Anthropology 2600 B
Anthropology of Gender
Fall Semester 2002
Instructor: Hülya Demirdirek
Class Times: TuTh 3:05-4:20
Office: TH 216
Room: TH 103
Phone: 329 - 25 99
Mailing list: anth2600b@uleth.ca
E-mail: hulya.demirdirek@uleth.ca
Web page: http://classes.uleth.ca
Office hours: TuTh 4:30-6:00 or by appointment
Course description: Defining gender in broader terms as culturally informed ideas and
patterns of behaviour associated with maleness and femaleness, the aim of this course is to
explore how and why an analysis of gender is needed to comprehend social, economic, political
and cultural processes as a whole. We will start the course by touching upon basic topics in the
textbook in order to familiarize you with the language, terminology and issues of the anthropology of
gender. Then we will explore different ways in which gender inequalities are explained by various
anthropologists. The arenas and the ways in which gender constructions are produced and
reproduced in social life, a task that will be the main focus of the course. We will look at different
parts of the world in order to understand the cultural context of gender constructions as well as the
wider processes which shape them. Ideologies of masculinity and femininity which are important
components of social movements, state formations, class struggles, ethnic and national border
markings, consumption patterns etc. will be examined by focusing on social life as a gendered
space. Homes, schools, public places and state organizations will all need attention in order to
explore the different ways in which gender is constructed.
The course is a combination of lectures, films, in-class group work, in-class tests and written
assignments.
Learning objectives: In this course you are expected to develop critical thinking as well as
discussion and writing skills with a focus on gender. With the experience gained from this course
you should be able to take more advanced courses on other topics, compile bibliographical
research as well as develop an understanding and awareness of current debates and concerns in
that area.
Required texts: A World Full of Women, (Martha C. Ward, 2003 (1999) Allyn & Bacon), can be
purchased at the bookstore.
A Custom Course Package can be purchased at the bookstore.
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Course requirements and expectations: It is your responsibility to attend the classes. I
am going to record attendance although this will not influence your marks. If you read the assigned
articles before coming to class you will be able to follow the course more actively. It is important to
participate in the discussions so that you get to see yourself in action in the class. This means that
you can enjoy stretching yourself and applying your knowledge during the semester without letting
exam pressures take away the pleasure of learning. You are also encouraged to participate in the
discussions in the course mailing list (this is a closed list accessible only to students who are
enrolled in this course) in addition to WebCT activities. I may start a discussion and expect you to
continue with it and generate new ones. I will also send sample questions to help you to practice
before the exams.
About electronic communication, access to information through the web
WebCT: We will be using some of the WebCT tools in this class in order to obtain access to
the course outline, copies of the overheads which I use during the classes, for the first test only, a
guide for writing your essay etc. If you are not familiar with the system the proctors in the computer
labs can help you with it. Furthermore, there will be a sample test available before the first exam so
that you can try out the system. As a back up for those of you who may not have access to WebCT
I will also put these materials on the course web page to start with at least. Please keep me
informed about your access to WebCT.
e-mail: I will be sending e-mails to the class e-mail list during the semester. I will put
assignments on the WebCT and class web page. In the case of assignments I will assume that
everybody has read my mails or WebCT messages at the latest FIVE days after they are sent. In
the case of discussions, questions to help you with your readings for the next class etc., I may send
mails as late as two days before the classes. Please be sure that you send me a mail if you will not
have access to your e-mail for more than five days.
I try to answer e-mails as soon as I read them, but with the exception of emergencies you
should allow 24 hours before you get an answer from me.
Evaluation will be based on two written in-class tests, one essay, one library assignment and five
small assignments (such as answering one short question, making an outline of an article from our
readings or formulating a couple of questions relating to our readings.). There is no final test in this
course. Your last exam will be on the last day of the classes.
1. In-class tests 1 and 2 will cover the material from the lectures, films and your readings. The
first test will have two sections. The first section will ask you to write definitions and
explanations. The second part will be comprised of short essay questions. At least in one
section of the tests there will be more questions than you need to answer, so you will have the
chance to choose from among several questions.
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2. Library research: This assignment will be centred on a gender related topic that you would like
to investigate and on which you wish to write your term paper. Your topic SHOULD be
APPROVED by the instructor at the latest by October 8. You are required to use your readings
and our discussions in class as a starting-point for finding further relevant work in the literature.
