LATINAS IN LAS AMÉRICAS, WMST 512
Fall 2014
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Class Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Class Times: 2:00-3:15 pm
Class Location: M-261
Professor: Dr. Irene Lara
Contact Information: 619-594-7151 ; ilara@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours Days: Wednesday and Thursday
Office Hours Times & by apmt: W 3-4pm; Th 12:30-1:30 pm
Office Hours Location: AL-353
Course Overview
Course Catalog Description: How social and other factors impact the lives of Latin American women. Theoretical frameworks
illuminate their situation. Sociocultural perspectives are offered on Latin American women's life narratives.
Description of the Purpose and Course Content: This course examines the lives of “Latinas” in the Américas, primarily women of all
races and ethnicities with Latin American nationality and/or ancestry who live in Northern or Southern America. After exploring
“Latina” identity and “feminisms” in the first few weeks of the course, we ground ourselves in the historical context of European
colonialism (with a focus on Mexico and Puerto Rico). We then turn to the contemporary lives of a variety of women throughout las
Américas, with an emphasis on women of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. An interweaving theme throughout the course is health,
spirituality, and healing: What does wellbeing mean personally and socially for Latinas and from Latina perspectives? We will also
focus our studies on the following topics: history, memory, personal narratives and testimonio; female cultural figures and
representations; colonialism and decolonialism; religion and spirituality; and social movements. Moreover, throughout the course,
we will also explore the differences and similarities of Latinas across class, nation, citizenship, sexuality, race, and ethnicity with a
particular focus on indigenous women and U.S. Latinas.
Our class is conducted in a lecture-seminar style that focuses on discussion and participation. Your active involvement in class is
required. You can demonstrate your involvement by doing all of your readings before class, being prepared by coming to class with
reflections and questions, submitting your assignments on time, following class guidelines, engaging in class discussion, and by
visiting office hours.
Student Learning Outcomes:
*To better understand the diversity of “Latina” identities and lives across the Americas, including the U.S.
*To investigate the impact of colonialism, modernity, sexism, homophobia, and eurocentrism on knowledge about Latinas, on the
construction of Latina representations, and on Latina lives in general
*To learn indigenous histories and worldviews
*To identify mechanisms of dominance, oppression, resistance, transformation, and healing as they pertain to Latinas
*To apply Latina theories and scholarship to creating a self-reflective research paper or project
Enrollment Information
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Prerequisites: Three upper division units in women’s studies
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Adding is possible with the instructor’s consent within the first week of classes; dropping the course follows university
procedures and the official drop deadline.
Course Materials
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Required Materials (including all acceptable text editions):
1. Limón, Graciela. Song of the Hummingbird. Houston, TX: Arte Público Press, 1996.
2. Morales, Aurora Levins. Remedios: Stories of Earth and Iron From the History of Puertorriqueñas. Boston, MA: South End
Press, 1998.
3. Anzaldúa, Gloria. Borderlands/La Frontera: the New Mestiza. San Francisco, CA: Aunt Lute Press, 1987. (any edition is
fine; but prefer 4th edition, published 2014.
4. Facio, Elisa and Irene Lara, eds. Fleshing the Spirit: Spirituality and Activism in Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous
Women’s Lives. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2014.
5. De Leon, Jennifer, ed. Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education. University of Nebraska, 2014.
6. Maier, Elizabeth and Nathalie Lebon, eds. Women's Activism in Latin America and the Caribbean: Engendering Social
Justice, Democratizing Citizenship. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutger’s University Press, 2010.
7. Additional Readings available via blackboard
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Options for Accessing Course Materials: All texts available in Course Reserves at Love Library.
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Course Structure and Conduct
Please provide information about the structure of the course including, but not limited to:
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Style of the Course: lecture-discussion, seminar, at least one co-teaching by students is required, some small group work
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Individual and Group Activities Required:
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Individual Project, “Sentipensante Assignments”: Utilizing what Laura Rendón calls a “sentipensante [sensing/thinking]”
approach, that is, drawing from your emotional and spiritual intelligence in addition to your rational/ analytical
intelligence, you are required to do several three to four page writing assignments based on the readings throughout the
semester. Writing assignment prompts will be posted on Blackboard.
