Kennesaw State University
Sociology of Gender
SOCI 3324 02
Summer II 2012
Classroom:
SSB 2030
Class Hours: MTWR 11:00 – 1:45
Office Hours: MTWR 10:25 – 10:55
Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Gail Markle, Ph.D.
SSB 4071
gmarkle@kennesaw.edu
Course Description:
In this course we will explore how gender shapes our lives and the world in which we live.
Sociologists view gender as socially constructed – meaning that gender differences are not innate
or “natural,” but are responses to cultural norms that are reinforced by society. We will study
femininities and masculinities, as well as the cultural meanings associated with being women and
men in contemporary American society. We will also seek to understand the ways in which
gender intersects with other social identities such as race, ethnicity, social class, sexuality, and
age creating a web of gendered power relations that produce and reproduce inequality. We will
use our “sociological imaginations” to explore how the interconnections between social
institutions, interpersonal interactions, and individual consciousness shape our behavior, our
identities, and the opportunities available to us as women and men.
Course Objectives:
 Develop an understanding of key sociological concepts and theories of gender
 Learn how gender functions as a primary organizing system in society
 Examine the ways in which gender is socially constructed and reconstructed
 Understand why an intersectional framework is valuable for studying gender
 Connect sociological theory and empirical research to everyday experiences of gender
 Cultivate the ability to think critically about gender
 Improve analytical reading and writing skills
Principal Text:
Kaleidoscope of Gender: Prisms, Patterns, and Possibilities, Third Edition, 2011, edited by Joan
Z. Spade and Catherine G. Valentine. Sage Publications. ISBN: 978-1-4129-7906-1).
Additional readings have been placed on eReserve, the password is ??????
Connell, R. W. 1997. “Hegemonic Masculinity and Emphasized Femininity.” Pp. 22-25 in
Laurel Richardson, Verta Taylor, and Nancy Whittier (eds.), Feminist Frontiers IV. NY:
McGraw-Hill.
Elmer-Dewitt, Phillip. 2007. “Now for the Truth about Americans and Sex.” Pp. 326-331 in
Mindy Stombler, Dawn M. Baunach, Elisabeth O. Burgess, Denise Donnelly, and Wendy
Simonds (eds.), Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader. Boston: Pearson.
Gilligan, James. 2010. “Culture, Gender, and Violence: ‘We are not Women.’” Pp. 551-558
in Michael Kimmel and Michael Messner (eds.), Men’s Lives. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
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Miller, Jody, and Christopher W. Mullins. 2006. “Stuck Up, Telling Lies, and Talking Too
Much: The Gendered Context of Young Women’s Violence.” Pp. 41-66 in Karen Heimer
And Candace Kruttschnitt (eds.), Gender and Crime: Patterns in Victimization and
Offending. NY: New York University Press.
Schilt, Kristen. 2010. “Just One of the Guys?: How Transmen Make Gender Visible at Work.”
Pp. 221-239 in Michael Kimmel and Michael Messner (eds.), Men’s Lives. Boston: Allyn
and Bacon.
Seidman, Steven. 2007. “In the Closet.” Pp. 525-539 in Mindy Stombler, Dawn M. Baunach,
Elisabeth O. Burgess, Denise Donnelly, and Wendy Simonds (eds.), Sex Matters: The
Sexuality and Society Reader. Boston: Pearson.
Sternheimer, Karen. 2007. “Fear of Sex: Do the Media Make Them Do It?” Pp. 198-211 in
Mindy Stombler, Dawn M. Baunach, Elisabeth O. Burgess, Denise Donnelly, and Wendy
Simonds (eds.), Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader. Boston: Pearson.
Class Format: Class meetings will include a mixture of lectures, films, and discussions.
Expectations: Please turn off your laptops, cell phones, Blackberries, iPods, etc. Students are
expected to read assignments prior to the class period, to listen to class presentations, and to
participate in class discussions. You are under no obligation to agree with the authors or the
instructor. Rather, your obligation is to demonstrate comprehension and thoughtful consideration.
Critical thinking, a willingness to explore the ideas of others, and respect for other students are
essential. Regular and punctual attendance in class is required. If you must be absent please be
aware that you are responsible for all announcements, assignments, and material covered during
class time. You must arrive on time to class. When a student arrives late it is distracting to me and
the other students. Frequent failure to arrive on time may result in an Involuntary Withdrawal.
