Professor Linda Markowitz sociology
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Department of Sociology --SIUE Women, Gender and Society Website address: www.siue.edu/~lmarkow/ Office: Peck Bldg. rm. 1228 Course Description and Objectives: Statement of Professionalism My role as professor is to help you evaluate and critically examine information and logic. To complete my job, students must come prepared for class. Preparation entails taking effort to read and think about the material outside of class. Often times we may not cover everything from the text, but I will still expect students to consider the information from the books and ask questions when they are interested in a topic we did not discuss.
Thinking about Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender by Margaret Anderson. 2003, Sixth Edition, Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Feminist Frontiers edited by Laurel Richardson, Verta Taylor and Nancy Whittier, 6th edition Readings that will be posted on Blackboard.
Course Requirements: 1) Tests A) There will be two tests which will consist of multiple choice (mc), short essay and long essay. Each test will be worth 19% of your grade. (Total 38%) Tests will cover information from the book and lecture. Often times, I do not cover information from the book in class, but you are still expected to have read and be familiar with the topics we do not cover. Further, I expect students to do more than memorize the information, you should be able to apply terms, theories and concepts. Failure to take tests --- Anyone who does not contact me in person or by phone (thus leaving a message for me in the department will not do) about missing the test before the day of the scheduled test will not be able to do a make-up, and will receive a 0 for the grade. B) There will also be three pop quizzes. The pop-quizzes will ALWAYS occur at the beginning of class and cover material over the readings due for that day. If you are tardy and miss the pop quiz, you cannot make up the quiz. You can drop your lowest grade. The two remaining quizzes are worth 3.5% each. (Total 7%). 2) Homework- Please, feel free to turn in drafts of your paper prior to submitting it for a grade. The learning process is greatly aided with feedback! However, in order to ensure I have time to read the draft, you must submit it to me at least 48 hours BEFORE the paper is due. I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAIL COPIES ON FINAL DRAFTS OF PAPERS. A) Activism Paper. The paper requires some outside research and activism. The paper is worth 15% of your grade. The directions appear below. The due date appears in the syllabus. B) There will also be four short written- assignments that require at least two pages of writing before class day. These assignments will require some work outside class so that you can talk in your groups or to the class about your findings and present them. Bring in the typed paper with you to class the day the assignments are due. Take off 10 points for each day you turn in the assignment late. Each assignment is worth 8% of your grade (with a total of 32% of your grade).
IMPORTANT: READ THIS 3) Application Day — I understand that people have busy schedules. HOWEVER, in general, I do expect that students will complete the readings assigned. Readings are particularly important when we do APPLICATION DAY. On those 4 days, we will have discussions that require your full participation. I will hand out sheets on the day we have discussion that the groups will work on together. One person from the group will summarize your discussion, type the summary and turn in the summary the next class period. I may give pop quizzes to ensure student’s do the reading. If so, I will integrate the grades into Application Day assignment grade. (Each assignment is worth 2% of your grade with a total of 8 percent). Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism, copying, or helping others cheat will be treated with the standard penalty, an E for the course.
Reading Schedule: All reading should be done before class day
Introduction June 30 Syllabus: Discussion about gender, morality vs causality, and dichotomies July 1 Chapter 1 in Anderson and Application Day: Groups must apply social analysis (NOT MORALITY) to understanding why you believe that abortion is moral/immoral. Social Construction of Gender Identity July 2 Chapter 2 July 3 Chap 2 and READ ON BLACKBOARD: “Masters Tools” Application Day: What You Know vs. What You Think You Know:
July 7th Movie: Middlesexes July 8 Chapter 4 Now, I want you to position yourself in the same pose as the women in the ad. What’s the pose like? Is it comfortable? Why do you think they position women this way? Now, I want you to position yourself in the same pose as the man in the ad. What’s the pose like? Is it comfortable? Why do you think they position men this way? If you have a digital camera, bring in the pictures of your poses
Women and Social Reform: Liberal Feminism July 9 Chapter 12 Contemporary Frameworks in Feminist Theory July 10th Chapter 13
July 14th READ ON BLACKBOARD: From Servitude to Service Work July 15th TEST 1: YIPPPPEEEEE July 16th PAPER DAY July 17th Chapter 3 and Reading 11 from FF: “Gender Stereotyping in the English Language” by Laurel Richardson Also, BRING IN YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE! Short-Written assignment: In Class Group Discussion: Bring in Typed two page paper about a content analysis of your favorite television show or a favored movie. Content analysis is the process of breaking down the interactions depicted in the media and explaining them. I want you to choose two of the main characters from your favorite television show or movie and analyze how their gender roles are constructed. HOW IS GENDER IMPORTANT TO THE ROLES OF THE CHARACTERS? Think about: occupations, social relations, power and depictions of beauty and objectification. What do script writers think is “natural” for each gender? July 21st MOVIE: Still Killing Us Softly and DreamWorlds 2 Gender, Health, and Reproduction and Beauty July 22nd Chapter7 Women, Power and Politics July 23rd Chapter 10: Importance of Social movements and Social Welfare July 24th Read Article ON BLACKBOARD: About War and Rape SHORT-WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: Find newspapers articles that discuss the effects of war and/or its aftermath on women. Look at the following countries: Serbia/Bosnia/; Uganda; Afghanistan; Iraq; Sudan; Somalia, Darfur. Answer the following questions citing information from the articles to back up your claims: How is war a gendered phenomena? How does war affect women and men differently? Does the countries culture affect the way woman are affected? How? Would does the structure of war harm women, regardless of the country? Explain your answer either way sociologically and use the information from the articles! Attach your articles to your papers when turning in.
