SOCY/WMST 1016: SEX, GENDER AND SOCIETY
Spring 2006
Required Texts:
1. Kramer, Laura. 2005. The Sociology of Gender: A Brief Introduction, Second Edition. Los Angeles: Roxbury Publishing Company.
2. Spade, Joan Z. and Catherine G. Valentine (eds). 2004. The Kaleidoscope of Gender. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.
3. E-Reserve articles accessible through Norlin online at http://libraries.colorado.edu. Articles can be retrieved under the “reserve lists” link.
Optional Text: (see extra credit opportunity)
4. Bornstein, Kate. 1994. Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us. New York: Vintage Books.
The texts are available for purchase from the CU Bookstore. There is one copy of the Kramer text on reserve in Norlin.
Course Description & Organization:
This is an introductory level course on the Sociology of Gender. It is meant to provide an overview of the many ways in which gender plays a vital role in our lives. With that being said, each subheading listed below could easily be a semester long class in and of itself. This class is taught from the perspective that gender and gender roles are learned behaviors (not biological) that are socially-constructed by culture (not innate) and contextually specific and malleable (not universal or fixed). If nothing else, it is my greatest wish that you walk away from this class knowing that gender plays a very important part in the structure of society.
This class will primarily utilize a discussion format. A good deal of the learning will take place through critical analysis and discussion of the course readings. It is important that people come to class both prepared and willing to engage with the material. Some of the topics in this course can be controversial. Feel free to disagree with each other and with your instructor, just be sure your disagreements are handled in a respectful manner.
Please note that the University of Colorado officially states that, "an undergraduate student should expect to spend approximately 3 hours per week outside of class for each credit hour earned." This translates into 9 hours of work a week for a 3 credit class.
Expectations and Required Classroom Decorum:
§ You will be assigned reading almost every day. It is imperative that you do not get behind in your reading and I’ll expect that you come to each class having read the material assigned for that day.
§ If you are absent, please do not approach me for missed notes. I recommend that you ask another student to provide you with any missed relevant information. If you miss a film, I recommend you visit Norlin’s Media Library – as long as the film is not checked out, you may watch it there.
§ If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability please submit a letter from Disability Services by the end of the second week of class. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact them either by phone at 303-492-8671 or on the Web at www.colorado.edu/sacs/disabilityservices
§ Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in University sanctions. Please note that plagiarism (presenting the ideas or words of another as one’s own) is considered cheating. While you are encouraged to study with your peers, you must turn in your own work at all times.
§ Please feel comfortable approaching me if you have questions or concerns about any aspect of the course. I am happy to discuss questions you may have in class, after class, during my office hours, or via email.
§ It is important that everyone feels comfortable taking part in class discussions. Please remember to respect your peers and your instructor, even (especially!) if you disagree with them. No one should feel as though they are being personally attacked over something they express in class, no hurtful comments or insults, no interrupting, etc. Part of respecting your fellow peers is learning how to accept different viewpoints and life choices without making judgments about them or their behavior. Additionally, if you feel as though you will be unduly uncomfortable with specific course material (including videos or guest speakers), please let me know beforehand so we can make alternative arrangements.
Grades: Your final grade is calculated out of a total of 1000 points. How the grade breaks down is discussed below. You may choose to do one extra credit project, the details of which are discussed below.
Participation/Attendance: 70 points
As this course primarily utilizes a discussion format, it is important that everyone participates in class discussions. Thus I will be grading everyone on their contribution to a productive learning environment. This means active involvement in the course and no disruptive behavior (i.e., side conversations). Everyone starts the class with thirty-five points; I will take points away throughout the semester if you engage in disruptive behavior, if you fail to come to class on a regular basis, or if you fail to contribute to class discussions. I will add to your original thirty-five points if you attend class regularly and thoughtfully contribute to class discussions. Though I will not be taking roll, please keep in mind that I will get to know and recognize you, and that I will be able to remember your general trends in attendance and participation. I will take all of this into account when assigning this portion of your grade.
