1
Sociology 33
Section
T, TH
Room:
Office Hrs:
Sociology of Gender
#4539
5:15-6:35pm
MC-1
T, TH 10:30-11:30am & 4-5pm
F 10:30-11:30am, AND BY APPT.
Instructor:
Phone:
Office:
Email:
Spring 2005
Bob Massey
(310) 434-3599
LA-135 G
massey_robert@smc.edu
The sociological study of gender involves examining the varied ways that gender is conceptualized via theories, how it
structures and is structured by culture, institutions, and social interactions, and how it is connected to, and reinforced by, other social
categories/systems of inequality such as race, class, sexuality and age.
This course will focus on gender as learned and socially constructed behavior (not innate) and as unfolding in
historically/culturally specific situations. Critical analyses are emphasized in examining taken-for-granted assumptions about gender
and other social categories/systems of inequality to empower students to understand their own gendered experiences and to challenge
gender discrimination and other forms of inequality.
Required Texts: Women, Men and Society:5th ed., Curran and Renzetti (T)
Text companion website: www.abacon.com/renzetti
Race, Class, and Gender, 5th ed., Andersen and Hill Collins (R)
Additional handouts and readings may be assigned by Instructor and/or put "on reserve" in college library.
Course Preparation
Students are required to read course material in advance of class lectures and discussions. The Instructor will call upon students
to summarize, discuss, analyze, and debate readings in small group and/or large group formats. Critical thinking skills are essential
tools to utilize in the course.
There is a significant amount of writing in this course. Students must be able to write college-level essays and papers.
Assistance is available in the Campus Learning Center, and the Instructor will refer students to assistance.
Students should keep themselves informed of current events by utilizing conventional and alternative news sources in the Los
Angeles area. Our goals in the course include connecting topics and concepts discussed in class with contemporary events in the larger
society.
Quizzes and Examinations
Quizzes will be objective format and will stress critical thinking not mere memorization. Examinations will consist of long essay
questions. Quiz, essay and final exam questions will be taken from the text, reader articles, lectures, class discussions, assigned
readings, handouts, and guest speakers' presentations. The lowest single quiz score of the 4 quizzes given will be dropped.*
*No make-up quizzes will be given. If a student misses a quiz, the score will be a zero, and that will be the one that is dropped
from the student’s final grade point totals. There are no exceptions to this rule.
If a student knows that s/he will miss a quiz or essay exam, then possible arrangements can be made to take the exam earlier
than scheduled. This is entirely up to Instructor’s discretion.
Instructor reserves the right to give in-class surprise quizzes to help students keep current on readings. Points will be included
in participation/attendance points totals.
Course Requirements:
2
Quizzes
Four total---objective format (drop lowest score)
50 pts ea.
Examinations
Two total--long essay format
100 pts ea.
Final Exam
Objective format
100 pts
Article discussion Pose/discuss questions with classmates about readings
50 pts
Participation
Active Participation and Consistent/On-Time Attendance
10 pts
***Note: There are no extra credit assignments—no exceptions!!
Late assignments will not be accepted. There are no exceptions to this rule!! Again, students may turn in assignments earlier
than the scheduled due date IF they make arrangements with the Instructor.
Grading scale: Instructor will use a standard scale; A=90%, B=80%, C=70%, D=60%, F=<60%.
Participation and Attendance
Student success in this course is directly related to consistent, on-time attendance and active participation in, and completion of, all
class assignments and activities. Active participation includes asking and answering questions, and completion of all in-class
assignments.
Instructor will consider the attendance and participation records of students when assigning final grades, especially in "borderline"
cases (those falling just short of the next grade category).
****Students who miss 3 or more consecutive class meetings without contacting the Instructor may find their grades
negatively affected.
****However, students are responsible for all Admissions deadlines--add dates, drop dates, etc. Please utilize the schedule of
classes and check with the Admissions Department if you have any questions.
Classroom Rules
Students are expected to abide by collegiate standards of behavior. We may have strong opinions and feelings about topics discussed
which differ from those of others in class. However, we must treat each other with the respect and courtesy that we would also
like to receive.
While we can encourage respectful discussion, debate and disagreement, personal attacks and put-downs will not be tolerated.
Classroom disruption and disrespect for others will result in students being asked to leave the course.
Academic Honesty --All students are required to do their own work. Cheating and plagiarism are absolutely forbidden, and will
result in a failing grade for a particular assignment and/or the course. Students should be familiar with the Student Conduct
Code and other important rules and regulations of Santa Monica College.
Cooperative Learning: Instructor strongly recommends that students form study groups outside of class to facilitate student learning
and to assist students in preparing for quizzes, exams and in-class assignments.
Tutoring and Study Skills Assistance are both available. Students can ask Instructor or consult their class schedules, and the
Learning Assistance Center in the library for specific Study Skills workshops held during the course of the semester. A Sociology
tutor may be available at no extra cost to students.
