Women's Studies 201 Fall 1993 WOMEN AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES Instructor: Dr. Nancy Kleiber AH 3175 San Diego State University Time: Tuesdays, 4:00 - 6:40 Office Hours: Following class, by appointment only!! This course will focus on how women view and are viewed in the social sciences, and on the impact of feminist views on current social science theories, methods and applications. COURSE GOALS: (fuzzies) I. Become familiar with the structure, content, theories and methods of the social sciences. 2. Analyze and critique the views of women in the social sciences. 3. Trace changes in social science and feminist research. 4. Develop writing skills. TEXTS: (available at KB Books) Required: Hochschild, Arlie: The Second Shift Tavris: The Mismeasure of Woman Kleiber: Reader for Women's Studies 201, available at KB Books Feb I ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION: (performance, criteria, conditions) I. Vocabulary and basic concepts. There will be three exams which will focus on definitions of vocabulary and basic concepts. These will be from lectures, class discussions, and readings. 2. In-class writing assignments. Students will have weekly writing assignments to be done in class. TOPICS WILL BE HANDED OUT IN CLASS. These are due on the date assigned. 3. Research reports: These reports are to be written up, INCLUDING REFERENCES TO THE READINGS, and be handed in on the date specified. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED! a. Review of an introductory text for a social science course. Report should include critique of this text for sexism, racism, classism, ageism, etc. Written report, three pages, typed, double-spaced, proof-read, containing references to the readings and class discussion, due September 14, at the beginning of class. b. Trip to Museum of Man display on Human Evolution. Written report, three pages, typed, double-spaced, proof-read, containing references to the readings and class discussions, due October 19, at the beginning of class. c. Working Marriage. Project will involve reading The Second Shift, and applying its findings to your own experiences. Exact assignment to be handed out later in the semester. Due November 30, at the beginning of class. 4. Participation. Part of the grade depends on participation in class, in discussions, presentations, projects, etc. CLASS POLICIES: Attendance is required. Students are expected to have read the assigned material, in depth, before each class session. Class periods will include lectures, discussions, films, and student presentations and in-class writing assignments. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor IN ADVANCE should problems arise. To be accepted, assignments must be HANDED IN ON TIME!!! All written assignments must INCLUDE REFERENCES TO THE READINGS AND OTHER CLASS MATERIALS AND DISCUSSIONS. They must be proofread for spelling, grammar and punctuation. Please use dictionaries, friends, and other class members to help with proofreading. Assignments which are not properly prepared will be not be graded. No 'incomplete' grades will be given. GRADING: Exam #1 20 _____ Exam #2 20 _____ Exam #3 20 _____ Paper A (Text book critique) 10 _____ Paper B (Museum of Man) 20 _____ Paper C (Second Shift) 50 _____ Presentation #l (reading) 10 _____ Presentation #2 (Tavris) 20 _____ In-class writing 30 _____ Total 200 _____ 180 - 200 A 160 - 179 B 140 - 159 C 120 - 139 D below 120 F Plus and minus grades will be assigned as appropriate. Course Schedule Week I Aug 31 Introduction: Impact of sexism on social science. Film: Gender Reading: McNaught: Understanding Sexism (handout) Research report A: Textbook analysis. Due Sept 14. Week II Sept 7 Foundations: Sexism, gender and language Reading: Wells: Woman, which includes man, of course Miller and Swift: Who is Man? The Pronoun Problem Generalization Week III Sept 14 Foundations: Perspectives on gender Readings: Deckard: Sexual Stereotypes Kessler and McKenna: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Gender Unger: Redefinition of sex and gender RESEARCH REPORT 'A' DUE TODAY AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS Week IV Sept 21 Foundations: Science and Methods Readings: Wade and Tavris: Critical Thinking Reynolds: Scientific Fiction Dubois: Passionate Scholarship Tavris: Introduction to The Mismeasure of Woman Week V Sept 28 Woman-centered approaches to social science Readings: Collins: The Social Construction of Black Feminist Thought Patai: Beyond Defensiveness Waring: Ch. 1: A Woman's Reckoning Dworsky: Appendix II (Handout) EXAM #1 Week VI Oct 5 The Evolution of Women Readings: Washburn & Lancaster: Evolution of Hunting Slocum: Woman the Gatherer Film: Tales of the Human Dawn Field trip to the Museum of Man. Report B, Due Oct 19. Week VII Oct 12 Gender and participant-Observation Readings: Light and Kleiber: Interactive Research Fleuhr-Lobban and Lobban: Families, Gender and Methodology Film: Margaret Mead: Taking Notes Week VIII Oct 19 Sociobiology Readings: Gross & Averill: Evolution and patriarchal Myths Blier: Sociobiology and Biological Determinism RESEARCH REPORT 'B' DUE TODAY AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS Week IX Oct 26 Psychology and gender Readings: Freud: Femininity Oakley: Myths - Motherhood Erikson: Reflections on Womanhood Williams: On Erikson Kahn and Yoder: Psychology of Women and Conservatism EXAM #2 Week X Nov 2 The Gendered Self Readings: Tavris: Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 Week XI Nov 9 The Gendered Self Readings: Tavris: Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 Week XII Nov 16 Women's Work: Marriage and Family Readings: Parsons: Sex Roles and Family Structure Oakley: Myths of Woman's Place Mainardi: Politics of Housework Hochschild: Chs. 1, 2, and 3 Week XIII Nov 23 Women's Work: Employment Readings: Collins: Two Works on Black Family Life Hondagneu-Sotelo: Overcoming patriarchal Constraints Kohen: Gender and Female Headed Households Week XIV Nov 30 Student presentation of term papers RESEARCH REPORT 'C' DUE TODAY AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS Week XV Dec 7 Summary and conclusions Reading: Musil (ed) The Courage to Question. (Handout) EXAM #3