Listserv: 10 points
You are required to subscribe to and be responsible for all information disseminated by means of the course email list. This list is used by the instructor to provide information that is applicable to the course (i.e., weekly journal topics), and can be used by the class as a means of group discussion. In order to receive credit, please subscribe to the list by January 25th. Subscription directions are as follows:
Address an e-mail to listproc@lists.Colorado.EDU with the subject line blank. In the message body write the following: (do not include the <>’s)
subscribe gender2006@lists.Colorado.EDU <first last name>
So, for example, I would write the following in the message body in order to subscribe to the list: subscribe gender2006@lists.Colorado.EDU Alison Hatch
Be sure to check to see if you received confirmation that you enrolled successfully.
Journal Entries: 420 points
As opposed to a more formal paper, the writing for this class will be in the form of journal entries. At the beginning of each week I will assign a topic or a question for you to address in your journal. The topic I assign is designed to coincide with the information that we are discussing at that time, thus you should do the assigned reading for that week before composing your journal entry. Your weekly writing needs to be kept together in a binder or notebook. You will turn in all entries in class (even those previously graded) on the following days:
Friday, January 27th
Friday, February 24th
Friday, March 24th
Friday, April 28th
I do not accept late journals. Thus, if you fail to turn in your journal on the above days, all journal entries for that month will receive a zero. If you cannot come to class to turn in your journals, find someone who can bring it in for you. Journals absolutely cannot be emailed to me.
Your journal entries do not need to be in the style of an academic paper. In other words, you do not need an introduction, thesis, conclusion, etc. However, I do expect college level writing. This means the use of proper grammar, complete sentences, good spelling, etc. In grading the entries, I will be looking for thoughtful reflection, application of course materials, and coherence. The journals are private communications between yourself and the instructor. As such, I hope that you will challenge yourself to submit personally introspective and honest entries.
Your entries must be type-written, handwritten entries will not be accepted. Each entry needs to be at least one FULL type-written page (double spaced, 12 point font). I expect that many of your entries will be longer than one page, however, I ask that you limit each entry to no longer than four pages.
I will email the weekly journal topics to the listserv – thus, it is very important that you sign onto the list. While there will be a total of 14 journal topics, only 12 will count towards your grade. I will drop your lowest, or missing, 2 grades. Each entry is worth 35 points. No one may skip the first or the last journal entry.
Exams: 500 points (each worth 250 points)
There are two multiple choice exams in this course, a midterm and a final. The midterm will cover material from the first half of the course; the final will cover material from the second half of the course. For the most part, the final will not be cumulative, however it is expected that you will be able to synthesize course themes. Please note that we will likely not have time to discuss all assigned readings in class, however they are all “fair game” for the exams. Material from videos and guest speakers are also “fair game” for the exams. Each exam is MANDATORY - you cannot skip an exam for any reason. Further exam details will be discussed in class.
Midterm: Monday, March 6th
Final: Monday, May 8th 10:30-1:00
Extra Credit (optional): 35 points
You may complete one extra credit paper on the book Gender Outlaw. At the very least, read chapters 1 through 8, though feel free to read more. Your paper should be a reflection on how Kate Bornstein herself, and the text Gender Outlaw, are examples of social change with respect to gender. Additionally, discuss your general reactions to the text (i.e., what you learned, what intrigued you, what confused you, what you liked/disliked). This should be written in the style of a formal paper, and should be at least three pages in length (12 pt. font, double spaced). The paper is due in class on Friday, April 14th.
Reading Assignments:
ü Please have readings completed by the date listed (even if instructor is behind schedule in lectures!)
ü Kramer = K (the numbers listed refer to chapter numbers)
ü Spade & Valentine = S&V (the numbers listed refer to the reading numbers, unless indicated by “chpt.” which refers to chapter numbers)
ü Instructor reserves the right to change this schedule as needed.
Foundations: Sociology, Gender & Social Constructionism
W 1/18: Welcome! Course Introduction
A. The Sociological Imagination
F 1/20: Reserve – C. Wright Mills “The Promise”
M 1/23: K #1 “Introduction,” S&V “Introduction,” & S&V chpt. #1 “The Prism of Gender”
B. Social Constructionism and the Nature vs. Nurture Debate
W 1/25: Reserve – Kimmel “Ordained in Nature” (Last day to sign onto Listserv!)
