Gender and Society

Fall '03 -- Dr. Jackie Eller

FLEXIBLE WEEKLY SCHEDULE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Contents of this Page

TEXTS | COURSE DESCRIPTION | COURSE OBJECTIVES | STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES | GRADING | OFFICE/OFFICE HOURS | FLEXIBLE OUTLINE

TEXTS

1 -- Gender Race and Class in Media: A Text-Reader, 2nd ed. (Older edition not acceptable)
Gail Dines and Jean Humez
2 --Men's Lives Michael S. Kimmel and Michael Messner

To survive the borderlands you must live sin fronteras (without borders.)
Gloria Anzaldua

Plus assigned readings distributed in class and on reserve

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Gender and Society is a course through which you will critically explore the social construction of gender. We will study many of the diverse contemporary issues and experiences of women and men as gendered individuals. Although there is an emphasis on these issues and experiences within American culture, we will study gender in a global context as well. Generally, you will find that the readings and assignments emphasize the importance of "denaturalizing" gender stereotypes and myths which impact women's and men's lives.

One task we will tackle is to become more aware of the ways gender affects girls', boys', women's and men's lives. Lisa Marie Hogeland calls this awareness of gender differences a "gender consciousness." With a "sociological feminist consciousness," we take our gender consciousness and look for ways that gender differences grant or deny power. For example, what does it mean about women's status that they are paid less in the work force yet do most of the unpaid labor at home? What do racist notions of beauty mean for men and women of color other than white? How has feminism changed social expectations of men? Of women? In what ways do the media construct gender images and ideologies, with what consequences? With gender consciousness we note differences; with a sociological feminist consciousness we see what difference those differences make.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course will provide students with a basic understanding of gender as it is constructed in this and other cultures. The course, in a lecture and discussion format, provides important work in critical reading and thinking skills, particularly about the ways in which social forces shape us as gendered individuals and the ways in which we respond.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities and projects listed below will be discussed in detail when I return on Thursday.

1. Go to the department website for useful information about upcoming events (like the Undergraduate Symposium in November), scholarships, tests, plagarism and how to avoid it, jobs or graduate school, faculty profiles, upcoming course schedules, and so on. Department of Sociology and Anthropology

2. In addition to the usual expectations of attendance and preparation, -- read, think, and write -- you are expected to read your syllabus, understand what is expected of you, and contribute to class discussions. It is strongly encouraged that you work with other students and ask questions in class. The time we spend together will be devoted to lectures, discussions, and exercises. Remember you have something valuable to say and what you learn from this class will be in proportion to what you put into it. It is also YOUR responsibility to acquire notes or handouts if you should miss class.

3. Quizzes (30%) --
To ensure that you come to class ready to discuss the difficult and important issues we will address this semester, I will give a quiz on the assigned readings and class discussions at the start of each class. The quizzes involve either (1) answering several questions about the readings or (2) writing on a topic I assign. Each quiz will be worth 10 points and I will drop the two lowest grades at the end of the semester. Quizzes cannot be make up due to lateness or absence. Your work on quizzes will determine your in-class grade.
4. Sexuality study -- a whole class project (5%)
5. Campus climate survey analysis -- whole class project (15%)
6. Gender: How-to or How-not-to -- written exercise (20%). explanation
7. Occupation paper and poster presentation (30%) Paper explanation

GRADING

Assume I do not grade on a curve. Final grades will be computed through using the following scale:

A (92%)
B+ (90%)
B (84%)
B- (82%)
C+ (80%)
C (74%)
C- (72%)
D+ (70%)
D (64%)
D- (62%)
F (61% or less)

OFFICE/OFFICE HOURS

e-mail: jaeller@frank.mtsu.edu
webpage: http://www.mtsu.edu/~jaeller

1417 E. Main (Sociology and Anthropology Annex) 898-2125 FAX 904-8589
WF 8:00-10:00; TR 11:00-12:00; 2:00-4:00
Other times by appointment.
Any student with a special need concerning taking notes, exams, etc., should contact me as soon as possible so that we might work out arrangements.

FLEXIBLE OUTLINE

Aug 18 and 20
-- Introduction to course

20
-- A feminist introduction to gender

----- Read for Tuesday -- on electronic reserve, listed under Eller, Soc 3400:

25-27
-- What is gender?
----- Discussion of readings

September 2
-- Privilege and Images of Privilege?
----- Discussion of the following readings

4 and 9
----- Group discussion of articles 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 from Men's Lives

11 and 16
-- Socialization
----- Discussion of the following readings

Syllabus update