Instructor has a zero-tolerance policy toward cell phones and pagers!!! All cell phones and pagers must be turned off while
students are in class. Students will be asked to leave when cell phones ring!!!
Instructor reserves the right to change readings schedule, quiz and test dates. Students should keep in contact with Instructor
to stay informed about any possible changes.
____________________________________________________________________________________
I.
Introduction: Studying Gender, Biology, Sex and Gender, and the Social Construction of Gender
3
Weeks 1-3 (2/15-3/1)
Readings:
(T) Chs 1, 2, 3 (pp 63-70)
(R) Intro. to Part I (pp 1-20), Art # 1
**Quiz # 1 - Week 2**
II.
Interpersonal Socialization: Early Childhood Socialization, Intimate Relationships
Weeks 3-4 (3/1/-3/8)
Readings: (T) Chs 4, 7
(R) Art # 31, 33, 39, 58
**Quiz # 2 – Week 4**
____________________________________________________________________________________
III.
Institutional Socialization: Language and Media, Education
Weeks 5-6 (3/15-3/22)
Readings:
(T) Chs 6, 5
(R) Intro.to Part III (pp 213-27),
Art # 16, 22, 36-37, 40, 43, 56
____________________________________________________________________________________
IV.
Intersections: Race, Class, and Sexualities
Weeks 6-8 (3/22-4/5)
Readings:
(T) Ch 2 (pp 42-3)
(R) Intro. to Part II (pp 67-88), Art. # 2,
7-13, 19-20, 22, 38, 47-49, 52-55, 57
**Quiz # 3 – Week 6**
**Essay Exam # 1 – Week 8**
____________________________________________________________________________________
V.
Social Issues: Crime and Justice, Health
Weeks 9-10 (4/19-4/26)
Readings:
(T) Chs 9, 12
(R) Intro. to Part IV (pp405-17)
Art. # 4, 17, 46, 50, 59-61, 63
____________________________________________________________________________________
VI.
Institutions of Power: Economy, Government and Military
Weeks 10-12 (4/26-5/10)
Readings:
(T) Chs 8, 10
(R) Art # 15, 25-29, 44-45, 47, 62
**Quiz # 4 - Week 11**
____________________________________________________________________________________
VII.
Global Issues: War, Global Inequalities, and the Environment
Weeks 13-14 (5/17-5/24)
Readings:
(T) Ch 1 (pp 19-20, 23-24)
(R) Art. # 3, 19 (pp 172-73), 68
**Essay Exam# 2 - Week 13**
____________________________________________________________________________________
VIII. Social Change: Social Movements and Social Justice
Weeks 14-15 (5/24-5/31)
Readings:
(T) Ch 1 (pp 21-22, 25-27)
® Intro. to Part V (pp 531-38),
Art. # 21, 64-67, 69
____________________________________________________________________________________
IX.
**Final Exam** – Thursday, June 9, 3:30-6:30pm
____________________________________________________________________________________
Soc 33 Articles for Course Readings:
Section I.
#1 pp 23-28
Introduction/Overview
“Missing People and Others: Joining Together to expand the Circle” A. Madrid
Section II.
Interpersonal Socialization
4
#31
#33
#39
#58
pp 268-72
pp 296-304
pp 347-59
pp 488-96
“Our Mothers’ Grief: Racial-Ethnic Women and the Maintenance of Families” B. Thornton Dill
“Countering the Conspiracy to Ignore Black Girls” R. Kelley
"Masculinities and Athletic Careers" M. Messner
"Getting Off on Feminism" J. Schultz
Section III.
#16 pp 143-45
#36 pp 322-32
#37 pp 333-41
#40 pp 361-65
#43 pp 376-87
#56 pp 474-79
Institutional Socialization
“The Silenced Majority: Why the Average working Person Has Disappeared…” B. Ehrenreich
"Racist Stereotypes in the english Language" R. Moore
“Media Magic: Making Class Invisible” G. Mantsios
"My Problem with Multicultural Education" J. Garvey
“Can Education Eliminate Race, Class, and Gender Inequality?” R. Mickelson and S. Smith
“The Beauty Myth” N. Wolf
Section IV.