F 1/27: S&V #3 “The Trouble with Testosterone” (Journals Due)
C. Interlocking Oppressions: Race and Class
M 1/30: S&V chpt. 2 “The Intersection of Gender with Other Socially Constructed Prisms”
W 2/1: S&V #6 “White Privilege and Male Privilege” &
Reserve – Frye “Oppression”
Doing Gender
F 2/3: Reserve – West & Zimmerman “Doing Gender”
M 2/6: K #3 “Learning and Doing Gender” &
S&V chpt. 4 “Learning and Doing Gender”
W 2/8: S&V #4 “What it Means to Be Gendered Me”
S&V #21 “My Life as a Man”
The Gender Binary in Question
F 2/10: Reserve – Fausto-Sterling “The Five Sexes”
M 2/13: S&V #2 “Sexing the Intersexed”
W 2/15: S&V #5 “Multiple Genders among North American Indians”
The Social Construction of Gender Through Culture
A. Sexuality
F 2/17: K #2 “Culture and Ideology” &
S&V chpt. 3 “Gender and the Prism of Culture”
M 2/20: S&V chpt. 6 “Tracing Gender’s Mark on Bodies, Sexualities, and Emotions” &
S&V #22 “Slut!” &
S&V #30 “‘If It’s Not On, It’s Not On’-Or Is It?”
B. Physical Ideals: Media Representations
W 2/22: S&V chpt. 5 “Buying and Selling Gender”
F 2/24: S&V #24 “The More You Subtract, the More You Add” (Journals Due)
M 2/27: S&V #29 “Size 6”
C. Health
W 3/1: Reserve – Boston Women’s Health Collective “The Politics of Women’s Health and Medical Care”
F 3/3: Study for midterm
D. Physical Ideals: Athleticism
M 3/6: MIDTERM
W 3/8: Reserve – Messner “Boyhood, Organized Sports, and the Construction of Masculinities” &
S&V #37 “Marketing and the Publicity Images of Women’s Professional Basketball Players from 1977-2001”
E. Communication
F 3/10: Reserve – Kleinman “Why Sexist Language Matters”
The Social Construction of Gender Through Institutions
A. Childhood & Education
M 3/13: Reserve – Reifler “Time Warp in the Toy Store” &
S&V #23 “The Pink Dragon Is Female”
W 3/15: K#5 “Education” &
Reserve – Sadker et al. “Gender Equity in the Classroom”
F 3/17: S&V #18 “The Chilly Climate”
S&V #16 “Playing in the Gender Transgression Zone”
B. Family & Intimate Relationships
M 3/20: K #4 “The Family and Intimate Relationships” &
S&V chpt. 8 “Gender in Intimate Relationships”
W 3/22: Reserve – Hochschild & Machung “The Second Shift”
F 3/24: S&V #38 “Couples Watching Television” (Journals Due)
M 3/27 – F 3/31: Spring Break
C. Work
M 4/3: K #6 “The Economy and Work” &
S&V chpt. 7 “Gender at Work and Leisure”
W 4/5: S&V #36 “Gender, Social Inequalities, and Retirement Income”
F 4/7: K #7 “The Political and Legal System”
Keeping Gender in Check: Violent Enforcement
A. Homophobia & Hate Crimes
M 4/10: S&V chpt. 9 “Enforcing Gender”
W 4/12: Reserve – Herek et al. “Victim Experiences in Hate Crimes Based on Sexual Orientation”
B. Gendered Violence
F 4/14: S&V #46 “Sexual Trafficking in Women” (Extra Credit Due)
M 4/17: S&V #45 “Escape from Animal House”
W 4/19: S&V #47 “Sexual Harassment and Masculinity” (Guest Speaker)
F 4/21: Reserve – Pelka “Raped: A Male Survivor Breaks His Silence”
M 4/24: Reserve – Dobash & Dobash “Violence Against Women”
Social Change and Thinking Outside of the Box
W 4/26: K #8 “The Changing Gender System”
F 4/28: S&V chpt. 10 “Nothing Is Forever” (Journals Due)
M 5/1: S&V #50 “Unraveling the Gender Knot” (Guest Speaker)
W 5/3: Reserve – Lipsitz Bem “Feminist Child-Rearing”
F 5/5: Poem Handout