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Chabot College January, 1993
Removed Fall 2010
Course Outline for Sociology 11
FEMININITY AND MASCULINITY
Catalog Description:
11 - Femininity and Masculinity 3 units
Biological, psychological, sociological, and anthropological overview of the assignment of behaviors to males and females. Identification of physiological and cultural influences on gender identity with emphasis on the historical sex role definition and socialization process in American culture, constraints of those definitions, and issues related to possible future changes. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Expected Outcome for Student:
Upon completion of this course, the student should:
1. be aware of the social pressures to conform to behavior defined as appropriate to males
2.
3.
4. and females in their own culture; understand the consequences of cultural role definitions; be able to discuss options for alternative types of role interactions; understand options for alternative types of role interaction.
Course Content:
Biological bisexual differentiation
1. Genetic basis of maleness and femaleness
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6.
Development (Hormonal and anatomical) a. b.
Prenatal demorphic development b. Infancy and childhood c. Puberty and adulthood
Cross-cultural variations in sex roles
Patriarchy, Matriarchy, and Equality a. Power
Division of labor
2. Temperament
Historical changes in concepts of "masculine" and "feminine" in the U.S.
New England colonies
Pre-Civil War South
Western frontier
Women's Suffrage Movement
World War I and the "Flapper Era"
World War II and the postwar suburban migration and "Baby Boom"
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4.
7. The Feminine Mystique and "Women's Liberation"
Socialization patterns as found in contemporary U.S. culture--the process of learning gender identity
1.
2.
Language
Primary sex role socialization in the family a. Role modeling and identification b. c.
Reinforcement
Internalized self concepts
Religious teachings on sex roles
Learning to be "boys" and "girls" in school a. Influence of teachers and counselors

Chabot College
Course Outline for Sociology 11, Page 2
January 1993
5.
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7. b. Role models in books
Mass media and other wider cultural influences
Sub-cultural variations
Current sex role definitions and behavior
1. The family, courtship, marriage, and parenting
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Sex roles of the future
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The economy - work roles
Other institutions
Models of equality and their implications
Possible problems encountered as sex role definitions change
Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture - discussion
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Student reports
Guest speakers
Filed trips
Audio-visual aids
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
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Exams and quizzes
Research projects/papers
Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Women, Men and Society, Renzetti and Curran, Allyn & Bacon Publishing Co.
None Special Student Materials: tf A:\WPFILES\SOC.11
REVISED: 1-93