Disruptive behavior, as defined in the student code of conduct, will not be tolerated.
Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance in class is required. If you must be absent please
be aware that you are responsible for all announcements, assignments, and material covered
during class time. Your attendance record will affect your grade. For perfect attendance 2 points
will be added to your final grade. For 1 absence 1 point will be added to your grade. Beginning
with the 3rd absence 1 point will be deducted from your final grade. For each successive absence
an additional point will be deducted from your final grade. Absences for KSU business, religious
holidays and mandatory court appearances may be excused with proper documentation.
Class Requirements and Grading:
Analysis of Children’s Merchandise 25%
Sit-Com Analysis
25%
Exams (2 @25%)
50%
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Analysis of Children’s Merchandise (25%): For this assignment you will observe the types of
merchandise marketed to children in the toy departments of Target, Wal-Mart, or Toys R Us.
Data collection: While you are at the store, take notes discretely. Record what you observe about
gender, such as: is the merchandise gendered (divided into “girls” and “boys” products)? Is there
merchandise that is gender neutral? What types of merchandise are for girls? what types are for
boys? what types are for both? What are the images, colors, etc. that seem associated with
gender? Are there equal numbers of “boy” and “girl” products? What is the ratio of “neutral”
products to “gendered” products? Analysis: Once you have collected your data, you will need to
prepare a written report on what you observed. In addition to addressing the questions above,
interpret your observations. What are the messages the merchandise might give to boys and
girls? What are the implications of the gendering of the merchandise? As part of your analysis,
you must reference at least three course concepts. Your paper should be 5-7 pages long, double
spaced, with one inch margins. Include the name and location of the store, as well as the time
and date of your observations. Your assignment will be graded primarily on the basis of the
thoroughness and clarity of your description and the insight of your sociological analysis of
gender, as well as writing style. Write professionally, without spelling or grammatical errors.
Due July 10, be prepared to discuss your findings in class. E-mailed or late papers will not be
accepted unless you have made prior arrangements with me.
Sit-Com Analysis (25%): For this assignment you will watch and analyze one episode of a
television situation comedy (examples include How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men,
Mike and Molly, Raising Hope, Modern Family). You should consider recording the episode so
you can re-watch it during your analysis. You may choose a show you watch regularly, in which
case you can draw upon your expertise regarding the show, or one you’ve never seen before, in
which case you will bring a fresh perspective to the show. Write a 5-7 page, double spaced paper
in which you analyze the gender messages portrayed in the sit-com. Begin your paper with a
description of the episode, focusing on the main characters and a brief outline of the plot. In the
second part of the paper, describe the messages that the sit-com sends about gender. For instance,
what does the show say about what fathers are like? Mothers? Husbands? Wives? Teen-aged
daughters? Baby daughters? Single men? Elderly women? Dating couples? The strength of your
analysis will depend upon your ability to figure out why jokes are funny. Sit-coms depend upon
the audience’s understanding of social norms, which can then be exaggerated or inverted for
comic effect. A good question to ask about a joke is whether it would be funny if the gender of
the people were changed. For instance, many sit-coms have jokes about incompetent fathers.
Would these jokes be funny if the incompetent parent were the mother? What does this say about
how the audience is expected to view fathers and mothers? Be aware of how intersecting
identities like race, class and sexuality bear on your analysis. You must reference at least three
course concepts. Conclude your paper with a summary of your main findings specifically, what
are the key messages the sitcom sends about gender? Your assignment will be graded primarily
on the basis of the clarity of your description and the insight of your sociological analysis of
gender, as well as writing style. Due July 23, be prepared to discuss your findings in class. Emailed or late papers will not be accepted unless you have made prior arrangements with me.
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Exams (two exams worth 25% each): There will be two non-cumulative exams in this course.
Each exam will consist of several essay questions. Exams may cover any material presented in
class lectures, videos, discussions, and reading assignments. Exams will be given on July 12 at
11:00, and on July 30 at 11:30. Make-up exams will be given only for exceptional cases with
appropriate documentation at my discretion.
Grading Scale: 100-90 = A; 89-80 = B; 79-70 = C; 69-60 = D; 59 and below = F
Earning Grades: Grades are “earned” and are not arbitrarily “granted” in this class. Thus,
unless I make an error in calculation, I will not change your grade at the end of the semester for
HOPE eligibility, graduation requirements, or any other reason.
