History of Women and Sexuality in Modern Europe (WMNST 340)
Fall 2015, August 24-December 17 (Online)
Instructor: M. Gonzalez-Meeks
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:00-3:00pm and by appointment
Office: Arts and Letters 330, email: moriah.meeks.g@gmail.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the lives of European-descended women and women of color, as well as women’s influence and
participation in the broader movements and events of the period in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America from
the 16th to the 20th century. European women’s history should not be limited geographically to Europe as Europeans
participated in slavery, colonization, and imperialism on a global scale. Likewise, this course is not limited to the study of
European women as these actions triggered the mass migration (often forced) of different groups to and from Europe,
positioning women from different countries and continents to be in dialogue with one another and with European
governments.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
 Elucidate the lives of European-descended women and women of color, in Europe and in European colonies, from
the 16th to the 20th century, with a focus on the various ways in which they exercised agency and experienced
oppression.
 Identify the active role that women played in key movements and events of the period including: revolution,
industrialization, modernity, imperialism, nationalism, and war.
 Analyze connections between past and present conditions and experiences of women by focusing on specific
historical locations and periods.
 Develop and utilize an intersectional analysis (including gender, race, class, nationality, sexuality, and religion) as
well as an understanding that these categories are socially constructed and historically specific as opposed to
essential or fixed.
 Develop and utilize a “political” vocabulary, including identifying structures of power and oppression and the
ways in which individuals exercise resistance and agency within these structures.
 Develop and practice critical thinking while reading and in group and class discussions, journaling, and writing.
 Develop research, analysis, and oral and written communication skills.
 Learn to evaluate and interpret sources and critique knowledge production.
This course can fulfill part of the 9-unit requirement for Explorations in General Education. Consequently, it may be more challenging
than other 300-level classes. As described in the course catalog: “Courses that fulfill the 9-unit requirement for Explorations in
General Education take the goals and skills of GE Foundations courses to a more advanced level. Your three upper division courses
in Explorations will provide greater interdisciplinary, more complex and in-depth theory, deeper investigation of local problems, and
wider awareness of global challenges. More extensive reading, written analysis involving complex comparisons, well-developed
arguments, considerable bibliography, and use of technology are appropriate in many Explorations courses. This is an Explorations
course in the Humanities and Fine Arts. Completing this course will help you to do the following in greater depth: 1) analyze
written, visual, or performed texts in the humanities and fine arts with sensitivity to their diverse cultural contexts and historical
moments; 2) describe various aesthetic and other value systems and the ways they are communicated across time and cultures; 3)
identify issues in the humanities that have personal and global relevance; 4) demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems
and ask complex questions drawing upon knowledge of the humanities.”
COURSE EXPECTATIONS & ETTIQUETTE:
 Complete readings and assignments for each module and submit by due date.
 All work must be completed independently and by the enrolled student.
 Use only assigned course material when completing class assignments.
 All forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, are prohibited and will be reported to the
Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities. Academic dishonesty consequences are on page 6.
 Active participation in discussion boards means both posting your answers and ideas and replying to those made
by the other students in your group. Posts should promote or add to the discussion in a meaningful way. Posts that
do not promote or add to the discussion, such as “I agree” or “I disagree” or “I like what you had to say about this
or that” will not count toward your discussion board grade.
 Treat others with respect, including those with viewpoints that differ from your own.
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Keep an open mind while you are reading, viewing lectures and films, and when you are participating in the
discussion boards.
Check Blackboard and email daily as these will be the primary modes of communication.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Complete the following tasks for each module on time*:
1. Complete assigned readings
2. View lecture
3. View assigned film/film clips/interactive material
4. Participate in small group or current event discussion boards on Blackboard
5. Submit discussion/current event posts by NOON on Saturdays (1 day before the module ends)
6. Reply to discussion/current event posts by 11pm on the Sunday they are due
7. Submit reading responses to Turnitin by 11pm on the Sunday they are due
8. View reading response slides (available at 11:59pm on Sunday)
*Students are responsible for submitting their work to Blackboard on time. You will not be able to upload your
work after the deadline so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to upload your work. I would suggest giving
yourself at least a10-15 minute window to upload your work in case you experience technological problems (loss of
internet, glitches in Blackboard, etc.) After you submit your work, verify that it uploaded correctly.
I. Analyzing Sources: Reading Responses (20% of grade)
II. Creating HerStory: Family Oral History Project (20% of grade)
III. Discussion Boards (20% of grade)
IV. Midterm Essay Exam (20% of grade)
V. Final Essay Exam (20% of grade)
ONLINE TUTORING:
The Writing Center offers real-time, online tutoring to be assist the needs of our commuter students and students with
disabilities. Please just check the Writing Center's schedule to see which tutors are available for online tutoring as not all
offer online tutoring. Before scheduling your appointment, take a look at the instructions available on the website to
familiarize yourself with the process. Your computer must have a webcam and a microphone to fully utilize online
tutoring. You will need to be prepared with a word.doc format of your paper to import into the system. Please allow for
extra time as learning the online system and/or troubleshooting technical errors may be required.
http://writingcenter.sdsu.edu/online_tutoring.html
TEXTS:
All books are available for purchase at the SDSU and KB bookstores and they are on reserve at the library.
 Bridenthal, et al., Becoming Visible: Women in European History, 3rd ed. (BV)
 DiCaprio and Wiesner, Lives and Voices: Sources in European Women’s History (LAV)
 Isak Dinesen, Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass
 Mary Prince, The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave, revised edition, edited by Moira Ferguson
 OPTIONAL: e-Study Guide for: Becoming Visible: Women in European History by Renate Bridenthal, ISBN
9780395796252. Available from Google Books and Barnes and Noble.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The following notifications are required on all Women’s Studies Syllabi:
Major or Minor in Women’s Studies:
The program offers exciting courses, is committed to women’s issues and social justice, and is adaptable to your interests
and concerns. For more information see the SDSU Catalog http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/catalog/2014-
3
15/GeneralCatalog/141_Womens%20Studies.pdf or contact the Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Doreen Mattingly, at
MATTINGL@mail.sdsu.edu or 619-594-8033, AL-315.
Student Disability Services:
Students who need accommodation of disabilities should contact me privately to discuss specific accommodations for
which they 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.
Counseling Services:
Counseling & Psychological Services (C&PS) is available to all students and focuses on supporting their personal, social,
and emotional health. C&PS is located in the Calpulli Center, Room 4401 and is open Monday through Friday, 8am4:30pm. Students who require immediate psychological help are seen on an emergency basis by calling C&PS at (619)
594-5220 during business hours. After hours, students can call the San Diego Access and Crisis 24-hour Hotline at (800)
479-3339. Other emergency services include: Student Health Services Nurse Advisory Line at (888) 594-5281; or
University Police at (619) 594-1991.
Plagiarism:
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. You are plagiarizing or cheating if you:
 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 a website
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
 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
Consequences for plagiarism or cheating may include any of the following:
 failing the assignment
 failing the class
 probation
 suspension
 expulsion