MWF 2:00-2:50
Instructor: Jadi Morrow
Email: morrowj@colorado.edu
Office Hours: Before class, by appt.
Office: Ketchum 8
Phone Number: _______________________
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The Politics of Women’s Bodies Edited by Rose Weitz
SECOND EDITION ONLY!!
The Sociology of Gender Amy S. Wharton
Myths of Gender Anne Fausto-Sterling
Readings from the Online Reserve at Norlin. Accessible through www.colorado.edu (then go to the Chinook homepage and click on Reserve Readings and type in either my last name, Morrow or the course number SOCY 1016). Please buy an extra ink cartridge just for this class!
Please bring the readings to class with you.
Grading:
20 In-class Quizzes, Worksheets, Participation points or attendances. 200 Points
Myths of Gender Book Review Project 50 Points
Comparing Magazines Project 50 Points
Race Issues Project 50 Points
Pick a Reading Project 50 Points
Media/Zine Project 100 Points
Total 500 Points
As you can see, the most important part of this class is the in-class work we do. It is more important than your exams!! To get an excellent grade in this class you must do the reading, come to class prepared, and be willing to discuss the material. When I grade in-class work I am looking for well thought out discussions about the readings that synthesize the other themes of the class.
About Missing Class: You do not have to email me or call me and let me know what happened to you. You are accountable for all information given in class regardless of your attendance. Make sure you can call someone from class when you are absent to get assignments, notes, etc… Do NOT ask me to email you worksheets, etc… There are three absences (15 points) built into the point system so that you can miss classes if you need to.
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.
Readings:
OLR=Online Reserve
Weitz is the editor of the book, the authors for the readings are different.
January 18 Introductions, Syllabus
January 20 Introduction to the topic, Definitions
January 23 Definitions
West and Zimmerman, “Doing Gender” (OLR)
Anne Fausto-Sterling “The Five Sexes” (OLR)
January 25 Lecture
The Sociology of Gender Introduction Chapter Two
January 27 Lecture
The Sociology of Gender Chapter
Three
January 30 Lecture
The Sociology of Gender Chapter Five
February 1 Discussion: Hunter/Gatherer
De Beauvoir “The Second Sex”
Slocum “Women the Gatherer” (OLR)
February 3 Discussion: Testosterone
Saplosky-“The Trouble With Testosterone” (OLR)
February 6 Discuss Myths of Gender by Anne-Fausto Sterling Project Due: Myths of Gender-book review worksheet
February 8 Watch the Video: Tough Guise
February 10 Watch the Video: Tough Guise
Kimmel, “The Gender of Violence” (OLR)
February 13 Discussion: Sports
Weitz- “The Muscle Moll”
Weitz- “The Glass Ceiling on Women’s Muscular Strength”
February 15 Watch the Video: Game Over
February 17 Watch the Video: Game Over
February 20 Project Due: Comparing Magazines
February 22 Discussion: Media
Weitz- “Selling Hot Pussy”
February 24 Media Pick a Reading Project
February 27 Watch the Video: Still Killing Us Softly
March 1 Finish Video, Discussion
March 3 Masculinity
Guest Speaker (Attendance Required)
March 6 Watch the Video: “Bell Hooks: Cultural Criticism and Transformation”
March 8 Watch the Video: “Bell Hooks: Cultural Criticism and Transformation”
Reading: TBA
March 10 Discussion: Poverty
Fakuda-Parr, Sakiko “What does the Feminization of Poverty Mean?” (OLR)
March 13 Discussion: Poverty
Sklar- “Blaming Women for Illegitimate Economics” (OLR)
March 15 Discussion: Education
Sadker and Sadker, etc “Gender Equity in the Classroom” (OLR)
March 17 Discussion: Education and Pick your Group for the Zine Project (Attendance Required)
Weitz- “On Becoming a Gendered Body”
March 20 Discussion: Work
The Sociology of Gender: Chapters 4 and 6
March 22 Watch the Video: Poverty Outlaw
March 24 Watch the Video: Poverty Outlaw
March 27-31 Spring Break
April 3 Discussion: Language
Lorde “The Master’s Tools.” (OLR)
Steinem “Women and Men Talking” (OLR)
April 5 Discussion: Language
Cohn-“Clean Bombs” (OLR)
April 7 Watch the Video: Chore Wars
April 10 Discussion: Sexuality
Rich “Compulsory Heterosexuality” (OLR)
Weitz “Till Death Do Us Part”
April 12 Sexuality
Guest Speakers (Attendance Required)
April 14 Discussion: Race and Gender
Patricia Hill Collins “Learning from the Outsider Within” (OLR)
Bell Hooks “Racism and Feminism” (OLR)
April 17 Discussion: Race and Gender on Campus Project Due: Race issues on campus
April 19 View the film: My Feminism
April 21 View the film: My Feminism and Work on Group Project
April 24 Discussion: Nationalism and Masculinity
Nagel, Joane “Masculinity and Nationalism: Gender and Sexuality in the Making
Of Nations”
April 26 Discussion: Global Gender Issues View the Film: Rape as a war crime
April 28 Jadi’s Birthday J and Global Gender Issues and Solutions
Beneke “Men on Rape” (OLR)
Montagna “Men Only Spaces” (OLR)
Read- “A Degendered Society” By Michael Kimmel (OLR)
May 1 Feminism and Solutions continued
May 3 Zine Project Presentations (Attendance Required)
May 5 Zine Project Presentations (Attendance Required)
May 6 Final ?