Introduction to Women S Studies Crn33599
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN’S STUDIES – CRN33599
Spring 2016
Instructor: Donna Hunter, M.A., CMHCE-mail:
Phone: 801 626-6406
Office: SSC Room 280, Ogden Campus
Class website:canvas.weber.edu
Dept. website: http://www.weber.edu/womengenderstudies/
Office or Chat Hours:By Appointment / Required Texts:
1. Freedman, Estelle B. (2002).No Turning Back: The History of Feminism and the Future of Women.New York: Ballantine Books.(http://www.randomhousebooks.com/?s=estelle+freedman#nogo)
2. Johnson, Allan. (2014).The Gender Knot. 3rd ed.Philadelphia: Temple University Press.(http://www.temple.edu/tempress/)
3. Solinger, Rickie. (2013)Reproductive Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know. New York: Oxford University Press. (https://global.oup.com/academic/?cc=us&lang=en)
Required Films*: For those students outside the local area, please work with
your local library to secure items through the Interlibrary Loan programs (ILL). It cantake 2 weeks to get material in so please check the syllabus to request the films from your library in a timely fashion.
The Invisible War* (available for renton Amazon Instant Video for 3.99 or Netflix)
Killing Us Softly 4 - Jean Kilbourne (WSU Library)
Tough Guise (1999) - Jackson Katz (WSU Library)
Who's Counting?-https://www.nfb.ca/film/whos_counting
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course is an introduction to the discipline of women's studies using historical, modern and multicultural sources based on current feminist scholarship. We will examine the diversity of women's experiences through history and how they are shaped by social structures such as gender systems, politics and economics. We will also analyze how experiences are mediated by categories of race, class, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Finally, we will examine what activism looks like historically and what it looks likes now.
COURSE ORGANIZATION, READINGS and FILMS
This course is entirely online and managed through the Canvas Learning Management System. It is divided into modules and each module begins with a short recorded lecture. The modules also house additional readings which supplement the assigned texts. You’ll find the textbook readings for each module listed on the syllabus and any additional readings for that module are housed within the module. Recordings often refer to supplemental materials (short film clips, Youtube clips, etc.) housed in the module which provide additional examples and understanding of concepts discussed. You can use these to further your learning.
Health Note:The film The Invisible War deals with themes of sexual assault in the military and has the potential to be triggering. I would advise assessing your wellbeing as you approach this assignment. You can navigate it byarrangingadequate emotional and relational support. Everyone is welcometo access the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at (801) 626-6406 orhttp://www.weber.edu/CounselingCenter/. There is a substitute film available upon request. The film Tough Guise was updated in 2013 and is much more graphic in terms of cultural violent imagesthan the 1999version. You are free to use either version but the 1999 version wasthe model for the assignment. Again, use wisdom and discretion.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Students will analyze current social and/or political situations through the lens of women and gender studies.
2. Students will identify, compare, and evaluate culturally and/or historically specific constructs of gender.
3. Students will analyze systems of power, privilege, and/or oppression and be able to articulate how those systems shape the experiences of individuals and members of communities.
4. Students will be able to recall, describe, and summarize various gender/feminist theories and/or scholarship
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
· Canvas technical support: (801) 626-6499 (Email: )
· IT Help Desk: (801) 626-7777 (Email: )
· Library circulation: (801) 626-6545
· Library reference: (801) 626-6415
· Chitester support: (801) 626-6477
· Chitester proctoring: (801) 626-8623
· Plagiarism tutorial athttp://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/plag/plagiarismtutorial.php.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT
All students are expected to behave in accordance with the rights and responsibilities outlined in the WSU Student Code (http://documents.weber.edu/ppm/6-22.htm). In regards toacademic honesty, you are expected to complete all academic work without resorting to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsification, lying, and/or bribery. All work and assignments are to be your own work, unless otherwise instructed by the professor. Students who commit infractions of the WSU Student Code will be dealt with according to procedures outlined in the WSU student code. Penalties could include receiving a failing grade for this course,
WSU subscribes to TurnItIn.com, an electronic service that verifies the originality of student work. Enrollment in this course may require you to submit some or all of your assignments toTurnItIn.com and documents submitted to itare retained, anonymously, in their databases. Continued enrollment in this course constitutes an understanding of and agreement with this policy.
CIVILITY STATEMENT
Each class participant is expected to treat the ideas, opinions and work of others with the utmost respect. Derogatory remarks of any kind are not acceptable. In person etiquette and online etiquette are expected to be used at all times – including the use of real names, respecting one another's confidentiality, and the absence of any libelous, or abusive remarks. All communication with class members and with me must be respectful and professional. Students are expected to maintain confidentiality regarding other students’ personal information/experiences that may be shared as part of class activities. Please use good judgment regarding what you choose to disclose on online forums with other classmates. You are not required to disclose things about yourself in assignments that you are not comfortable disclosing. (Sometimes it helps to jot down the essence of your ideas before you begin to speak.Online, using ‘door openers’ are always helpful – “Could you say more about that?” In this way you can help co-create an online neighborhood of which you are proud to be a part. You can disagree with someone's position without eroding their worth. )As for me, attimes some materialmay trigger upsetting emotions. If you contact me, I am available to help you process these moments and/or provide alternative assignments as each case warrants.