Individual Project, “Researcher/Teacher/Artist/Activist as Curandera Assignment”: Drawing on Aurora Levins Morales
(1998) who maps out the ways that the historian can be a “curandera,” a healer, and the National Latina Health
Organization who calls us to integrate our bodymindspirits into our life’s work (Ayala, Herrera, Jiménez, and Lara 2006), I
am asking you to take on a researcher-curandera positionality for your final paper-project relating to “Latinas in las
Américas.” In other words, one of the primary goals of your research paper or creative project is that it be healing for you
as well as healing for others. I will post extensive guidelines on Blackboard, but meanwhile start thinking about what you
would like to focus on. Review the syllabus–perhaps you see a topic in the syllabus that you’d like to learn more about?
Or have you noticed a gap in the syllabus that you’d like to address? As you begin to consider what topic you want to
focus on, I encourage you to deeply explore what you feel passionate about.
Group Project,“Co-Teaching Presentation: Women’s Activism in Latin America & the Caribbean: We will collectively
select the required readings from the text Women’s Activism in Latin America and the Caribbean and co-teach in groups
of 3 or so. *Guidelines on Blackboard
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Technology Utilized in the Course: Blackboard, Powerpoints
Course Assessment and Grading
Please explain how the course will be assessed and graded by including, but not limited to:
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Approximate Due Dates for any Major Assignments:
9/9
Identities assignment
9/18
Education assignment
9/23
Mapping assignment
10/7
Remedios assignment
10/14
Women’s Activism in Latin America and the Caribbean summaries/questions
10/28
Passionate Reflection Due
11/11
Borderlands assignment
11/25
Fleshing the Spirit summaries/questions
10/28 Researcher/Teacher/Artist/Activist as Curandera Proposal Due
12/9 & 12/16 Final Project/Paper and Oral Presentation/Outline
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Scored activities and weighting by percentage of total score:
Participation (200 points/20%)
Sentipensante Assignments (400 points total; 8 required, 50 points each/40%)
Researcher/Teacher/Artist/Activist as Curandera Assignment (300 points total/30%)
Researcher/Teacher/Artist/Activist as Curandera Proposal Due (50)
Final Project/Paper (200) and Oral Presentation/Outline (50)
Co-Teaching Presentation: Women’s Activism in Latin America & The Caribbean (100/10%)
Handouts (50)
Teaching Presentation (50)
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Grading Scale: Grades are calculated on a standard scale, with pluses and minuses as appropriate. Late submissions are only
allowed for exceptional circumstances and with previous approval from instructor.
A = outstanding, available for highest accomplishments
B = praiseworthy, above average
C = average, satisfactory performance
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D = minimally passing, below average
F = failing
If you are taking the course for credit/no credit, you must earn a “C” to receive credit. If you receive 73% or below you get
a “no credit.”
The assignment of letter grades for 1000 points is as follows:
B+ = 870-890
C+ = 770-790
D+ = 670-690
F = < 600
A = 940-1000
B = 840-860
C = 740-760
D = 640-660
No curves
A- = 900-930
B- = 800-830
C- = 700-730
D- = 600-630
*Please note, there may be more or less points possible by the end of the semester.
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Excused Absence Make-up Policies: You do not need to notify me about the circumstances surrounding your
absence in general, unless you have an emergency or special circumstances and would like to request the opportunity to
turn in an assignment. If so, proper documentation is required (e.g. signed and dated doctor’s note, towing company bill,
memorial flyer). By the end of the second week of classes, students should notify me regarding planned absences for
religious observances, athletic competitions, or academic conferences or meetings. If you know you will be absent,
submit your work in advance.
Other Course Policies
STATEMENT REGARDING MATURE CONTENT, INCLUDING ABOUT SEX, SEXUALITY, & VIOLENCE:
***Warning
Some of the assigned films and/or visual images studied in this course contain graphic violence and/or sexual content,
which may be perceived as offensive or disturbing to some viewers. Any students with concerns about this should meet
with the instructor at least one week prior to our scheduled viewing of a film or visual images to discuss those concerns.
SEEKING HEALING RESOURCES: Throughout the class we may have emotionally intense readings and discussions that address
experiences that impact one’s health and wellbeing, such as: violence towards women and girls, and racism, homophobia, and
other forms of oppression. If you would like to speak further about these issues, I am available during office hours and email and
can refer you to relevant organizations and trained counselors. I have also gathered some local resources for your information and
in the service of healing. I encourage you to consult trained counselors at:
•SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services: 619-594-5220
•Family Justice Center: 619-533-6000
•San Diego Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault 24-hour Hotline: 1-888-DVLINKS or 1-888-385-4657
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students who need accommodation of disabilities should contact me privately to discuss specific
accommodations for which you have received authorization. If you have a disability, but have not contacted Student
Disability Services at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center, Third Floor, Suite 3101), please do so before making an appointment to
see me.