You will define a problem or topic and will conduct library (not internet) research before writing
an essay on the topic. You can use the internet to identify literature and review online versions
of hard-copy articles but you are not asked to find internet-only sources You are required to find
at least NINE references all together: SIX periodical articles and at least THREE books or
chapters of three separate books or three articles in edited books. You will browse through the
texts in order to determine whether they look relevant to your topic. You are then required to
write a page or two (minimum 300 words, maximum 700 words) about your library research
experience. You will explain your topic in one or two paragraphs. Then you will describe how
you narrowed your topic down, which source led you to another source etc. On the second
page you are required to compile a perfect bibliography (formatted as you would at the end of
an essay). The further details of this assignment can be found in the instructions section of the
WebCT.
3. The essay is due November 19. The essay will build on your library research which has been
approved by the instructor. If you feel a very strong urge to change your topic you should get
my approval for a new topic. The minimum length of the essay is 2500 words (minus 10 % is
still acceptable) and the maximum length is 4000 words (plus 10 % is acceptable). The more
detailed guide for the essay is available on the course WebCT page.
Extensions for late submissions can only be given under extraordinary circumstances. Please
either contact the instructor in advance or provide documentation (medical or other). Essays
which are turned in late without prior approval will have five points deducted per day (here, a
day means 24 hours; if the submission deadline is November 19, 3:05, an essay which is
submitted after 3:05 on November 19 but before 3:05 November 20 will have five points
deducted). Essays which are submitted late are to be handed to the Anthropology Department
Secretary (TH 210) and NOT to be thrown under my office door. If you slide your paper under
the anthropology office door after work hours, it is your responsibility to get confirmation from
the secretary the next day that you submitted your paper. I will not answer e-mails asking me if
I received your paper. Please see page 69 in the U of L calendar 2002-2003 for the rules about
missed exams.
Test 1: 20 % WebCT: Starts October 3, 18:00 ends October 7, 22:00)
Library assignment : 15 % October 22- (Submission at the beginning of the class)
Small assignments: 15 % Will be announced a week in advance each time.
Essay 30 % - November 19 (Submission at the beginning of the class)
Test 2: 20 % - December 5 – Room TH103
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Grading:
A+ = 100 - 95 %
A = 94 - 90 %
A- = 89 - 85 %
B+ = 84 - 80 %
B = 79 - 75 %
B- = 74 - 70 %
C+ = 69 - 65 %
C = 64 - 60 %
C- = 59 - 55 %
D+ = 54 - 53 %
D = 52 – 50 %
F: Below 50
*Tentative Schedule of Lectures, Films and Readings
(* Depending on the progress we make during the classes, we may spend more time on certain
topics than on others. This may alter the course schedule to some extent.)
Week 1: September 5
Overview of the course and introduction
Week 2: September 10
Work and gender
Reading: Ward-ch.1
September 12
Gender and life cycles
Reading: Ward ch.3.
Week 3: September 17
Film: TBA
Gender and patterns of residence
Reading: Ward ch.5
September 19
Gender segregation
Reading: Ward ch.6
Week 4: September 24
Marxist perspectives on Women's work
Reading: Ward ch.10
September 26
Early perspectives on gender in anthropology
Reading: Sacks
Week 5: October 1
Early perspectives on gender in anthropology
Reading: Rosaldo
October 3
Domestic and public spheres
Reading: Lamphere
Exam: WebCT: Starts October 3, 18:00 ends October 7, 22:00)
Week 6: October 8 (Topic approval deadline)
Nature-culture debate
Reading: Ortner
October 10
Overview of the gender perspectives
Reading: Pine
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Week 7: October 15
Constructing masculinities
Reading: Brandes
October 17
Constructing masculinities
Reading: Harris
Week 8: October 22 (Submission of library assignment at the beginning of the class)
Constructing femininities
Reading: Ward ch.9
October 24
Constructing femininities
Reading: Bordo
Week 9: October 29
Constructing femininities
Reading: Bordo
October 31
Constructing femininities
Film: TBA
Week 10: November 5
The third gender?
Reading: Ward ch.7
November 7
The third gender?
Reading: Wikan
Week 11: November 12
Gender, colonialism and beyond
Reading: Mohanty
November 14
Gender, race and difference
Reading: Yuval Davis & Anthias
Week 12: November 19 (Submission of Essay)
Gender and national ideologies
Reading: Yuval Davis & Anthias
November 21
Gender and national ideologies
Film:TBA
Week 13: November 26
Gender and national ideologies
Reading: Thaiss
November 28
Gender and national ideologies
Reading: de Lepervanche
Week 14: December 3
Anthropology, gender and multiple ideologies
Reading: Moore
December 5
In-class test
Have a nice holiday
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