SOCY 1016-001      Sex and Gender in Society    Fall 2006

Jadi Morrow

morrowj@colorado. edu

Office Hours: MWF 1:00-2:00, Ketchum 8 and by appt.

 

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Required Readings:

Fausto-Sterling, Anne. Myths of Gender.

Weitz, Rose. Politics of Women’s Bodies.

Wharton, Amy. Sociology of Gender

Winterson, Jeanette. Written on the Body.

There are other readings on WEBCT.  I suggest that you buy an extra ink cartridge if you don’t like reading on the screen.

 

Please bring the readings for the day to class with you and be prepared to discuss the readings for the day that they are assigned.

 

I reserve the right to modify the syllabus at any time.  I reserve the right to change projects, readings, requirements and/or exams at any time.

 

Teaching Philosophy: I will try to use as many different teaching techniques as possible to guarantee that every learning style is engaged.  This means that some days I will lecture; and other days may include projects such as group work, in class writing, discussion, and films.  I may occasionally use the Socratic method and call on you in front of the class to discuss an article or topic.  I see learning as a cooperative experience where I may learn as much from you as you will learn from me, or you may learn more from your peers than you do from me.  I do not believe in the banking philosophy of teaching where I have all of the answers and I am employed to give them to you and test you at the end of class to make sure that you have acquired the correct tools. 

 

Course Description: The main objective of this course is to introduce you to the Sociological study of Sex and Gender in the United States.  We will begin this course by examining how Sociologists think about sex and gender differently from other disciplines.  Indeed, I will put Sociology in conversation with the other disciplines.

 

Many sociologists agree that gender is mainly constructed during socialization as a child through the various socializing institutions (family, school, religion, the media).  We will examine these socializing agents. Then we will look at how the meanings that we give to gender (and sex) in this country have different effects for men and women.  We will end the course by looking forward individually, examining possibilities for social change, and gazing at the frontiers of academic knowledge on the subject. 

 

A foundation of Sociology is what C. Wright Mills coined the “sociological imagination.” I expect that every one of my students leave my classroom with improved critical thinking skills and the ability to see the world through a sociological lens.

 

Disclosure:

Due to the nature of the movies and music that we will be examining in this class it is crucial that you come prepared to be challenged, to see and hear things that might be offensive, and to be able to sit through bad language, violent and/or naked images and perhaps political ideologies that you do not agree with. I assume that because you have read this disclosure in the syllabus and that you have remained in the course that you agree to these things.

 

Grading Scale:

A 94-100

B+ 87-89

C+ 77-79

D+  67-69

F >60

A- 90-93

B 84-86

C  74-76

D 64-66

 

 

B- 80-83

C- 70-73

D- 60-63

 

 

Missing Class:

You are given two excused absences from my class. I will not work with you regarding other absences unless you are a student athlete or have a note from your doctor. A huge part of this class is in-class participation and you will suffer if you do not come to class.

 

Late Papers and Projects:

In the event that you need to turn in a project or paper late, you will be accessed a 10% deduction in your grade per day that I do not receive it.  I will not accept a paper after five days late.  Further, there will not be any make-up projects or papers.

 

Points:

Exam One

50

Exam Two

50

Final Exam

50

Media Project

50

Myths of Gender

50

Written on the Body

50

Zine

100

Attendance/Quizzes

100

Total

500

 

NOTE: All exams are comprehensive

 

 

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August 28 Introduction

August 30 Definitions, Overview of Sociology

            Weitz, “A History of Women’s Bodies”

Sept 1 Lecture: Feminism(s), The Waves of Feminism

            West and Zimmerman, “Doing Gender” (WebCT)

            Anne Fausto-Sterling “The Five Sexes” (WebCT)

Sept 6  Video: My Feminism

Sept 8  Lecture: Race and Gender

            Patricia Hill Collins “Learning from the Outsider Within” (WebCT)

            Bell Hooks “Racism and Feminism” (WebCT)

Sept 11 Lecture: The Study of Gender

De Beauvoir “The Second Sex” (WebCT)

Sept 13 Putting the study of gender in Sociology into conversation with Biology, Psychology, and Anthropology

            Slocum “Women the Gatherer” (WebCT)

Saplosky-“The Trouble With Testosterone” (WebCT)

Sept 15  Sociology of Gender Chapter 1,2

Sept 18  Sociology of Gender Chapter 3

Sept 20  Sociology of Gender Chapter 5

Sept 22 Discussion, Review

Sept 25 Lecture: Media Exam One Due

Sept 27 Lecture and Discussion: Sports

            Weitz- “The Muscle Moll”

            Weitz- “The Glass Ceiling on Women’s Muscular Strength”

Sept 29 Media: How to critique cultural products

Oct 2 Video: Still Killing Us Softly

Oct 4 Media

            Weitz- “Selling Hot Pussy

Oct 6 Video: Tough Guise

Oct 9 Video continued…

Oct 11  Media/Music

Oct 13  Discussion: Media

Oct 16  Video: Game Over

Oct 18  Discuss Book: Myths of Gender Project Due: The Myths of Gender Worksheet

Oct 20  Lecture: Masculinity

            Connel, Bob “Hegemonic Masculinity” (WebCT)

Oct 23 Lecture: Sexuality

Rich “Compulsory Heterosexuality” (WebCT)

            Weitz “Till Death Do Us Part”

Oct 25 Guest Speakers

Oct 27 Jeanette Winterson’s Written On the Body Book Review Due

Oct 30 Lecture: Gender and Crime

            Kimmel,  “The Gender of Violence”(WebCT)

Nov 1 Discussion: Violence Against Women

            Beneke “Men on Rape” (WebCT)
            Montagna “Men Only Spaces” (WebCT)

Nov 3 Exam Two Due

Nov 6 Lecture: Poverty

            Fakuda-Parr, Sakiko “What does the Feminization of Poverty Mean?”(WebCT)

            Sklar- “Blaming Women for Illegitimate Economics” (WebCT)

Nov 8 Lecture: Education

            Sadker and Sadker, etc “Gender Equity in the Classroom” (WebCT)

Nov 10 Discussion: Education

            Weitz- “On Becoming a Gendered Body”

Nov 13 Lecture: Language Media Project Due

Lorde “The Master’s Tools.” (WebCT)

            Steinem “Women and Men Talking” (WebCT)

Nov 15 Lecture:  Nationalism

            Cohn-“Clean Bombs” (WebCT)

            Nagel, Joane “Masculinity and Nationalism: Gender and Sexuality in the Making  

                        Of Nations”(WebCT)

Nov 17 Discuss Final Project, Gender and Work

No 20-24 Fall Break. NO CLASSES!!! Happy Turkey Day!

Nov 27  Lecture: Gender, Love, and the Family

Nov 29 Discussion: Gender and the Family

Dec 1 Lecture and Discussion: Changing Masculinities

            “A Degendered Society” By Michael Kimmel (WebCT)

Dec 4 Lecture and Discussion:  Possibilities for change

Dec 6 Lecture and Discussion: Possibilities for change-International women’s movements

Dec 8  Lecture and Discussion: Possibilities for change-Race and Gender

            Patricia Hill Collins- “Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of          Empowerment” (WebCT)

Dec 11 Lecture and Discussion: Possibilities for change-Sexuality

            Weitz- “The Future of Reproductive Choice for Poor Women and Women of                     Color”

Dec 13 Final Project Presentations Zine Project Due

Dec 15 Final Project Presentations

Dec 18th: Final Exam Period 4:30-7:00