"The time has come to define feminism; it is no longer possible to ignore it."
The Century 1914
TEXTS | COURSE OBJECTIVES | STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES | GRADING | OFFICE/OFFICE HOURS | FLEXIBLE OUTLINE
Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspectives, 3rd ed; Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey
Lucky:
A Memoir. Alice Sebold. Back Bay Books 2002 ISBN 0316096199 This book is available new and used at a variety
of websites such as Amazon.
Assigned readings distributed in class, over the net, or on reserve
This course will provide students with a basic understanding of women's lives and roles, centering on American and world culture. Readings, activities, and projects include an historical overview as well as an intensive examination of important factors affecting the status of women in the contemporary world. This course provides important work in critical and thinking skills, particularly about the ways in which social forces shape us as gendered individuals (women and men) and how we respond to these forces.
1. Attendance and preparation are required. You are also expected to
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. NOTE that you will
be allowed two absences, no questions asked. Within these two allowed absences,
all reasons for missing class are equally valid. You are allowed one additional
EXCUSED absence but this must be negotiated with me. Each absence after three
(two “free” and one excused) will result in 10 points deducted from
your final points tally.
2. Writing assignments – 4 (100 pts.)
3. Attendance at 4 events during
National Women's History Month; African-American History Month events related
to women; or special events sponsored by
Women’s Studies. Notes about each presentation are to be submitted next class period following the event. (40 pts.)
4. Women across the world – Each student will create a team with 1-2 individuals and choose a country (no duplications) to emphasize throughout the semester. On three different occasions, we will dedicate a class period to discussing aspects of the lives of women in these countries. These days (3) will concentrate less on academic writings and more on the experiences of women. Details to follow for each day, but in general and as appropriate to the day’s theme, you may create a poster that displays your topic, bring samples of clothing worn, food made, work done, crafts or hobbies, etc. Each student’s grade for the day will be determined by an evaluation from the rest of the class, the team itself, and the professor. Team choices are due as soon as possible but no later than Monday, Jan 30. (60 pts.)
5. Mid-term exam and Final exam (100 pts. each for total of 200)
6. Submission of work – It is important that you submit your
work on time. Late work can only count for partial credit if and only when the
student successfully negotiates its acceptance. Late begins after
7. “No plagiarism or academic dishonesty” – When you summarize, paraphrase, or quote someone else’s media, words, or ideas, you must cite your source. You should be especially careful to avoid plagiarizing internet sources (for example, e-mail, chat rooms, web sites, or discussion groups) As “best practice” you should not quote from or reference internet sources for which there is no author listed. It does not matter whether you borrow material from print sources, from the internet, from on-line data bases, or from interviews, failure to cite your source is plagiarism. Students who plagiarize may receive an “F” or a “0” for the assignment or an “F” for the course. In extraordinary cases of plagiarism, a student may be expelled from the university.
To pass the course you must (1) complete the learning contract included at the end of this syllabus, (2) complete all required work as detailed above, (3) meet assignment deadlines, and (4) meet all attendance requirements for classes. Final grades will be computed through a simple tally of points using the following scale:
400 - 360 A
359 - 348 B+ // 347 - 332 B // 331 - 320 B-
319 - 308 C+ // 307 - 292 C // 291 - 280 C-
279 - 268 D+ // 267 - 252 D // 251 - 240 D-
E-mail: jaeller@mtsu.edu
webpage: http://www.mtsu.edu/~jaeller
Todd 303; 898-2125
MWF
Other times by appointment.
Jan 18 -- Introductions to each other and the course
----- Learning contract
----- Women’s studies and feminism
exercise – writing assignment #1 (due Wed. 1/25)
23 -- What is
women's studies? What is feminism?
- Read: Preface and Introduction
- Dowd handout for Wed
25 –
- Discussion of “What’s a modern girl to do? by Maureen Dowd
- Discussion of interviews
30 – A brief history of feminism
- http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/suffrage.htm
- classic readings for second wave, http://www.cwluherstory.com/CWLUArchive/classic.html
- herstory -- http://www.cwluherstory.com/
Feb 1 –
- second wave, http://home.att.net/~celesten/2ndwave.html
- third wave -- http://www.thirdwavefoundation.org/default.htm
6 – Theories and theorizing
- Read Chapter 1
8 – Continue
- Assign Valentine’s Day exercise (writing #2)
13 – Women’s bodies
- Read Chapter 3
15 – Film Still Killing Us
Softly
20 – Women’s sexuality
- Read Chapter 4
- Valentine’s Day exercise due
22 – Women’s health
- Read Chapter 5
27 – continue
- Read: PMS handout; "Sexual politics of sickness"; menstruation website
Mar 1 – Women around the world presentations – health
- review questions for mid-term
6-9 – Spring Break
13 – Mid-Term exam
15 – Death Penalty Panel
-- Assign writing exercise #3 - Lucky
20 – Violence and women
- Read: Chapter 6
22 – Continue with violence and
discussion of Lucky
-- Writing #3 due
27 – Making a home and making a living
- Read: Chapter 7; Chapter 8
29 – Continue
April 3 – Continue
5 -- Women around the world presentations – women’s work
10 – Living in a global economy
-- Read: Chapter 9
12 – Women and the environment
-- Read: Chapter 12
17 – Women and the military, war and peace
-- Read: Chapter 11
19 – Continue
-- assign last writing exercise
24 – Women around the world presentations – war and peace
26 – Activism and change
-- Read: Chapter 13
-- Writing #4 due
May 3 – Final Exam