COMM 380: Gender and Communication TR 12:30-1:45 Avery Hall (AVH) 109

Instructor: Professor Casey R. Kelly Email: [email protected] Pronouns: (he/his/him) Office: Pound Hall 361 Student Meeting Hours: TR 2:00-3:00 or by appointment

Course Description This course examines how gendered bodies communicate, how gender is constructed through communication in cultural contexts, and how communication factors into the construction of sex/gender identities. Instead of focusing on how gender influences communication, this course will ask how communication creates gender and investigate how communication constrains, perpetuates, stimulates, ignores, and changes how gender is performed and enacted. The course will cover key concept in gender and communication studies, including topics such as sexuality, relationships, sex roles, gender performativity, slut-shaming, queer theory, heteronormativity, transgender and non-conforming bodies, masculinity, intersectionality, domestic violence, sexual assault and consent, and the media myths and stereotypes that sustain our sex/gender system.

Course Objectives • To understand the role of communication in the construction and enactment of sex and gender identity • To comprehend the interlocking systems of power and intersections of identity (race, class, gender, ability, nationality, sexual orientation) that constrain and enable gender communication • To learn to analyze sex/gender communication from a critical and interpretive perspective Mission of the Department of Communication Studies The mission of the faculty and students of the Department of Communication Studies is to examine human symbolic activity as it shapes and is shaped by relationships, institutions, technology, and culture. This work concerns the creation, analysis, and critique of messages ranging from face-to-face to digital media contexts. The department’s research and teaching devote particular attention to scholarly initiatives aimed at understanding and explaining the role of communication in (a) facilitating civic engagement, mediating public controversies, and organizing for social change, (b) constituting individual and family health, promoting healthy behaviors, and helping persons navigate relational challenges, and (c) creating, maintaining, and challenging personal, social, and community identity in a complex and diverse world.

Required Text Catherine Helen Palczewski, Gender in Communication 3rd edition. Thousand Oakes: Sage, 2018.

*Many readings appear in articles and book chapters that are available on Canvas under “files”

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact me (the instructor or teaching assistant) for a confidential discussion of their individual needs for academic accommodation. This includes students with mental health disabilities like depression and anxiety. It is the policy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to provide individualized accommodations to students with documented disabilities that may affect their ability to fully participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. To receive accommodation services, students must be registered with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office, 232 Canfield Administration, 472-3787.

Academic Dishonesty & Grade Disputes An essay or any work plagiarized in part or in full will receive an F. Plagiarized work also places a student in jeopardy of failing the course. Incidents of Academic Dishonesty can result in a student’s suspension from the University. If an instructor discovers a case of academic dishonesty, they must file a “Misconduct Referral Form” with the Office of the Dean of Students. Please consult the department policy on grade appeals and academic misconduct that includes clear steps to follow and you may refer students to it on our website http://comm.unl.edu/GradePolicy.pdf

Incompletes Incompletes are reserved for rare and extraordinary circumstance that prevent a student from completing coursework within the 16-week semester. If granted, students will be required to sign a contract with the professor that details a plan and timeline for completion. This document will be filed with the Communication Studies main office.

Attendance Attendance is required. Absences in excess to 6 will result in failure of the course. Unexcused absences in excess of 2 will result in a 10-point grade deduction from the overall course grade. Excused absences are defined on the university website and require written documentation.

Email Please allow for 24 hours for response to all queries. Emails will be answered during university business hours 9-5 M-F. Please DO NOT use the email function on Canvas. Dr. Kelly rarely if ever checks that account. Please email at [email protected].

Assignments Grades are based on the following scale: A+ = 100%-97% A – 96-94% A- = 93%-90% B+ = 89%-87% B = 86%-84% B- = 83%-80% C+ = 79%-77 C = 76%-74% C- = 73%-70% D+ = 69%-67% D = 66%-60% F = 59%-Below

You are responsible for all assignments and dates below. All due dates are firm unless otherwise specified. Unless an absence is the result of a medical emergency or university-sanctioned activity, no late assignments will be accepted. Your grade will be based on a 500-point scale.

