Spring 2004
January 7 to April 16, 2004
Instructor: Manju P. Acharya, Program: Women’s Studies
Tuesday and Thursday 10:50 pm – 12:05 pm Office: PE212
E-mail: acharya@uleth.ca
Office Phone: 380-1833
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-2:00 pm (or by appointment)
Course Description:
This is an introductory class in Women’s Studies. Women’s Studies is an area of inquiry designed to explore and generate knowledge by examining the diverse issues and experiences of women. It utilizes and challenges the methods, theories and knowledge of other traditional disciplines in its quest to understand the past and present world we live in. Women’s Studies scholars ask us to examine what difference it makes to our world view if we put women at the centre of inquiry. Does it change anything about what we think, what we have learned, or how we see ourselves?
In this course, the students will examine several questions and topics relating to position of women in Contemporary societies like Canada and the United States of America. First we will ask what the word “women” means; whom are we putting at the centre of our inquiry? What issues/experiences women have in common as women and what are the differences among women? How do race, ethnicity, class, religion, sexuality, age and geopolitical divisions create commonalities and differences among women? Secondly, students will explore how women’s diverse individual experiences are shaped by broader historical, cultural, social, political and economic structures.
Finally, student will explore how have women resisted, adapted and transformed their world? The investigation in this course will follow an approach which is both transnational and interdisciplinary.
Required Reading Texts
Nancy Mandell (Ed.) (2001) Feminist Issues: Race, Class, and Sexuality (3 rd
edition) .
Toronto:
Prentice Hall.
Custom Course Resource: Issues in Women’s Studies .
This course syllabus, as well as additional information, is available on the course Web site (WebCT
– Women’s Studies 2000A).
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Grading and Examinations
Quizzes – There will be 12 in class quizzes, only top ten marks will count 20% towards the final grade. There are no make-up quizzes. If you fail to write a quiz you will receive a zero for that quiz.
Two Written Projects – Students are required to write two papers and submit them during the semester. Please take these assignments seriously, as they determine 30% of your course grade .
The goal of these assignments is to help students to explore and validate women-centered issues, experiences and concerns in contemporary societies.
1.
The first assignment will be to evaluate students’ analytical ability. Students will be given one and/or two articles or advertisements to analyze and write a short essay on each. The materials and questions will be distributed to the students in class on February 12, 2004 . I expect each essay to be approximately two pages long (excluding title and reference pages).
This assignment is worth 10% of your course grade and due on February 24, 2004 (In-
Class) .
2.
The second written assignment will give you an opportunity to explore in detail any international question(s) or issue(s) raised in Canadian women’s studies. Hence, you should select a topic that interests you for transnational comparison. The goal of the essay is to enable you to creatively explore and challenge your understanding of issues related to globalization, feminism and women’s studies as a discipline. Your paper should include: 1)
Introduction: What is the topic you wish to study. The theoretical framework you wish to utilize for your analysis. (Please make sure to select one Canadian women’s issue and compare it with one other country’s women).
2) Review of literature: Identify and analyze related literature based on the question(s) raised in the introduction. For example, is
‘feminization of poverty’ a global issue? If yes, why? If no, why not? Use citations to acknowledge the source of your comments. For these citations and compilation of reference use the format provided by the instructor in WebCT. Please do not cite lecture notes in your research paper . 3) Summary and Conclusions: Include your suggestions for improving the topic under study and future feminist research in general in the postmodern Canadian society .
4) List of References: I expect you to provide at least seven different references. You may have more references but not less than seven. This assignment must be typed, double-spaced using 12 point font and 1” margins, between 7 to 10 pages, NOT including the title page and references. This paper is worth 20% of your grade and due on April 08, 2004 (In-class) .
3.
All written assignments must be typed, double-spaced using 12 point font and 1” margins.
Late assignments will be penalized. Your evaluation will be marked down 2 marks per late day. No assignments will be accepted beyond a week past its due date . For example, the first assignment will not be accepted after March 2 nd
and the second paper after April 15 th
Any delayed assignments must be submitted by 12:00 noon to the Women’s Studies
. secretary (PE-210).
NOTE: Office hours are Mon – Thurs: 12:15 – 15:15, Fri 08:00 – 11:30.
Please do not slide your paper under the instructor’s office door. Papers delivered in this manner will not be accepted.
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Examinations
There will be two examinations during the course. These exams will count toward 50% of your final grade
(20% for mid-term and 30% of final exam). Examinations are not cumulative . Students are responsible for lectures, in-class discussion, videos and text materials. It is therefore to the student’s advantage to attend every class. Questions in the exams will comprise of short answer, fill in the blank, true/false, multiple choice, definition and/or essay questions. The mid-term exam will be reviewed in class so that you can assess your performance.
