| Course Description |
Introduction to the study of women, feminism, and theories of oppression and privilege,
particularly with respect to gender, sexuality, race, class, and sexual orientation. Topics include systems of oppression, gender
socialization, sexuality, violence, and social institutions such as family, health care, media, religion, legal systems, work and
labor, and education. |
| Course Overview |
The course is centered on feminist scholarship about women and their relationships with:
systems of oppression and privilege; social and individual identities; the body; family; motherhood; work; violence; state, law, and
social policies; politics; global perspectives; health and reproductive rights, sexuality and intimacy; art, music, and culture; spirituality
and religion; creative expression; and empowerment. Also included are women’s changing roles and their treatment through history, and
the positive changes that feminism has brought to women due to the influence of the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Liberation
Movements, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Movements.
Because sexism, racism, classism, genderism, homophobia, heterosexism, ageism and ableism limit possibilities for everyone, students
will have the opportunity to
- Study the social construction of identity and difference and theories of oppression and privilege.
- Investigate ways to challenge oppression so that positive societal changes can continue to occur.
- Explore ways to celebrate efforts to create a just society.
Also because sexism, racism, classism, genderism, homophobia, heterosexism, ageism and ableism touch everyone of us on a personal
and political level whether as recipients of privilege or recipients of oppression, this course will challenge all students at a personal level.
Much of the material we will be studying will be discomforting to learn about. To be successful in this course it is essential that a
student be able and willing
- To get out of her or his comfort zone.
- To listen with an open mind.
- To attempt to digest and understand uncomfortable material before reacting.
- To respectfully study, learn, and understand feminist points of view, many of which are different from societal norms and beliefs.
|
| Instructional Methods Used |
Methods used include: lecture, small/large group discussion and activities,
videos, homework assignments, quizzes, and a final exam. |
| Course Objectives |
Upon successful completion of SOC 120, the student should be able to:
- Discuss Women's Studies as a critical, scholarly discipline and as the academic manifestation of feminism.
- Define feminism, sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, heterosexism, biphobia, transphobia, gender
phobia, ageism, ableism, misogyny, androcentrism, patriarchy, oppression, internalized oppression, institutional
power, privilege, unearned entitlements, prejudice, and empowerment.
- Discuss theories of oppression and privilege and the feminist principle that the personal is political.
- Demonstrate an awareness of and an appreciation for the diversity of identities among women, particularly
by race, class, sexual orientation, age and/or ability. Demonstrate an awareness of and an appreciation for one's
own place within that diversity.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the social construction of gender, sexuality, race, and class in
contemporary society.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the intersections of gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, sexual
orientation, and ability and the effects of these intersections on the identity and social status of women.
- Explain feminist analysis of social institutions such as family, health care, media, religion, legal systems, work
and labor, and education.
- Identify the contributions of feminism and the women's rights movements to women's existing rights.
- Identify and evaluate information on feminism and women's issues on the Internet.
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| Textbook |
 |
Women's Voices, Feminist Visions, 3rd Ed. by Shaw and Lee |
|
| Attendance |
Students will be allowed either one unexcused absences or
two excused absences only. Each absence over one will lower a student's final percent by 4
percentage points. Each excused absence over two will lower a student's final percent by 2 percentage point.
To have an absence excused a student must fill out an
Excused Absence Form, determine and complete all required make-up work for the date missed, and hand in
all make-up work, late assignments and the completed Excused Absence Form at the time of the next class.
Each class will end when students are given a form asking for their name, the date and answers to the two following questions:
- What is the most important thing you learned in class today?
- What is the main question you still have?
Students must fill out and hand in this form to be counted as present.
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| Reading Quizzes (6 points each) |
Each class with a reading assignment will begin with a seven-minute quiz
covering the readings for the day. Quizzes will contain eight questions; six correct answers will earn a perfect score.
Questions will be multiple choice, short answer (one sentence), fill-in-the-blank, true/false, and matching. Students may
use their written notes during quizzes. Late arrivals will not be given extra time. The lowest quiz score will be dropped.
There are no make-up quizzes. |
| Writing Assignments (15 points each) |
Three writing assignments will be required.
Check the Course Schedule or
Writing Assignments page for exact dates and topics.
