Political Science 319
Women, Law, and Public Policy
Dr. Susan Mezey, Ph.D., J.D.
Loyola University Chicago
The purpose of this class is to examine the formulation and implementation of public
policy relating to gender equality in the United States. It focuses on issues of constitutional
equality, educational equity, employment equality, sexual harassment, and privacy.
Texts
Baker, The Women=s Movement Against Sexual Harassment (2008).
Featherstone, Selling Women Short (2004).
Mezey, Elusive Equality: Women<s Rights, Public Policy, and the Law, 2d Ed. (2011).
A copy of the syllabus is available on Blackboard; please refer to the Blackboard site for
additional course materials, including study guides, cases, and other reading assignments during
the semester.
Exams
There will be a midterm and final exam based on the reading material and class
discussion. With adequate notice, I reserve the right to change the date of the midterm exam.
Class Participation
Students are expected to be current with the reading assignments and contribute to the
class discussions. Absences will be calculated as part of the class participation grade.
Research Paper
The paper assignment consists of a 15-page research paper on a topic related to the
subject matter of the course (see suggested topics below); your topic must be approved by me in
advance. Your paper may not be based on material read or discussed in class. In writing your
paper, you must use scholarly literature, such as articles in social science or legal journals (law
reviews) and primary source material such as court opinions and government documents; you
may use newspapers when appropriate. You may not use edited cases reprinted in casebooks or
textbooks; internet sources are rarely acceptable references. All papers must use an approved
citation style. Please consult with me if you have any questions about proper source material
and citations.
Students will present their research papers during the last two class meetings.
If you wish, you may submit a draft of your final paper, with proper footnotes/endnotes
and references).
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a requirement of this class. Plagiarism or other acts of academic
dishonesty will lead to an "F" on the assignment or test; it may also result in an "F" for the
course. You are expected to know and follow the College of Arts and Sciences policy on
academic integrity found at:
http://www.luc.edu/cas/pdfs/CAS_Academic_Integrity_Statement_December_07.pdf
Suggested Paper Topics
This is a list of suggested paper topics; you may select one of them or propose one of
your own that is related to the course material; in either case, you must discuss the topic with me.
The anti-abortion movement
Constitutional limits on anti-abortion protests
Title IX and college athletics
Women in the military
Woman's suffrage and the Nineteenth Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment
Parental leave policies in the U.S. and/or other countries
Abstinence-only programs
Feminism and women of color
Pre-Roe abortion policy
Women judges and/or lawyers
Women in business and the "Glass Ceiling"
Criminal liability for drug-addicted pregnant women
Domestic violence policy
Domestic violence and the "Battered Woman Syndrome"
Same-sex marriage in the U.S. and/or other countries
Gays in the military: Don=t Ask, Don=t Tell
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DATE
ASSIGNMENT
August 31
Introduction to gender politics and the legal system
September 7-14
The courts and constitutional equality
Mezey, chapter 1:
September 21
Educational equity
Mezey, chapter 2
September 28October 5
Women and the Workplace
Mezey, chapters 3, 5
October 12
No Class - Fall Break
October 19
Working at Walmart
Featherstone, entire
October 26
Midterm Exam
November 2-9
Reproductive Policy
Mezey, chapters 6,7
Guest Speaker
November 16-23
Sexual Harassment in School and at Work:
Baker, entire
Mezey, pp. 60-68; chapter 5
November 30December 7
Research Paper Presentations
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