WMST 101H/ Spring 2002 Phone:
410-780-6945
Stacy Steinberg E-mail: ssteinberg@ccbc.cc.md.us
Office: H323 Web Site:
Office Hours:
http://student.ccbc.cc.md.us/~sstein17
and by appointment
INTRODUCTION
TO WOMEN’S STUDIES, HONORS
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Kesselman, Amy, et.
al. Women: Images and Realities
Seager, Joni. The State of Women in the World Atlas
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
The Honors version
of Women’s Studies 101 is an interdisciplinary introduction to the experiences,
achievements, and status of women in society.
We will analyze cultural constructions of gender, past and present, and
examine women’s relationships to social institutions such as the family, the
workplace, the educational system, the media, law, religion, science, and the
arts. The course takes a global and muticultural approach, and particular
attention is paid to the diversity of women’s experiences based on class, race,
ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and country of residence. This course
is conducted in seminar/discussion format, and an important part of the
learning process will be sharing your own experiences and responses to the
readings, and hearing the perspectives of your classmates. Therefore, you will be expected to engage
actively with the material and to add your own voice and ideas to class
discussions and activities.
This course is part
of a Learning Community, paired with Rae Rosenthal’s English 102 Honors. Several of the themes we discuss and
projects we complete throughout the semester will be coordinated with work you
will be doing for Dr. Rosenthal’s class.
It is our hope that the Learning Community approach will help you to
make connections between the two courses and to develop closer relationships
with your classmates and your instructors.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attendance and
Participation: Since much of what you learn in this course will be the
result of participation in discussions and activities, regular class attendance
and active participation are required. Attendance records will be kept, and
participation will be calculated into your final grade. In addition, students
who miss more than six classes will have their final grade lowered by
two points for each additional class missed.
For example, a student with a final grade average of 91 who missed seven
classes will have her or his average lowered to 89. Habitual lateness will count as partial absences.
2. Quizzes: To encourage you to keep up
with the reading (and not leave it all for the night before the exam!), I will
give a short quiz every Friday at the beginning of class. At the end of the
semester, I will drop your two lowest quiz grades. You may not make up quizzes missed due to absence, regardless
of the reason for the absence. No exceptions!
3. Presentations: Each of you will give
two class presentations:
1.) “International Women”
group presentation. The class will
be divided into groups of 3-4 students, and each group will research the
position of women in another country.
Within certain guidelines, your group can choose the country you wish to
research. You should cover multiple
aspects of women’s lives, including family life, work, education, standard of
living, legal rights, education, medicine, and personal freedoms. Your goal should be to think critically and
comparatively: In what ways are the lives of women in this country different
from the lives of women in the U.S.? In
what ways are they similar?
2.) “Project for Change” presentation. Your last paper for Dr. Rosenthal’s class will be a “Project for
Change” in which you propose solutions to problems affecting women’s lives and
present your vision for a more positive future. In my class, you will give a
short (10-15 minute) presentation based on this paper, sharing your vision of
the future with your classmates.
For both of these
assignments, you will be graded on the quality of your information, and the
organization and clarity of your presentations.
4. Exams: There will be a mid-term exam
on March 27 and a take-home final due on the scheduled final exam date. Exams will consist primarily of short
essays.
5. Book Review:
Each of you will read a full-length non-fiction work that has made a
significant contribution to the field of Women’s Studies, and write a 3-4 page
book review. The review should consist
of two components: a summary and an evaluation. The summary component of the essay should be no more than 1 1/2
pages long. Your evaluation should
include an analysis of the important features of the book and their relevance
to women in contemporary society. You
should also include your personal responses to the book and its relevance to
your own experiences. I will give you a
list of suggested books; however, you should feel free to choose one yourself,
provided that you clear it with me in advance.
6. Women’s History Month Events: March
is Women’s History Month, and a number of on-campus events are scheduled that
relate to topics we will be discussing in class. Events are listed on the syllabus. You are required to attend at least two events; if you attend a
third, you will receive extra credit.
SUPPORT SERVICES:
The Learning
Assistance Center, located in D102 (phone #780-6901) provides services for
students who are having trouble with classwork.
The Writing Center,
located in H338 (phone # 780-6799), provides free one-on-one assistance with
essay writing, including generating ideas, organizing, editing, etc. Bring a draft of the paper (or notes or an
outline) to your appointment. To insure that a tutor will be available, set up
your appointment in advance.
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism,
“cribbing,” copying from others in class, and other violations of academic
honesty will not be tolerated. All ideas that are not your own, and any wording
that is not your own, must be properly documented, giving credit to the
original source. The minimum penalty
for plagiarism or cheating is an F for the course; a more severe penalty may be
recommended.
GRADES:
Your final grade
will be determined as follows:
Class Participation 15%
Quizzes 10%
International Women Presentation 15%
Project for Change Presentation 10%
Book Review 15%
Mid-term 15%
Final Exam 20%
WITHDRAWAL FROM
THE COURSE:
If you decide you do
not want to complete this (or any other) course, you must withdraw formally
by April 17. Fill out a “Change of
Schedule” form at the Registrar’s office; otherwise, a grade of “F” will appear
on your transcript.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYLLABUS
Please note the following:
•
Dates and
assignments are subject to change. Bring your syllabus to class with you each
day so you can write in any changes.