I. Class Discussion Leader (100 points): Twice throughout the semester students (in pairs) will be responsible for beginning the class conversation with an illustrative example that explains the central thesis of the reading. II. Weekly Quizzes (100 points): Once each week class will begin with a short quiz based on the assigned reading. 11 total quizzes, lowest grade will be dropped. III. Two Exams (200 points): Each exam will cover the material from units (1-2) and units (3-4) respectively. IV. Gender Research Project (100 points): In groups, students will present to the class a research project on a vital issue in gender communication that reflects how academic insights from research can inform our practices outside the classroom. This project will ask each group to translate academic research on a specific topic to a public and/or policy making audience. Groups are encouraged to be creative with their presentations. Students will present their project during the last week of class.

*Assignment instructions posted on Canvas ** I do not accept make ups for in-class assignments. I deduct one letter grade for each day a major assignment is late. *** Make up exams are only offered for university or medically excused absences. Family vacations or other unexcused DO NOT count and will not be accommodated. Please check the schedule and plan accordingly.

Semester Schedule (* = PDF on Canvas)

Date Topic Reading DUE Assignment DUE Unit 1: Introduction to Gender and Communication T 1/8 Introduction to course Syllabus (Canvas) R 1/10 Introduction to Sex/Gender Palczewski et al., Chapter 1 Introduction Exercise System T 1/15 Theories of Gender Palczewski et al. Chapter 2 Unit 2: Sexuality R 1/17 Gendered/Sexed Bodies Palczewski et al. Chapter 4 T 1/22 Policing Women’s Sexuality * Durham, “Taming of the Shrew” R 1/24 Naturalizing Sex Roles * Martin, “The Egg and the Sperm” T 1/29 Slut-Shaming * Valenti, selection from He’s a Stud, She’s a Slut R 1/31 Slutwalks * Dow and Wood, “Repeating History” T 2/5 Compulsory Heterosexuality * Rich, “Compulsory Heterosexuality” R 2/7 Heteronormativity * Berlant and Warner, “Sex in Public” T 2/12 Policing Queer Intimacy * Morris & Sloop, “What Lips these Lips Have Kissed” R 2/14 Introduction to Transgender * Stryker, “Desubjugated Identity Knowledges” T 2/19 Medicalization of Intersex and * Barnes, “Medicalization of Transgender Bodies Transgenderism” Unit 3: Relationships, Attraction, and Consent R 2/21 Sex/Gender in Interpersonal Palczewski et al. Chapter 3 Relationships T 2/26 Sexual Double Standards * Lunceford, “Walk of Shame” R 2/28 Negotiating Consent * Jozkowski et al. “Sexual Consent” T 3/5 No Class – Study for Exam R 3/7 Midterm Exam (Units 1-2) T 3/12 Consent and Anti-Rape * Harris, “Yes Means Yes” Campaigns R 3/14 Sexual Relationships in a * Hasinoff, selection from Sexting Digital Age Panic T 3/19 No Class – Spring Break R 3/21 No Class – Spring Break Unit 4: Sex/Gender in Contexts T 3/26 Sex/Gender and the Family Palczewski et al., Chapter 7 R 3/28 Sex/Gender and the Family II: Coontz, selection from The Way We Nostalgia Never Were T 4/2 Sex/Gender and the Family III: Douglas, selection from The New Momism Mommy Myth R 4/4 Sex/Gender in the Workplace Palczewski et al. Chapter 9 T 4/9 Gender in the Media I: Palczewski et al. Chapter 11 Introduction R 4/11 Gender in the Media II: Rape * O’Hara “Monsters, Playboys, Myths Virgins, and Whores” T 4/16 Gender in the Media III: * Kilbourne, Selections from Can’t Women in Advertising Buy Me Love R 4/18 Gender in the Media IV: TBA Masculinity in Crisis T 4/23 Gender Project Presentations Gender Project DUE R 4/25 Gender Project Presentations 5/3 Final Exam 10am-12pm AVH 109