Sociology 555: REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
Fall 2014
Professor Jill Esbenshade
Department of Sociology
Nasitir Hall 221
jesbensh@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours:
Mondays: 10:30-12:00
Wednesday 11:30-1:00
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND ASSIGNMENTS
This course will provide students an opportunity to understand – through novels, films, first-hand
accounts, sociological and historical analysis and hands on experience – the lived experience of
refugees and immigrants in the United States. While sociology courses provide a structural context
for these experiences, they often lack the opportunity to connect on a human level with the abrupt
and sometimes painful disjunctures immigration creates in people’s lives, families and careers, as
well as the hope and determination that is visible in newcomers’ struggle. This course will focus on
the fluidity of identity (ethnicity, race, class, gender), the conflict between first and second
generations, and the adjustments that newcomers make in terms of culture, language, work and
education.
The course will have two main components: 1) a volunteer experience with local refugee and
immigrant teenagers and 2) in-class work including reading, discussion and dialogue. The
comprehension gained from these two facets will be merged in a final paper (7-10 pages). No
extra research will be required, but you will be asked to integrate your experience with material
from throughout the course, drawing on films, novels and articles that touch on the area your final
paper focuses on (race, class or gender). While I have broken the course up into segments, the
reality is that race, class and gender intersect in a variety of ways. Consequently, much of the
material addresses more than one of these areas. In the final paper you will be expected to draw on
the entire course. Graduate students will be required to write a paper that shows the
intersectionality of race, class and gender for immigrants.
The class will begin with an overview of refugee and immigrant issues and a presentation by the
International Rescue Committee, introducing students to their work and to the situation of refugees
around the world and in San Diego.
Classroom work will then be divided into four cycles. Each cycle will consist of:
1) Discussion of 3-4 academic articles on the particular aspect of the immigrant experience.
Articles will be posted on Blackboard under Course Documents.
2) A film that highlights these issues and a discussion applying the articles to the film
3) Discussion of the novel/journalistic account of that section, again in the context of the
articles and film. The schedule is constructed so that you have time to read the novel/book
over the entire period assigned (not just the final week).
4) There will be four 3-4 page response papers, one due at the end of each cycle. In the
paper you will integrate themes, ideas, and your analysis from the academic articles, the
movie and the book on the particular focus of the section. Do not just summarize each
source, but integrate them. Papers must draw from all the material of the section. Papers
will also include a brief section relating observations from your internship experience to the
issue at hand. More instructions and a rubric will be provided.
This class will be run in seminar style, so class participation is crucial. Students are required to
post two questions to blackboard by 9 am before each class meeting. These questions must be
explorations of the reading or movie for that day. I will select and organize questions to help guide
our discussions. Participation grades will be based on: participation in class discussion, attendance
(first unexcused absence will not affect grade), and question postings.
You will do 20-30 hours of internship with the IRC at Crawford High School. You will also be
keeping a journal. Further instructions will be given on the journal. You will submit your journal
with the final paper, and will be asked to submit it during the semester as well.
GRADING SUMMARY:
Participation:
Short papers:
Final paper:
Internship participation & journal:
Total:
10%
40%
25%
25%
100%
Required Readings and Expenses:
1) Warren St. John, Outcasts United
2) Jean Kwok, Girl in Translation
3) Héctor Tobar, Barbarian Nurseries
4) Articles available under Course Documents on Blackboard
5) Films: some films are available on Netflix watch instantly and all can be streamed for
approximately $3.99 from Amazon or iTunes
6) There may be a $20 background check fee for the internship (tentative grant to reimburse
this)
OTHER ISSUES:
Be Respectful: This course touches on controversial and sometimes personal issues. I want
everyone to feel comfortable expressing their opinions, but please do so in a way that is respectful
of other people and points of view. If anyone feels unable to speak out in class for any reason
please come and speak to me during office hours.
Disruptions: This class will start on time each day. I expect you to be in class, ready to engage when
class begins. If you need a drink or to take care of other business please do so before class. Arriving
late or leaving early are disruptive to the class and will affect your participation grade.
Laptops and cell phones: The university has determined that one of students’ rights is: “The right to
learn in an academic environment that is free of inappropriate interruption, due to the use of
electronic communication devices during class, or other activities that might be considered
distracting to others.” In this classroom that means NO laptop computers, cell phone use (including
texting) or other electronic use device during class. Laptops can also inhibit discussion. If you have
a special circumstance that requires use of a laptop please speak to me after class or in office hours
to make special arrangements. If laptop use is approved, use of the internet during class will result
in dismissal from class.
Special Needs: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this
class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any
delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as
possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon
disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from
Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Plagiarism: Using other people’s words or ideas as your own is considered plagiarism and will
result in failing that assignment and possibly the class. If you use phrases or sentences from
someone else’s work, be it an article or a website, you must cite it and use quotation marks and you
must cite the source of any arguments you use if they are not your own.
Blackboard: This class will be on blackboard – SDSU’s electronic course system. Reading will be
posted on blackboard, as well as announcements.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
August 25: Introduction
Section 1: Refugee and immigration policy overview
Reading: Outcasts United
August 27: Discussion of immigration process, why immigration?
Reading: Massey
Graduate Student Reading: Esbenshade (pp. 175-184)
September 1: Labor Day
Reading: Finish pp. 1-32 of Outcasts United
September 3: IRC (International Rescue Committee) internship presentation
Reading: Ewing
September 8: discussion of immigration and refugee laws (Lubheid and Ewing)
Reading: Lubheid (pp 289-298)
September 10: Graduate Student presentations on current issues
Reading: TBA
September 15: movie viewing The Visitor
September 17: discussion of The Visitor
Reading: guide on The Visitor
September 22: discussion of Outcasts United
*Paper 1 due
Section 2: Class and Labor
Reading: Girl in Translation, chapters 1-8:
September 24: What is class?
Reading: “The dimensions of class”
September 29: discussion of immigrant incorporation modes
Reading: Portes
October 1: discussion of labor, entrepenuership, and workers’ rights
Reading: Loucky
*Graduate Student Reading: Behind the Kitchen Door
October 6: discussion of class and globalization elements of Parreñas article
Reading: Parreñas
October 8: Check in with internships
Journal check – journals due
October 13: Viewing of movie Amreeka
October 15: movie discussion of Amreeka
October 20: discussion of Girl in Translation
*Paper 2 due
Section 3: Gender & Family
Reading: Girl in Translation, chapters 9-14:
October 22: What is gender?
Reading: Lorber
October 27: discussion of gender and reproductive labor
Reading: Parreñas on gender and family
*Graduate Student Reading: Menjivar
October 29: discussion of gender and immigration
Reading: Boehm
November 3: Viewing of movie Under the Same Moon
November 5: movie discussion of Under the Same Moon
November 7: Presentation by author of Behind the Kitchen Door
November 10: Girl in Translation discussion
*Paper 3 due
Section 4: Race and Assimilation
Book: Barbarian Nurseries
November 12: What is race?
Reading: Rodriguez
November 17: discussion of changing nature of race in US
Reading: Lee and Bean and Section 1 of Barbarian Nurseries
November 19: racial nativism and racism
Reading: Sanchez
*Graduate Student Reading: TBA
November 22: Viewing of movie My Name is Khan
December 1: discussion of movie My Name is Khan
December 3: Barbarian Nurseries discussion
*Paper 4 due
December 8: Discussion of action and legislation
December 10: Discussion of overarching questions and wrap-up
December 15: Due between 1-3 pm (during final exam scheduled time): NH 221.
1) Final paper with first version of that paper and comments
2) and journal with hours verification and supervisor evaluation