Soc 118: Spring '97 Syllabus

Sociology 118.01 Sex, Gender, and Society

Spring 1997
(Cross Listed with WOMEN'S STUDIES)

Instructor Information:

Dr. Janice I. Farkas
142 Social/Psychology Bldg
660 - 5603 (office)
farkas@soc.duke.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 10:00 - 11:30, Wednesday 10 - 11:30 (or by appointment)

Course Information:

126 Soc/Psy Bldg
MWF 9:10 - 10:00 a.m.

This course will explore the core concepts, biologically deterministic thinking and socially constructed constructs, that create male and female stereotypical gender-roles is our culture. The course will examine how behaviors associated with gender - roles have come to be defined by differential socialization across the life course and by the influence of social institutions. Although the course is sociological, we will examine the biological/physical differences and similarities between the sexes that have helped perpetuate gender - roles. An objective of the course is to expand our awareness of our gendered society and to question the necessity of current gender norms and roles.

Course Requirements:

This semester I have opted to give you, the student, two choices for course requirement options.

Option A: In this option you have a midterm exam worth 25%, a final exam worth 30%, two exercises worth 20%, and writing a term paper worth 25% of your final grade. The 10 - 12 page paper must be submitted by April 28th. A brief written statement of your paper topic should be submitted to me by Jan. 31. I require that each student meet with me briefly (10-15 minutes) to further define their paper topic. A sign up schedule will be available on Jan. 31 to schedule these meetings during the week of Feb. 3. In determining the paper topic the student should consider an area of their personal interest and the significance of their topic choice to course concepts. Citations are to follow the American Sociological Review style (see attached) and will be downgraded 5 points if this style is not followed. Additional information on term paper format will be provided when you meet with me. Late papers will be downgraded 1/2 grade per day late!
Option B: In this option you have a midterm exam worth 25%, a final exam worth 30%, two exercises worth 20%, and writing 5 short (2-3 page) reaction papers to the course readings and class discussion worth 25%. The format of the reaction papers will be provided to the class on Jan. 22. Late papers will be downgraded 1/2 grade per day late!

Students will need to inform me in writing of their option choice by Jan 28.

Regardless of your option choice, all students will participate in two exercises designed to increase your observation skills and awareness of the gendered society in which we live.

Exercise 1 - Attend Anna Fausto-Sterling's talk on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. to be held at the East Duke Bldg. in the Nelson Music Room. Fausto-Sterling's lecture is titled "Making Sex & Gender: Medical Approaches to Mixed Sex Births." You will be asked to sign an attendance sheet and write a short reaction to her talk (1-2 pages). I highly recommend taking this opportunity to hear one of the leading biological feminists.
OR Exercise 1 - You will be asked to do a short research project. In this project you are to observe the gendered socialization process of children by adults in a public area for an hour or so and write a reaction to your observation. In your write-up of this exercise (1 1/2 - 3 pages) please include relevant information on your research methodology (location, participant observer, time and date, etc.)
Exercise 2 - Identify and break a gender norm, then to write your observations of that experience. For example you might write how you felt when you broke the norm and your observations of others to your breaking the normative behavior. Your reaction paper should be about 1 1/2 - 3 pages. We will spend some time in class discussing our findings.

Grading scale will follow the convention grading scale: 90-100 (A's), 80-89 (B's), 70-79 (C's) etc.

Required Reading Material:

Anderson, M., 1997. Thinking About Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender. 4th Edition. (noted in syllabus as T).
May, L. R. Strikwerda, and P. Hopkins, 1996. Rethinking Masculinity: Philosophical Explorations in Light of Feminism. (noted in syllabus as R).
Coursepacket PRIMIS (noted in syllabus as P).
Library Reserve (noted in syllabus as L)

General Course Schedule:

Readings for the week(s) of

Jan. 17
Introduction

Jan. 20
Basic concepts for studying women and men's societal roles

T - Chapters 1 & 2
R - Chapter 1
P - Unger & Crawford: " Images of Women and Men"

Jan. 27 & Feb. 3
Sex differences? Biological deterministic thinking and the social constructions of gender

Jan. 27

R - Chapter 2
P - Unger & Crawford: "Does the Brain Have a Sex?"
P - Maccoby: "Sex Differences in Intellectual Functioning"
P - Lenski, Lenski, & Nolan: "Why Were Women Not the Hunters?"
L - Fausto-Sterling: Chapter 3

Jan 31 - Fausto-Sterling Lecture at 7:30

Feb. 3

T - Chapter 3
R - Chapters 3 & 4
P - Friedl: "Society and Sex Roles"

Option B: First Reaction Paper due Feb. 10

Feb. 10, 17, 23, March 3, 10, and 24
Social Institutions and Gender

Feb. 10
Gender and the Work Sphere

T - Chapter 5
P - Equal Pay Act of 1963
P - England: "Work for Pay and Work at Home: Women's Double Disadvantage.
P - Ehrenreich & Fuentes: "Life on the Global Assembly Line"
- Steinem: "The Importance of Work"

Exercise 1 due Feb. 17.

Feb. 17:
Gender and the Family

T - Chapter 6
R - Chapters 7 & 8
P - Gough: "The Origin of the Family"
P - Syfers: "Why I Want a Wife"

Feb. 24:

R - Chapters 9, 10 & 11

Option B: Second Reaction Paper due March 1

MIDTERM EXAM -- MARCH 5

March 10
Gender and Religion and the Judicial System

T - Chapters 8 & 9
P - Gilligan & Attanucci: "Two Moral Orientations: Gender Differences/Similarities"

March 17
Spring Break: VACATION!!!!!!!!

March 24
Gender and Power

T - Chapter 10
R - Chapter 15
P - Civil Rights Act of 1964
P - Lakoff: "You Are What You Say"
P - Moskos, "Army Women"

Option B: Third Reaction Paper due March 31

March 31, April 7, & 14
The Gendering of Health Care, Sexuality and Reproduction

March 31
Health and Reproduction

T - Chapter 7
R - Chapter 12
L - Fausto-Sterling: Chapter 4

April 7
Intimacy and Sexuality

T - Chapter 4
R - Chapters 5 , & 6

Exercise 2 due April 14

April 14

R - Chapter 13 & 14
P - Unger & Crawford: "The Social Context of Aging for Women and Men"

Option B: Fourth Reaction Paper due April 21

April 21
Changing Sex Roles? Liberal and Radical Perspectives

T - Chapters 11 & 12
P - Wollstonecraft: "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman - Dedication and Introduction" (Read this piece first please)
L - Fausto-Sterling: Chapter 7
P - Faludi: "The Undeclared War on Women"

Option B: Fifth Reaction Paper due April 28
Option A: Term Paper due April 28

April 28
New Directions for Feminist Theory and Concluding Discussion

T - Conclusion and course wrap up

May 5
Finals Week