Course Schedule: K=
Kimmel D= Disch
1/15 Introduction
and Overview
1/17 Instructions for Research Paper
& Journal
1/26*
1/22 Defining Sex & Gender K: ch 1; D:p1-24
1/24 Biology is Destiny K:
ch 2, D:ch 2, 49, 50
Journal
1
(Experimenting
Gender bending)
1/29 Biology and Destiny Around the World K: ch 3; D:ch3, 14
1/31 Group
1
2/5 The Psychology of Gender K: ch 4, D: ch 4, 15
2/7 Quiz
1
2/12 Chinese New Year (Video)
2/14 The Social Construction of
Gender K: ch 5 ; D: 7,8,9
Journal
2 & 3
2/19 The Gendered Family K:
ch 6; D: 32, 33
2/21 Cont. D:
ch 36, 37
Group
2
2/26 The Gendered Classroom K: ch 7: D: 38,39
2/28 Cont. D:
ch 41
Group
3
3/5 Review & Group 4
3/7 Mid
Term Exam
3/9-3/17 SPRING BREAK – Have a safe vacation
3/19 The Gendered Workplace K: ch 8; D: ch 44,45,47
3/21 Sexual Harassment D:
ch 62,63
Journal
4 &5
3/26 Gendered Communication K: ch 9; D: ch 16,21,23
3/28 The Love Languages
Group 5
4/2 Gendered Sexualities K:
ch 10; D: ch 13,20
4/4 Cont. D:
ch 27,31
Quiz
2 & Group 6
4/9 Gendered Violence K:
ch 11; D: ch 55,56
4/11 Cont. D:
ch 57,58
Group 7
4/16 Health: African American Women D:
ch 50, 52
4/18 Health:
Asian Americans D:
ch. 51
Journal
6 & Group 8
4/23 Religion D: ch 64
4/25 Quiz
3 & Group 9
4/30 Degendering Society K:
Epilogue; D: ch 59
5/2 Final Review
Group
10
5/09 THU Final Exam 10.10 a.m. –12.10 p.m.