ADA STATEMENT / STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in Room 181 of the Student Service Center (Ogden Campus), preferably at the beginning of the semester. Services for Students with Disabilities can arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in an alternative format, if necessary. Documented requests for ADA accommodations will be honored as appropriate.
· Contact Info:Office of Students with Disabilities: (801) 626-6413, TDD (801) 626-7283, Email: .
QUIZ AND EXAM POLICY
Quiz and Final exam– these need to be completed at/within the designated times. Makeups are only permitted on a case by case basis with notification of extenuating circumstances (death, documented illness)beforethe cutoff date/time,andthe consent of instructor to an alternative plan.
LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY -(assignments which are not quizzes or exams)
It is important that assignmentsbe turned in on time as I need to gradethem and/or they are peer-reviewed. Assignmentswill only be accepted up to a week late. If you submit an assignment late or not peer-reviewed, the starting grade from which I start grading your assignmentis an 90% as opposed to 100%. Alternatives to this are on a case by case basis and are triggered with notification of extenuating circumstances (Examples: death in the family, documented illness)beforethe cutoff date/timeandwith consent of instructor to an alternative plan.
GRADING DETERMINATION AND PROCEDURE
I do not give grades; I merely record them as you earn them. As you are the project manager of your education, please use the assignments to execute your personal goalsof maintaining scholarships, being an academic ninja, making your mother happy, etc. (i.e. within the semester, plan your work and work your plan). Please do this within the semester timetable as sometimes students want extra assignment to buffer a low final grade, but all grades are based on the following categories:
Assignments / TOTAL / WeightsModule Discussion Assignments / 5 / 30%
Module Summaries / 6 / 40%
Autobiography / 1 / 10%
Final / 1 / 20%
Total / 100%
Grades break following traditional scoring patterns:
A / 93-100% / B- / 80-82% / D+ 66-69%A- / 90-92% / C+ / 76-79% / D 65-63%
B+ / 86-89% / C / 73-75% / F Below 63%
B / 83-85% / C- / 70-72%
Date
Open / Module / Subject / Readings/Resources / Assignments
Jan. 11 / Intro to Class / History of Women's Studies / Go to Module-Intro to the Course for audio:
WS Introduction and Orientation to the Course / Personal
Introduction
Jan. 11 / Module 1 / Identities and Social Location / The Social Construction of Gender – Judith Lorber
Domination/Subordination – Jean Baker Miller
Why History Matters - Lerner
Telling the Truth about Power -(only read through p. 4;stop @'Some Practical Steps in Therapy') / Summary
Jan. 11 / Module 2 / Gender and Power Systems before feminism / Johnson – Chapters:
1. Where Are We?
2. Patriarchy, The System?
3. Why Patriarchy
Freedman – Chapters:
1. The Historical Case for Feminism
2. Gender and Power / Discussion
Summary
Autobiography
Feb. 1 / Module 3 / Feminist politics from different perspectives:(types of feminisms)
European politics, American race relations, sexual orientation relations and international relations / Johnson – Chapters:
1. Feminists and Feminism
2. What Patriarchy
Freedman – Chapters:
1. Women's Rights, Women's Work and Women's Sphere
2. Race and the Politics of Identity...
3. The Global Stage and the Politics of Location.. / Discussion
Summary
Essays and Documents:
Oppression - Marilyn Frye
Homophobia – A Weapon of Sexism -only read pp. 1-43, not the entire thing!
The Invisible Crutch
Universal Declaration of Human Rights/CEDAW
White Privilege and Male Privilege - McIntosh
Films:
1. The Invisible War -adult themes of sexual assault in the military. A substitute is available upon request
Feb. 22 / Module 4 / Work and Family Politics, Wages and Social Policy
Women and Domestic Labor / Freedman – Chapters:
1. Never Done, Women's Domestic Labor.
2. Industrialization: Wage Labor...
3. Workers and Mothers....
Films:
1. Counting for Nothing
Essays:
1. The Mommy Tax / Discussion
Summary
Mar. 14 / Module 5 / Body Politics, Sexuality and Reproductive Politics,
Violence against Women / Freedman – Chapters:
1. Medicine, Markets....
2. Reproduction: The Politics of Choice
3. Sexualities, Identities....
4. Gender and Violence
Johnson- Chapters:
1. What Changes and What Does Not: Manhood and Violence
Solinger - Chapters:
pp. xv-60 (Preface - chap. 9)
Films:
Killing Us Softly 4
Tough Guise / Discussion
Summary
Mar. 28 / Module 6 / Activism: Spirituality, Creativity, and Politics / Freedman – Chapters:
1. New Words & Images...
2. No Turning Back...
Johnson - Chapters:
1. Shame, Guilt & Responsibility
2. What Can We Do?
Films:
Mind the Gap: / Discussion
Summary
Apr. 3 / Final Exam/Paper