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 81 who missed seven classes will have her or his average lowered to 79. Habitual lateness will count as partial absences.

2. E-mail Community Journals (List address: DIVERSITY-LEARN-L@listproc.cat.cc.md.us): Throughout the semester, you will contribute to an ongoing class Acommunity journal@ via e-mail. To participate, you must have an e-mail address (If you do not have one already, CCBC accounts are available to all students, or you can easily set up an account through Hotmail or one of the other providers.) I will set up a class e-mail list, and each week you will post at least one entry (minimum 100 words) to the list. Most weeks, your entries will be informal, personal responses to one or more of the assigned readings. (Occasionally, I will give more specific assignments). You can respond to any reading or readings that you like in a particular week, however, you must post your response by 8:00 p.m. the night before the reading is to be discussed in class. For example, if you wish to respond to the reading for Wednesday=s class, you must post your entry by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night. If other students have already posted entries on the readings for the day you choose, you should read and respond to the other students= entries. Journal writings can be informal and experimental; individual entries will not be graded or commented upon, although I may post occasional messages or comments to the class as a whole. The journal is meant to create a dialogue and to stimulate class discussion; I encourage you to respond to other students= comments and/or to pose questions or problems for the class to address. You may miss one week=s entry without penalty; you cannot substitute for a missed entry by contributing two on another week.

3. 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!

4. Presentations: Each of you will give two class presentations:

1.) AInternational 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.) AProject for Change@ presentation. Your last paper for Dr. Rosenthal=s class will be a AProject for Change@ in which you propose solutions to problems affecting women=s lives and present your vision for a more positive future. In this 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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, Acribbing,@ 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:

Participation and e-mail journal 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 . Fill out a AChange of Schedule@ form at the Registrar=s office; otherwise, a grade of AF@ will appear on your transcript.

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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 ATalking Back@ (1), AClaiming an Education@ (3)

M Feb. 4 AThe Politics of...@ (4), AMen and Women=s Studies@ (5)

II: Learning Sexism

W Feb. 6 p. 40-42 and AGender Equity in the Classroom@ (24), AX@ (30)
(Atlas p. 84-87)

F Feb. 8 APurification@ (47), ABrideland@ (58)
(Atlas p. 52-53)

M Feb. 11 AThe Great Person-Hole Cover Debate@(handout)

III: Work and Family

W Feb. 13 AThe Problem That Has No Name@ (13), AAn Overview...@(53),

F Feb. 15 AThe Politics of Housework@ (55), AThe Myth of the Miserable Working Woman@ (handout)

M Feb. 18 AThe Job/Family Challenge@ (56), introduction to The Price of Motherhood (handout)
(Atlas p. 32-35)

W Feb. 20 AExploding the Stereotypes@ (57), AFarewell to Welfare@ (58)
(Atlas p. 60-70)

F Feb. 22 AFamily and Women=s Lives@ (64), ADon=t You Talk About My Mama!@ (67)

M Feb. 25 AWorking at Single Bliss@ (68), ALivin= 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 AWomen and the Law@ (50), AOn Identity@ (51)
(Atlas p. 88-91)

M Mar. 4 AHow Women Get...@ (71), AMissing Persons@ (73)
(Atlas p. 44-47)

W Mar. 6 AFemales in Sports@ (handout), AFair Game@ (handout)
(Atlas p. 48-49)

F Mar. 8 AMy Church...@ (76), AReactions to...@ (77), AIn Her Own Image@ (78)

M Mar. 11 International Women Presentation #2

V: Body Image, Sexuality, and the Media

W Mar 13 AThe Gift@ (21), ATeen Mags@ (26) AFemale Images@ (28)
(Atlas p. 50-51)

F Mar. 15 p. 108-111 and AThe Myth@ (31), AWhen I Was...@ (32), ABeauty@ (41)

M Mar. 18 ATime to Eat@ (37), AWomen=s Oppression...@ (38), AHomage 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, ALusting for Freedom@ (42), AMy Man
Bovanne@ (46)

M Mar. 25 ABisexuality, Feminism, Men...@ (49), AHomophobia 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 AWhite Privilege@ (98), AAge, Race, Class and Sex@ (99), ASalad@ (81)

W Apr. 10 AOn Being a >Good Girl=@ (20), AThoughts on Indian Feminism@ (137),
box p. 56

F Apr. 12 ATired of Playing Monopoly?@ (86), AThe Birthday Party@ (87)
(Atlas p. 76-79)

M Apr. 15 AThe Women in the Tower@ (102), AWonderful Older Women@ (104)

W Apr. 17 International Women Presentation #3

VII: Current Issues

F Apr. 19 p. 368-372, ASexual Harassment@ (112)

M Apr. 22 AA Letter...@ (117), AThe Club@ (118), ABattering@ (119)

W Apr. 24 ARape@ (123), ADate Rape=s Other Victim@ (handout)
F Apr. 26 AAbortion@ (105), ABeyond >It=s a Baby=@ (handout)
(Atlas p. 34-42)

M Apr. 29 International Women Presentation #4

VIII: Feminism: The Past and the Future

W May 1 AA History of Feminist Movements@ (130), AThe Seneca Falls Women=s Rights Convention@ (131), ASojourner Truth=s Speech@ (132)

F May 3 AIntroduction to Home Girls@ (135), ABlame it on Feminism@ (138)

M May 6 ABecoming the Third Wave@ (142), ATaking it Lying Down...@ (147)

W May 8 ABlue-Collar Women...@ (143), AHUES Magazine@ (148)

F May 10 AProjects for Change@ presentations

M May 13 AProjects for Change@ presentations

W May 15 AProjects for Change@ presentations