The purpose of the writing assignments is to develop critical
thinking skills and to apply them to your learning of feminism. |
| Biography Project (45 points) |
Each student is to choose a women to research. This woman must differ
from you on the basis of either race or sexual orientation. Research the life of this woman and prepare a 3-5 minute
presentation. More information on how to complete this assignment is available under the
Biography Assignment page. |
| Internet Search Assignment (15 points) |
This assignment entails using the Internet to search for and evaluate information
about women's issues. Correctly completed forms are worth ten points. Type or print your answers making sure they are
legible. Reporting your findings to the class on the due date will earn five points. The assignment form and instructions are
available under the Internet Assignment page. |
| Creative Project (35 points) |
Each student is to prepare a final project expressing her or his voice. This
project can be a poem, a short story, a short play, a picture (drawing, painting, crayon-drawing, collage, photographs, etc.),
or anything else creative. The project will be presented in class. A 1-2 page paper explaining your project will also be
required. Complete information on this assignment is available under the
Creative Project Assignment page. |
| Final Exam (100 points) |
The final is a comprehensive, in-class exam. No notes are allowed. |
| Letter Grades |
Grades will be determined according to the following scale:
| Grade |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
|
Percent |
94 |
90 |
87 |
83 |
80 |
77 |
73 |
70 |
67 |
63 |
60 |
|
| Withdrawals |
The procedures for dropping this class are in accordance with the rules outlined in the
TCC Catalog. Students may drop a course during the first 10 calendar days of the quarter and no grade will appear on their transcript.
After that, through the 50th calendar day, a student may withdraw with a grade of W. After the 50th day you must request an instructor withdrawal (a grade of WI) from the instructor. No requests will be considered after the 9th week of classes. |
| Incompletes |
Incompletes are not given except under very unusual circumstances, which must be
discussed with the instructor. Typically an incomplete is only given when a student who is doing well in the class
misses a small amount of work (such as the final) due to an emergency. |
| Disruptive Behavior |
Disruptive behavior and hostility will not be tolerated either in class or in communication
with the instructor outside of class. To foster a positive learning environment, students are expected to maintain a respectful attitude
toward classmates, the instructor, and opinions that differ from their own. Those who are disruptive or hostile or
fail to participate in a respectful manner will be told to leave class and be counted as absent. The student may not return to class
until she or he has made an appointment with the instructor and come to an agreement with the
instructor as to how to improve the behavior. |
| Cell Phones and Beepers |
All cell phones and beepers must be turned off before entering the classroom.
Having a cell phone or beeper that goes off in class may be considered disruptive behavior (see above). |
| Students with Special Needs |
Students are responsible for all requirements of the class, but the way they meet these
requirements may vary. If you need specific auxiliary aids or services due to a disability, please contact the Access Services office
in Building 18 (253-566-5328). They will require you to present formal, written documentation of your disability from an appropriate
professional. When this step has been completed, arrangements will be made for you to receive reasonable auxiliary aids or services.
The disability accommodations documentation prepared by Access Services must be given to your instructor a minimum of one week
before the accommodation is needed so that appropriate arrangements can be made. |
| Cheating Policy |
Students who engage in behaviors that may be interpreted as cheating will receive a
zero score on the assignment in question. A second offense will result in a grade of E for the course. |
| Late Work |
All work to be handed in such as Daily Quizzes, Test Rebates, and Projects must be
handed in on the day it is due either in class or in the instructor's mailbox
with a time stamp given by the faculty secretary. Late work will be accepted
only with an approved Excused Absence Form. |
| Visitors in Class |
If you intend to bring visitors to class (including children), you must get the
permission of the instructor first. Permission will not automatically be given.
|
| Food and Beverages |
Students may bring food and beverages to class as long as they do not distract other
students and clean up after themselves. |
| Classroom Concerns or Disputes |
If you have questions or concerns about this class or your instructor, please talk to
your instructor about your concerns. If you and your instructor are unable to resolve your concerns, you may talk with the
Department Chair of the Mathematics Department, Rhoda Gage, Building 20. The Chair can assist with information about additional
steps, if needed. |
| Changes |
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus during the
quarter. Any changes made will be announced in class and incorporated into this course website. |