Gender, Work, and the Economy July 28th Chap 5 and ACTIVSM PAPER DUE July 29th Chapter 5 and in FF the article: “Moving up and Taking Charge” by Irene Padavic ACTIVISM PAPER: Please do NOT put a cover sheet. Simply write your name on the first page. Guidelines for the papers are as follows: 1) margins and fonts should be the default for computer. If margins are too narrow or fonts too large, your paper will be docked. 2) All papers must be double-spaced (no more or no less). 3) The first paragraph must begin no later than 2 inches from the top of the page. 4) Homework assignments will be typed. The paper 6-8 pages. 5) Papers will be turned in on time. You will receive 10 points off for each guideline you do not follow. Gender Activism At this point, we have discussed examples of the oppression women experience in the U.S. We have also discussed theories which try to understand and explain this oppression. Now, I want you to choose one type of inequality that is of special interest to you. Something you are most concerned about. It could be about the oppression women experience in this country or others: for example, you could be interested in how language is used to perpetuate the male norm at your childrens’ schools or at your religious center, how girls and women are forced into sexual slavery here and abroad, how women are primarily responsible for care-taking the young and the old without pay, how children are forced into perceiving themselves and each other as opposites, how gays and lesbians are oppressed through open aggression and language calling for the right of the dominant group to discriminate against them, how women are raped and physically abused, how women are taught to pursue beauty at the expense of their self-esteem by other women, men and the advertising industry, etc In this section, and all sections, remember NOT to frame this morally. For example, do not say, “It is horrible that women face this problem.” Instead, say, “Sixty percent of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment in the workplace.” Section 2: Explanation (2 pages) Section 3: Activism (2 pages)
27 Chapter 2 28 Chap 2 and HANDOUT “Masters Tools” Application Day: Use theories from chapter 2 and the “relational nature” of social identity to understand a) why Mcdonald’s provides “girls” toys and “boys” toys and b) what kind of affect the different toys have on children’s identities with each other in the U.S. and (if you can get your head around it) with people in other countries. July 2 Chapter 4 Now, I want you to position yourself in the same pose as the women in the ad. What’s the pose like? Is it comfortable? Why do you think they position women this way? Now, I want you to position yourself in the same pose as the man in the ad. What’s the pose like? Is it comfortable? Why do you think they position men this way? If you have a digital camera, bring in the pictures of your poses!
July 3rd Middlesexes (the movie)
July 4th: Have a great day Women and Social Reform: Liberal Feminism July 5 Chapter 12 Contemporary Frameworks in Feminist Theory 9 Chapter 13 10 HANDOUT: From Servitude to Service Work...........AND......... 11: TEST 1: YIPPPPEEEEE Also, BRING IN YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE! Short-Written assignment: In Class Group Discussion: Bring in Typed two page paper about a content analysis of your favorite television show or a favored movie. Content analysis is the process of breaking down the interactions depicted in the media and explaining them. I want you to choose two of the main characters from your favorite television show or movie and analyze how their gender roles are constructed. HOW IS GENDER IMPORTANT TO THE ROLES OF THE CHARACTERS? Think about: occupations, social relations and depictions of sexuality/beauty and objectification. What do script writers think is “natural” for each gender? Gender, Health, and Reproduction and Beauty 16 Chapter7 Women, Power and Politics 18 Chapter 10: Importance of Social movements and Social Welfare 19 Read Article I hand out: About War and Rape SHORT-WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: Find newspapers articles that discuss the effects of war and/or its aftermath on women. Look at the following countries: Serbia/Bosnia/; Uganda; Afghanistan; Iraq; Sudan; Somalia, Darfur. Answer the following questions citing information from the articles to back up your claims: How is war a gendered phenomena? How does war affect women and men differently? Does the countries culture affect the way woman are affected? How? Would does the structure of war harm women, regardless of the country? Explain your answer either way sociologically and use the information from the articles! Attach your articles to your papers when turning in. Gender, Work, and the Economy 23 Chap 5 and PAPER 2 DUE 24 Chapter 5 and “Moving up and Taking Charge” by Padavic pg 209. WATCH THE MOVIE BLOOD DIAMOND At this point, we have discussed examples of the oppression women experience in the U.S. We have also discussed theories which try to understand and explain this oppression. Now, I want you to choose one type of inequality that is of special interest to you. Something you are most concerned about. It could be about the oppression women experience in this country or others: for example, you could be interested in how language is used to perpetuate the male norm at your childrens’ schools or at your religious center, how girls and women are forced into sexual slavery here and abroad, how women are primarily responsible for care-taking the young and the old without pay, how children are forced into perceiving themselves and each other as opposites, how gays and lesbians are oppressed through open aggression and language calling for the right of the dominant group to discriminate against them, how women are raped and physically abused, how women are taught to pursue beauty at the expense of their self-esteem by other women, men and the advertising industry, etc In this section, and all sections, remember NOT to frame this morally. For example, do not say, “It is horrible that women face this problem.” Instead, say, “Sixty percent of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment in the workplace.” Section 2: Explanation (2 pages) Section 3: Activism (2 pages)
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