Examination Dates : Mid-Term Exam – Thurs. March 04, 2004 1:10 minutes.
Final Exam – Please Check the Registrar’s Posting 2 hours.
Note: Missed mid-term examination will be rescheduled only upon presentation of a doctor’s medical certificate or prior arrangements with the instructor in case of an emergency.
Class Format
This class will have a lecture-based format with discussion encouraged. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make comments, and share information based on reading materials, other materials they have been exposed to, as well as their personal experiences.
Grades
All student examinations will be graded on a percentage basis. The final grade percentage will be converted to the required letter grade.
Percent Grade Percent Grade
90-100% A+
77-79.999% B+
67-69.999% C+
85-89.999%
74-76.999%
64-66.999%
A
B
C
Percent Grade
80-84.999% A-
70-73.999% B-
60-63.999% C-
56-59.999% D+ 50-55.999% D 0-49.999% F
Some Final Points
Academic Responsibility: Enrollment in this course means that you agree to conduct yourself according to the following statement on academic responsibility:
Students’ academic responsibility consists of the following:
1.
Preparedness.
2.
Respect for the learning needs and processes of others.
3.
In debate and discussion, criticisms and commentary are to be directed at ideas and arguments, not persons.
4.
Acceptance of the contributions of others in a generous spirit, understanding them to be directed at ideas and arguments, not your person.
5.
Taking responsibility for what you say in class discussion. Your responsibility goes beyond merely expressing your opinion to include a generous contribution to the creation of a positive environment for learning for everyone in the class.
6.
Please turn off cell phones during the class.
7.
Any student with a legitimate reason for leaving class early should inform the instructor at the beginning of class.
**Students should be aware that persistent disruption may result in debarment from the course.**
Plagiarism: Plagiarism will be considered a serious violation of academic responsibility and can result in expulsion from the university. Therefore, students should acquaint themselves with the University’s policy on ‘plagiarism and cheating’ and ‘examination impersonation’ found in the University Calendar.
Students with Disabilities or Special Needs: If any student has a disability or health problem please inform your instructor. If you are uncomfortable self-identifying, you may call or visit the University of Lethbridge
Counselling Centre at 320-5700 and/or Student Advising Centre at 329-5106 1 .
1 Please verify the telephone numbers.
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Tentative Schedule of Reading(s) By Topic Number and Date 2
Jan. 08 Overview of the Course: Content and Requirements for the Semester
Part I: Why Women’s Studies? Why Feminism?
Reading: Text (Introduction).
Video: Questions Girls Ask: Canadian & Chinese Women Engineers (13 minutes).
Jan. 13 Social History of Feminism and Women’s Studies
Course Pack Reader Article: “Introducing Women’s Studies” by Victoria Robinson (pp. 1-25).
Course Pack Reader Article: “What is Feminism”? by Rosalind Delmaar (pp. 27-52).
Video: Asking Different Questions: Women and Science (51 minutes)
Jan. 15 Rise in Feminism: Historical Perspective
Development of Canadian Feminism: First Wave and Second Wave Feminism
Reading: Text (Chapter 1).
Video: Prairie Women: the story of farm women and cooperative action, 1913 to 1939 (45 minutes).
Jan. 20 Development of Third Wave Feminism
Reading: Text (Chapter 1 continued).
Video: “Righteous Babes” (50 minutes).
Jan. 22 Part II: Feminist Theories and Methods
Feminist Theories
Reading: Text (Chapter 2).
Video: After the Montreal Massacre (27 minutes).
Jan. 27 Feminist Theories: Activism and Social Movement
Reading: Text (Chapter 2 continued).
Video: Marker of Change: The Story of the Women’s Monument (52 minutes).
Jan. 29 Feminist Methodologies
Course Pack Reader Article: “The Biological Connection” by Anne Fausto-Sterling (p. 53-54).
Course Pack Reader Article: “Women’s Brain” by Stephen Jay Gould (p. 55-58)
Video: Hélèn Cixous (38 minutes).
Feb. 03 Feminist Approaches: Lesbianism and Transgender Liberation
Reading: Text (Chapter 3)
Course Pack Reader Article: “Transgender Liberation: A Movement Whose Time Has
Come” by Leslie Feinberg.
Video: “Anatomy of Desire” (48 minutes); or “Adventures in the Gender Trade” (40 minutes).