Academic Honesty: You are required to adhere to the tenets of the Kennesaw State University
Policy on Academic Honesty. This policy can be found at:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/academicaffairs/acadpubs/acadpub/ucat2006-07/x.General_Policies.pdf
IF ANY PART OF YOUR ANALYSIS PAPER IS PLAGIARIZED YOU WILL RECEIVE
A ZERO FOR THE PAPER, AN “F” FOR THE COURSE, AND APPROPRIATE
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.
Accommodations: If you are a student with a disability and anticipate needing any type of
accommodation, please inform me at the beginning of the semester and make the appropriate
arrangements with Disabled Student Support Services located in Suite 267 of the Carmichael
Student Center Addition, 770-423-6443.
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
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SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
R 6/28
Introduction; Thinking Sociologically about Gender
The Prism of Gender, pp. 3-9
Gender as a Social Structure: Theory Wrestling with Activism, pp. 9-21
What It Means to be Gendered Me, pp. 22-32
M 7/2
Gender and Biology
Beyond Pink and Blue, pp. 33-40
The Trouble with Testosterone, pp. 41-46
Multiple Genders among American Indians, pp. 47-53
T 7/3
Culture and Identities
Reinventing Honorable Masculinity, pp. 140-148
Gender and Power, pp. 149-155
My Life as a Man, pp. 203-210
eRes: Hegemonic Masculinity
Video: The Bro Code
W 7/4
R 7/5
Holiday – No class
No class
M 7/9
Socialization
Playing in the Gender Transgression Zone, pp. 166-176
No Way My Boys are Going to be Like That, pp. 177-184
The Pervasiveness and Persistence of the Feminine Beauty Ideal, pp. 185-192
Between a “Soft” and a “Hard” Place, pp. 193-202
T 7/10 Children’s Merchandise Assignment Due
Intersectionality
Inequality on the Shopping Floor, pp. 61-68
Toward a New Vision: Race, Class and Gender, pp. 69-75
Asian-American Women and Racialized Femininities, pp. 76-88
The Complexity of Intersectionality, pp. 89-95
W 7/11 Commodification of Gender
The Pink Dragon is Female, pp. 229-237
Yearning for Lightness, pp. 238-251
Firming the Floppy Penis, pp. 251-262
Consuming Orientalism, pp. 263-275
Video: Killing Me Softly 4
R 7/12 Exam 1
F 7/13 Last day to withdraw without academic penalty
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M 7/16 Embodying Gender
The Western Women’s Harem, pp.289-293
Individualized Bodies, Collective State Interests, pp. 294-308
Doing Gender, Doing Class, pp. 311-322
T 7/17 Gender and Health
Courtenay, W.H. 2000. “Constructions of Masculinity and their Influence on Men’s
Well-Being: A Theory of Gender and Health.” Social Science & Medicine 50(10): 13851401. (Access through KSU Library website)
W 7/18 Gender through the Media
Is He Boyfriend Material, pp. 276-282
GVV: Gender, Race and Media Representation
R 7/19 Intimate Relationships
Thinking about Gender and Power in Marriage, pp. 415-425
Black Intimacies, pp. 426-437
eRes: Fear of Sex: Do the Media Make Them Do It?
eRes: Now for the Truth about Americans and Sex
eRes: In the Closet
Video: The Purity Myth
M 7/23 Sit-Com Analysis Due
Family
Complexity of Father Involvement, pp. 438-450
Opting into Motherhood, pp. 451-451
Fathering, Class, and Gender, pp. 463-475
Separating the Men from the Moms, pp. 496-507
T 7/24 Work; Work and Family
eRes: Just One of the Guys
Inequality Regimes, pp. 355-365
Selling Women Short, pp. 366-373
Emerging Theories of Care Work, pp. 374-383
Hard Drives and Glass Ceilings, pp. 384-393
Moral Dilemmas, Moral Strategies, pp. 398-405
W 7/25 Gendered Violence; Social Change
eRes : Culture, Gender, and Violence
eRes: Stuck Up, Telling Lies, and Talking Too Much
Gendering Violence, pp. 508-516
Change among the Gatekeepers, pp. 548-561
Unraveling the Gender Knot, pp. 565-573
M 7/30 Exam 2 11:30 – 1:30 (Note Time Change)