I. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This course is designed as a survey introduction to Women's Studies and women-related issues. The focus will be on the experiences of women in the United States, but we will be making connections between these experiences and those of women globally. By placing women's experiences at the center of our interpretations, this class will explore philosophical , historical, political, economic and cultural issues from feminist perspectives. Because all women do not experience oppression in the same way, special attention will be given to the affects of race/ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability, and geographical location of women on their experiences. The first month of the course will be spent understanding basic concepts -- sex/gender, privilege/oppression, sexism, racism, classism, ableism, etc.-- necessary for a feminist analysis of contemporary issues which we will discuss during the remainder of the course.

II. TEXTS AND READINGS:
 

III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

This course is only as good as the students in it. Our course will be a mixture of lecture, discussion, guest speakers, outside class projects, and audio visual materials. There will be days when I lecture and others where student's discussions and group activities will be the focus of class time. Come to class with questions and be prepared to run the class discussion. As the semester progresses class discussions will slowly replace lecture materials.

A. ATTENDANCE AND QUALITY CLASS PARTICIPATION is required and will be considered part of your final grade. I suggest that you keep track of your attendance. You are allowed three absences. After your third absence your participation grade drops one letter. I will take attendance each day at the beginning of class. You must attend the entire class to be counted as present. If you come in during or after roll call let me know so I can mark you present. Absences will be excused only in cases of illness, family emergency, or child care problems. Children, if they are not disruptive, are welcome to attend class.

B. READING: YOU CANNOT DO WELL IN THIS COURSE IF YOU DO NOT DO THE READING!!!!! Students are expected to exhibit a reflective understanding of the readings in class discussions and in written work. Students should be in the habit of taking notes on the readings and all classroom lectures, discussions, and videos. My lectures will touch on, but not reproduce the content of the readings. Come to class with questions.

C. WRITTEN WORK:

1) TWO EVENT REVIEWS: Two one-page (single spaced) reviews of events on campus or in the community related to women's issues. March is women's history month, so make sure to keep an eye out for events. I will announce events of interest from time to time in class. All three event reviews are due as part of your final portfolio.

2) TWO THOUGHT PAPERS/PROJECTS: During the course of the semester I will assign two papers covering the units we discuss. The papers will be guided inquiries into the subject matter. Because much to the material covered in class is not in the reading, you ought to take good notes. Though papers will assume a working knowledge of the units they cover, as well as previous class materials.

3) INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PAPER: You will be required to write a 4-6 page well researched paper on a topic of your choice that is related to this class. This will later be edited to become a part of your 'Zine.

4)WOMAN'S 'ZINE: Each group of students will be responsible for putting together a 'Zine for the week they have chosen. The 'Zine will contain well-researched articles which relate to, but do NOT repeat class themes. Students will design and edit the 'Zine and make copies available to the class that week. I will have a hand-out on this later. TREAT THIS AS A RESEARCH PAPER IN A NEWSLETTER FORMAT.

5) PORTFOLIO: A portfolio containing all the above assignments and a self-evaluation will be due the day of the final.

IV. EVALUATIONS:

Attendance, Assignments, and participation: 10%
Two outside event reviews: 10%
Project/Paper One: 20%
Project/Paper Two: 20%
Individual Research Paper: 20%
Group Women's Zine: 20%

V. SCHEDULE: Readings are to be prepared in advance of lecture/discussions. I reserve the right to change readings, class assignments and due dates to reflect the needs of the class. All readings are in Feminist Frontiers, except where noted.

I. Feminism as Shifting the Center: Understanding Gender and Society

through Women's Eyes.

Week One: Jan 12: Introduction: What to expect in this class.
Assignment: Understanding Current Attitudes Survey.
Jan 14: Alice Walker, "Womanist," p. 104.
bell hooks, "Black Students who.." pp. 546-7
Dale Spender, "An Alternative to Madonna" (P)
Hoagland, "Fear of Feminism" (P)
Pogrebin, "Stolen Spotlinght" (P)

II. Understanding Sex and Gender:

Week Two: Jan 19: Gould, "X: A Fabulous Child's Story" (P)
Jan 21: Lorber, "Night to His Day..." pp. 33-47.

Week Three: Jan 26: Shapiro, "Transexualism: Reflections..." pp. 48-63.
Jan 28: Kessler, "The Medical Construction of Gender." (P)

III. Understanding Sex, Gender, Race, and Class as Systems

That Generate Privilege and Oppression:

Week Four: Feb 2: Frye, "Oppression" (MF) pp. 1-16.
(Please read version in Frye, not in Feminist Frontiers).
Soujourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?" p. 20.

Feb 4: Allen, "Where I Come from.." pp. 18-22.
Lorde, "The Master's Tools.." pp. 26-27.
Yamato, "Something about ...." pp. 28-30.

Week Five: Feb 9: Frye, "On Being White", pp. 110-127.

IV. The Impact of Body Images on Women's Sexuality and Medicine:

Feb 11: Video Segments: Killing Us Softly, Question of Color.
Assignment: Media Awareness and TV Messages

Paper/Project One Due

Week Six: Feb 16: Cunningham, "Barbie Doll Culture.." pp. 122-126.
Faludi, "The Beauty Myth," pp. 124.
Galler, "The Myth of the Perfect Body," p. 342-3.
Feb 18: Tolman, "Doing Desire..," pp. 337-349.

Week Seven: Feb 23: Thompson, "A Way Out of No Way," pp. 366-375.

Speaker: TBA
Feb 25: Fausto-Sterling, "Hormonal Hurricanes,' pp. 353-66
Steinhem, "If Men Could Menstruate," p. 358.

Week Eight: March 2: Frye, "A Note on Anger," pp. 84-94. (MF)
March 4: Catch-up and Review or Discussion.

Individual Research Paper Due
 

IV. Women, Work, and Families:

Week Ten: March 16: Kessler-Harris, "The Wage Conceived.." pp. 201-14
Wage for Housework, Staying Alive (P)
March 18: Liedner, "Serving Hambergers..." 234-247.
'Zine One Due

Week Eleven: March 23: Fiuffre /Williams, "Boundary Lines," pp. 247-60.
'Zine Two Due

March 25: Women in the Global Sweatshop Economy
Speaker: Mike Matijka.

Paper Two Due.

Week Twelve: March 30: Edin, "Surviving The Welfare System.." pp.447- 457.
'Zine Three Due

April 1: Lewin, "Lesbian Motherhood..." pp. 295-307.

Week Thirteen: April 6: Catch-up and Review or Discussion
'Zine Four Due

V. Violence Against Women:
April 8: Bernard and Schlaffer, "The Man.." pp. 395-397.

'Zine Five Due

Week Fourteen: April 13: "How Not to Get Raped..." (P)
"Sexual Assault and Rape: Advice for Men (P)
Martin and Hummer, "Fraternities ..." pp. 398-408.
Allen and Kivel. "Men Changing Men, pp. 400-1.
'Zine Six Due
April 15: Caputi and Russell, "Femicide,' pp. 421-427.

Week Fifteen: April 20: Tetreault, "Rape as a War Crime," pp. 427-440.
Video: Calling the Ghosts
'Zine Seven Due

April 22: Catch-up and Review or Discussion.
'Zine Eight Due

VI. Strategies for Resistance and Empowerment:

Week Sixteen: April 27: Taylor and Whittier, "The New Feminist..."
pp. 544-561.
'Zine Nine Due

April 29: Course Review