Feb. 05 Feminist Approaches: Transnational Feminism
Reading: Text (Chapter 3 continued).
Course Pack Reader Article: “Feminism and Difference: The Perils of Writing as a
Woman on Women in Algeria” by Marnia Lazreg.
Video: Hottentot Venus (45 minutes).
2 Videos will be shown upon availability (i.e. the assigned video and time).
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Feb. 10 Part III. Women’s Issues: Women’s Experiences
Women, Gender, Race and Society: Identity Politics
Reading: Text (Chapter 4).
Video: Forgotten Warriors (51 minutes).
Feb. 12 Women, Gender, Cultures, Status and Aging
Reading: Text (chapter 5).
Video: The Psychology of Aging (31 minutes) or Substance abuse in the elderly (29 minutes).
Feb. 16 to Feb. 21 READING WEEK – NO CLASSES
Feb. 24 Age, Women, Gender and Race Representations, and Images in Consumer Cultures
Ways of Seeing: Beauty and Power
Reading: Text (Chapter 5 continued).
Video: Killing Us Softly: Advertising Image of Women (34 minutes).
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #I DUE (IN-CLASS)
Feb. 26 Women, Violence and Law
Reading: Text (Chapter 6).
Video: “Twice Condemned” (53 minutes); or “When Women Kill (48 minutes).
Mar. 02 Women, Gender, Race, Cultures, Mass Media and Violence
Reading: Text (Chapter 6 continued).
Course Pack Reader Article: “Violence against Women in Bangladesh: Issues and
Responses” by Habiba Zaman (p. 93-104).
Video: Bell Hooks: Cultural Criticism and Transformation (50 minutes).
Mar. 04 MID-TERM EXAMINATION – 1 HOUR AND 10 MINUTES
Mar. 09 Women, Gender and Sport
Reading: Text (Chapter 7)
Video: Play Unfair: The Media Image of the Female Athlete (30 minutes).
Mar. 11 War, Sports and Masculinities: Feminist Analysis
Reading: Text (Chapter 7 continued).
Course Pack Reader Article: “Real Men Join the Movement” by Kimmel (p. 109-116).
Video: The Changing Culture: Men’s Movement (29 minutes).
Mar. 16 Women, Men and Families: Restructuring Institutions
Reading: Text (Chapter 8).
Course Pack Reader Article: “The Politics of Abortion in Canada” by Janine Brodie (p. 105-108).
Video: The Child Brides (51 minutes).
Mar. 18 Women and Work: Gender Politics in Labor Force
Reading: Text (Chapter 9).
Guest Lecture: Dr. Priya Mir (Topic will be announced later in class).
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Mar. 23 Women and Work: Gender Politics of Caregiving
Reading: Text (Chapter 9 continued).
Course Pack Reader Article: “Fathers, Daughters, and Caregivn: Perspectives from
Psychoanalysis and Life-Course Social Science” by Bertram Cohler (p. 117-135).
Video: Chain of Love (50 minutes).
Mar. 25 Women and Education
Reading: Text (Chapter 10).
Guest Lecture: Dr. Rose DeClark-Float (Topic: Women and Science)
Mar. 30 Women, Education and Development: Transnational Feminism
Reading: Text (Chapter 10 continued).
Women of Thailand (45 minutes).
Apr. 01 Women and Health
Reading: Text (Chapter 11)
Video: Making Perfect Babies (51 minutes).
Apr.06 Women and Religion
Reading: Text (Chapter 12).
Video: Goddess Remembered (55 minutes).
Apr. 08 Women, Gender, Religion and Human Rights: Global Feminism
Reading: Text (Chapter 12 continued).
Course Pack Reader Article: “The International Human Rights Law: The Relevance of
Gender” by Christine Aintter Brautigam (p. 137-164).
April 13 Women, Cultures and Human Rights: Sex Discrimination and Violence
Course Pack Reader Article: “Women, Culture and Human Rights: Female Genital
Mutilation, Polygamy and Bride Price” by Esther Kisaaky (p. 165-182),
Video: “The Right to Eat” (26 minutes); or “The Legacy of Malthus”.
April 15 Women in Development: Strategies for Social Change and Peace
Course Pack Reader Article: “Women’s Right under Islam” by Khadija Elmadmad
(p. 183-202).
Course Pack Reader Article: “Will Peace Return? Trauma and Health-related Work in Kashmir” by Sahba Husain (p. 203-213).
Video: The Women’s Bank of Bangladesh (47 minutes).
FINAL EXAMINATION – PLEASE CHECK THE REGISTRAR’S EXAM TIMETABLE.
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