CLASS INFORMATION SHEET
Sociology 27
Gender in Contemporary Society
Fall 2005
Rosalind Gottfried, Ph.D.
Cunningham 418
954-5735
MWF 10-11, T/Th 8:30-9:30
Catalog Description: This course examines changing sex roles in contemporary society,
with a special emphasis on gender in the U.S. This will be put in the context of a
historical and comparative analysis of women and men’s varying roles, statuses, and life
chances. Social problems such as domestic violence, economic and social discrimination,
will also be examined. This course will address the feminist movement, the “men’s”
movement, and the recent conservative backlash to feminism (UC, CSU).
Textbooks:
Making Sense of Women’s Lives Plott and Umanski (MS)
Race, Class, and Gender, fifth edition Andersen and Hill Collins (RCG)
Objectives of the Course:
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Define the concepts of internalized racism/sexism, patriarchy, misogyny
Delineate different theoretical approaches to the study of gender
Examine current research in gender studies
Apply a gender framework to the major institutions in society
Explain the causes and goals’ of gender related social movements
Consider the root concept of gender
Establish the parameters of gender and gender studies
Obligation of the Student:
1. ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED. Students with excessive absences, the
first three weeks, will be dropped. After that it is the student’s responsibility
to drop the course, if they choose not to complete it.
2. There will be three midterms and a final based on readings and class
lectures/discussions.
3. There will be films and other assignments to enhance the learning experience
as designated by the instructor.
4. Each student will submit a journal, with two weekly entries, on alternate
weeks (see attached guidelines).
5. Each student will be responsible for a course project. Guidelines for the
topics, as well as due dates for the project and project proposal, will be
distributed in class.
6. It is the student’s responsibility to stay current with the readings and any
assignments made during a class period.
7. The last day to drop without a “W” is Aug. 26. The last day to drop with a
“W” is Nov. 15.
8. This course “requires a minimum of three hours of work per week for each
unit of credit, including class time.” (California State Education Code: Title
V, Sec. 55022)
Method of Evaluation:
Midterms 15% each = 45%
Final 15% Tuesday Dec. 13, 10:00 AM
Journals 20%
Course Project 20%
(Failure to attend class will result in a loss of credit)
Course Outline:
Week 1 Introduction and Gender Exercise
Week 2 Intro to Gender
RCG Part 1 Intro: Shifting the Center
Article 1 Missing People and Others
Article 2 La Guera
Article 5 Oppression
Article 6 A Different Mirror
Week 3 Intro to Race, Class, and Gender
RCG Intro to Part 2
Video: The Way Home
RCG Article 8 Something About the Subject…
Article 9 White Privilege
Article 10 Of Race and Risk
Article 11 Seeing More than Black and White
Article 13 Race Matters
Week 4 Social Class
RCG Article 14 Economic Apartheid in America
Article 15 Tired of Playing Monopoly
Article 16 Wealth Matters
Article 18 Black Picket Fences
FIRST EXAM
Week 5 Female Socialization
MS Making Girls, Making Women
RCG Article 20 Ideological Racism and Cultural Resistance
Article 21 A White Woman of Color
Article 31 Countering the Conspiracy to Ignore Black Girls
Video Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better…
MS Ageism, p.317
MS Politics of Aging, p. 438
Week 6 Male Socialization
Video: Tough Guise
RCG Article 22 Masculinities and Athletic Careers
Article 57 Just Walk on By
Week 7 Friendships
MS “Girlfriends” Friends and Sisters
Week 8 Mothers and Daughters
MS Mothers and Daughters
Week 9 Gay and Lesbian Studies and Homophobia
RCG Article 33 Straight is to Gay…
Article 52 Where Has Gay Liberation Gone?
SECOND EXAM
Week 10 Cultural Institutions
RCG Article 34 Racist Stereotyping in the English Language
Article 35 Crimes Against Humanity
Article 36 Media Magic
Article 37 The Myth of the Latin Woman
Article 38 Gladiators, Gazelles, and Groupies
Week 11 MS Are There No Great Women Artists?
Week 12 Work
Video: Rush to Judgment
MS Women Working
RCG Article 24 Race, Class, Gender, and Women’s Works
Article 25 The Indignities of Unemployment
Article 26 “Soft” Skills and Race
Week 13 Economics
Video: The Willmar 8
RCG Article 27 The Invisible Poor
Article 28 Domestica
Week 14 Violence
MS Violence Against Women
RCG Article 55 The Harm that has No Name
Article 56 More Power Than We Want
Article 59 How Safe Is America
Week 15 Pornography
MS pp. 495-520
RCG Article Where Race and Gender Meet
Week 16 Feminism
MS Heart and Home: The Personal is Political
Week 17 Reproductive Rights
MS Reproductive Rights
Week 18 Health Issues
MS In Sickness and in Health
Classroom Expectations:
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Please be in class on time and remain for the entire class period.
Please turn all cell phones off, that includes vibrating settings.
Students who behave inappropriately in class will be asked to leave and will not
be readmitted until they meet with the instructor.
NO food or d rink in class.
NO make up or hair maintenance in class.
NO talking to neighbors in class, even about class material (unless that is the
assignment).
NO plagiarism or cheating on tests or assignments.
In class discussions, please be courteous of others. You may state your opinion,
where appropriate, but do not evaluate anyone else’s.
Participate, it will help you, particularly should you end up in between two
grades!!!
Sociology Journal Guidelines
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Each student will complete two journal entries a week and turn four in on
alternate Thursdays. Each submission should be dated and numbered
consecutively. The first collection will have journals 1-4, then 5-8, and so on.
Due dates are Sept 1, 15, 29, Oct. 13, 27, Nov.10 and 29 (Tuesday, because
of the holiday Nov. 24). The total journal entries will be 28. Late ones are
discouraged but better late than never…however, you cannot turn them in late
as a habit.
Journal entries can consist of any response or commentary on material
inspired by the class. You can talk about issues in your personal life, the
readings, class discussions, other classes, the news, movies, television, music,
etc. Anything is basically acceptable as long as it addresses issues of gender
(and gender as it relates to race, class, homophobia, etc.) If you address a
personal issue or film, be sure to analyze it clearly, in terms of gender issues.
What is the issue? How did it manifest itself in the experience you are
addressing? How did you interpret it? What relation does it bear to course
material?
Journals are not graded but to be acceptable they must be clearly within the
mandates listed above. They must also be written in Standard English (unless
you chose to write a poem, etc.).
Journals should be typed, and double spaced, and each entry about 1-2 pages.
No handwritten work is accepted. Papers should be submitted stapled or
paper clipped, no notebooks should be submitted.
Have fun with these, this is really for you to learn and explore your thoughts
and assumptions. Though I read all journal entries, I generally do not
comment (though I will note if I think you are doing good journals) unless
there is special reason or the student asks for a response.