#2 pp 28-35
#7 pp 90-94
#8 pp 95-105
#9 pp 106-08
#10 pp 108-14
#11 pp 115-18
#12 pp 119-24
#13 pp 125-34
#19 pp 168-75
#20 pp 177-84
#22 pp 191-99
#38 pp 342-47
#47 pp 419-27
#48 pp 427-30
#49 pp 430-39
#52 pp 453-55
#53 pp 456-65
#54 pp 466-70
#55 pp 470-74
#57 pp 480-87
Intersections
“La Guera” C. Moraga
“Something about the Subject Makes it Hard to Name” G. Yamato
“White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See…” P. McIntosh
"Of Race and Risk" P. Williams
"Seeing More Than Black & White" E. Martinez
“What White Supremacists Taught a Jewish Scholar About Identity” A. Ferber
“Race Matters” C. West
“Tired of Playing Monopoly?” D. Langston
"Gender Through the Prism of Difference" Baca Zinn, Hondagneu-Sotel, and Messner
"Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining Difference" A. Lorde
“Ideological Racism and Cultural Resistance: Constructing Our Own Images” Y. Espiritu
"The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria" J. Cofer
“Is This a White Country, or What?” L. Rubin
“Black Hispanics: The Ties That Bind” V. Brady
“Optional Ethnicities: For Whites Only?” M. Waters
“Time to Look and Listen” M. Asfahani
"The Gender of Sexuality" Schwartz and Rutter
"A New Politics of Sexuality" J. Jordan
"Where Has Gay Liberation Gone?" Gluckman and Reed
"Maiden Voyage" D. Takagi
Section V.
#4 pp 44-48
#17 pp 146-55
#46 pp 400-03
#50 pp 439-46
#59 pp 497-506
#60 pp 508-14
#61 pp 514-18
#63 pp 527-30
Social Issues
“Angry Women are Building: Issues and Struggles Facing American Indian Women Today” P. Allen
“The Plight of Black Men” M. Dyson
“Thoughts on Class, Race, and Prison” A. Berkman and T. Blunk
“Crimes Against Humanity” W.Churchill
"The Harm That Has No Name" D. Davis
"More Power Than we Want" Kokopeli and Lakey
"The Police and the Black Male" E. Anderson
“Where Race and Gender Meet: Racism, Hate Crimes, and Pornography” H. Zia
Section VI.
#15 pp 139-43
#25 pp 229-33
#26 pp 234-42
#27 pp 243-50
#28 pp 251-58
#29 pp 259-63
#44 pp 389-93
#45 pp 395-99
#62 pp 519-25
Institutions of Power
“Poverty as Race, Power, and Wealth” J. Jennings and L. Kushnick
“Economic Restructuring and Systems of Inequality at Century’s End” M. Baca Zinn and S. Eitzen
“Race, Class, Gender, and Women’s Works” T. Amott and J. Matthaei
“The Gap between Striving and Achieving: The Case of Asian American Women” D. Woo
“The Latino Population: The Importance of Economic Restructuring” J. Moore and R. Pinderhughes
"Working Poor, Working Hard" K. Newman
“The Shredded Net: The End of Welfare as We Knew It” V. Polakow
“Aid to Dependent Corporations: Exposing Federal Handouts to the Wealthy” C. Collins
“Korean Americans vs. African Americans: Conflict and Construction” S. Cho
Soc 33 Articles for Course Readings: (Continued)
Section VII.
#3 pp 35-44
#19 pp 172-73
#68 pp 562-73
Global Issues
“Report from the Bahamas” J. Jordan
"Gender Through the Prism of Difference" Baca Zinn, Hondagneu-Sotel, and Messner
“Women of Color on the Front Line” C. Krauss
Section VIII.
Social Change
5
#21
#64
#65
#66
#67
#69
pp 185-91
pp 540-46
pp 546-51
pp 552-56
pp 556-62
pp 573-83
Soc 33 (Massey)
“Understanding and Fighting Sexism: A Call to Men” P. Blood, A. Tuttle, and G. Lakey
“Coalition Politics: Turning the Century” B. Johnson Reagon
“The Boys and Girls of (Union) Summer” M. Cooper
“From The Ground Up” C. Asetoyer
“Taking Multicultural, Antiracist Education Seriously” B. Miner
“Having The Tools At Hand: Building Successful Social Justice Organizations” J. Anner
Chapter/Reader Discussion Group Leaders
Spring 2005
1. You, along with at least one classmate, will lead an in-class discussion (20 minutes total) in a small group
about an article from the reader.
2. Prior to the discussion, you will formulate at least 2 sociological questions about the reading
to be used in your discussion. You will also use 2 theories to formulate each question.
3. On the day of your discussion, each Discussion Leader will hand in to the Instructor a one-page write-up which
includes your 2 questions, the theories used in each question, and your justification (brief analysis)
for using those theories.
4. You will ask your classmates these questions, and encourage them to use sociological analyses in their
responses.
5. The grading of your performance will be a combination of:
a. The quality of your questions, and write-up (worth up to 35 points)
b.
How well you conduct the discussion as observed by Instructor (worth up to 15 points)
6. NOTE: You must turn in the one-page write-up BEFORE the end of class and after conducting your
discussion group to receive ANY credit for this part of the assignment.
7. If you need assistance in formulating your questions, please see me during office hours BEFORE the
day your discussion group is scheduled.