•
Readings and
assignments listed on each date are due on that date.
•
Readings are in
Women: Images and Realities unless otherwise indicated. Numbers listed correspond to the reading
selection numbers in the textbook’s table of contents
I: What is Women’s Studies?
W Jan.
30 Introductions
F Feb.
1 p.
8-14 and “Talking Back” (1), “Claiming an Education” (3)
M Feb.
4 “The Politics of...” (4),
“Men and Women’s Studies” (5)
II: Learning
Sexism
W Feb.
6 p.
40-42 and “Gender Equity in the Classroom” (24), “X” (30)
(Atlas p. 84-87)
F Feb.
8 “Purification”
(47), “Brideland” (58)
(Atlas p. 52-53)
M Feb.
11 “The Great Person-Hole Cover
Debate”(handout)
III: Work and
Family
W Feb.
13 “The Problem That Has No
Name” (13), “An Overview...”(53),
F Feb.
15 “The Politics of Housework”
(55), “The Myth of the Miserable Working Woman” (handout)
M Feb.
18 “The Job/Family Challenge”
(56), introduction to The Price of Motherhood (handout)
(Atlas p. 32-35)
W Feb.
20 “Exploding the
Stereotypes” (57), “Farewell to Welfare” (58)
(Atlas p. 60-70)
**CULTURAL EVENT: Malikah Shabazz 12:30-1:30**
F Feb.
22 “Family and Women’s Lives”
(64), “Don’t You Talk About My Mama!” (67)
M Feb.
25 “Working at Single
Bliss” (68), “Livin’ in a Gay Family” (95)
(Atlas p. 20-29)
W Feb.
27 International Women
Presentation #1
IV: Women and Institutions
F Mar.
1 p.
160-165 and “Women and the Law” (50), “On Identity” (51)
(Atlas p. 88-91)
M Mar.
4 “How
Women Get...” (71), “Missing Persons” (73)
(Atlas p. 44-47)
**CULTURAL EVENT: International Student Panel 12:20-1:15**
W Mar.
6 “Females
in Sports” (handout), “Fair Game” (handout)
(Atlas p. 48-49)
**FILM: Still Killing Us Softly 12:20**
F Mar.
8 “My
Church...” (76), “Reactions to...” (77), “In Her Own Image” (78)
M Mar.
11 International Women
Presentation #2
V: Body Image, Sexuality, and the Media
W Mar
13 “The Gift” (21), “Teen Mags”
(26) “Female Images” (28)
(Atlas p. 50-51)
**CULTURAL EVENT: Carrie Otis 12:30-1:30**
F Mar.
15 p. 108-111 and “The Myth”
(31), “When I Was...” (32), “Beauty” (41)
M Mar.
18 “Time to Eat” (37), “Women’s
Oppression...” (38), “Homage to My Hips” (40)
W Mar.
20 Professional Study Day--All
CCBC Classes Canceled
F Mar.
22 box on p. 37, box on p. 144,
“Lusting for Freedom” (42), “My Man
Bovanne” (46)
M Mar.
25 “Bisexuality, Feminism,
Men...” (49), “Homophobia and Sexism” (92)
W Mar.
27 Mid-Term Exam
F Mar.
29
to SPRING BREAK
F Apr.
5
VI: Differences Among Women
M Apr.
8 p.
300-302 and “White Privilege” (98), “Age, Race, Class and Sex” (99), “Salad”
(81)
W Apr. 10 “On
Being a ‘Good Girl’” (20), “Thoughts on Indian Feminism” (137),
box p. 56
F Apr.
12 “Tired of Playing Monopoly?”
(86), “The Birthday Party” (87)
(Atlas
p. 76-79)
M Apr.
15 “The Women in the Tower”
(102), “Wonderful Older Women” (104)
W Apr.
17 International Women
Presentation #3
VII: Current
Issues
F Apr.
19 p. 368-372, “Sexual
Harassment” (112)
M Apr.
22 “A Letter...” (117), “The
Club” (118), “Battering” (119)
W Apr.
24 “Rape” (123), “Date Rape’s
Other Victim” (handout)
F Apr.
26 “Abortion” (105), “Beyond
‘It’s a Baby’” (handout)
(Atlas p. 34-42)
Book Review Due
M Apr.
29 International Women
Presentation #4
VIII: Feminism: The Past and the Future
W May
1 “A
History of Feminist Movements” (130), “The Seneca Falls Women’s Rights
Convention” (131), “Sojourner Truth’s Speech” (132)
F May
3 “Introduction
to Home Girls” (135), “Blame it on Feminism” (138)
M May
6 “Becoming
the Third Wave” (142), “Taking it Lying Down...” (147)
W May
8 “Blue-Collar
Women...” (143), “HUES Magazine” (148)
F May
10 “Projects for Change”
presentations
M May
13 “Projects for Change”
presentations
W May
15 “Projects for Change”
presentations