EMERGENCIES: If you have an unexpected emergency and miss turning in a major assignment, you must notify me via email.
Documentation of emergency is required. However, there are no make-ups for quizzes.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES: Students whose religious obligations will require them to miss class any time this semester should
inform the instructor by the end of the second week of classes. Religious observances are the only excused absences
allowed.
APPEALING A GRADE: You can appeal a grade by using these guidelines:
1. Must be appealed within one week after assignments have been handed back.
2. Must include a typed explanation thoroughly outlining the reason(s) why you think your assignment was not graded
properly.
3. Must include the original copy of your graded paper.
If you do not feel that the professor’s decision is fair, you can make a meeting with the Women’s Studies Department
chair to discuss the issue further.
CHEATING & PLAGIARISM: Violations of academic integrity will be reported to the university
Disciplinary office. This includes: "recycling” or “borrowing” papers or parts of papers from other courses or students,
purchasing papers on-line or from other paper brokers, plagiarizing and other forms of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism will
not be tolerated. Do not copy someone else’s work or ideas without giving them credit, and do not summarize someone
else’s ideas without giving them credit. Be very careful when researching on the Internet. Always consider the source of the
material, and make sure to explicitly cite the website from which you gathered the information. Penalties for plagiarism
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range from an “F” grade to expulsion from the university. If you have questions about what might be considered plagiarism,
please ask. Also see Appendix 2 starting on the next page. See the SDSU General Catalogue for more information at this
website: http://coursecat.sdsu.edu/catalog/up.pdf or SDSU’s High Tech Center website: www.sa.sdsu.edu/htc/Plagiarism.pdf
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Come to class with your readings, books and/or notes, readings
completed, and be prepared to discuss them. Expect that we will cover a wide range of topics and will not always agree on
which interpretations are best. But be prepared to defend your point of view. At the same time, whenever you agree or
disagree with me or with other students, do so respectfully by drawing on course materials and informed reflections.
It is important that you have a desire to participate in this class. You have a choice in the courses you take. The nature of
this course demands an engaged and open-minded approach. Your participation is defined as being actively engaged in
lectures and class discussion through informed speaking, attentive listening, and taking notes.
Courtesy Reminders:
*ARRIVE ON TIME; repeatedly being late will result in point deductions.
*Turn off laptops, internet connections, cell phones, etc. during class.
*IT IS DISRESPECTFUL and UNACCEPTABLE to side-talk, read non-class materials, check your phone, text message, and sleep
during class. You will be asked to leave and will be docked attendance/participation points.
*Do not start getting ready to leave until the class has ended.
*Let me know if you MUST leave early or arrive late and, if so, sit close to the door.
*Offensive remarks and disrespectful tones and body language are not acceptable and will affect your participation
points.
LAPTOP USE: Because students sometimes abuse laptop privileges (by doing work unrelated to this class, browsing the Web,
checking facebook, etc.) and laptop use creates a cone of distraction extending around a student, using laptops is NOT
permitted in the class. 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.
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. You are plagiarizing or cheating if you:
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for written work, copy anything from a book, article or website and add or paste it into your paper without using
quotation marks and/or without providing the full reference for the quotation, including page number
for written work, summarize / paraphrase in your own words ideas you got from a book, article, or the web without
providing the full reference for the source (including page number in the humanities)
for an oral presentation, copy anything from a book, article, or website and present it orally as if it were your own words.
You must summarize and paraphrase in your own words, and bring a list of references in case the professor asks to see it
use visuals or graphs you got from a book, article, or website without providing the full reference for the picture or table
recycle a paper you wrote for another class
turn in the same (or a very similar paper) for two classes
purchase or otherwise obtain a paper and turn it in as your own work
copy off of a classmate
use technology or smuggle in documents to obtain or check information in an exam situation
In a research paper, it is always better to include too many references than not enough. When in doubt, always err on the side of
caution. If you have too many references it might make your professor smile; if you don’t have enough you might be suspected of
plagiarism.
If you have any question or uncertainty about what is or is not cheating, it is your responsibility to ask your instructor.
Consequences of cheating and plagiarism
Consequences are at the instructor’s and the Judicial Procedures Office’s discretion. Instructors are mandated by the CSU system to
report the offense to the Judicial Procedures Office. Consequences may include any of the following:
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failing the assignment
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failing the class
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warning
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probation
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suspension
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expulsion
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