FALL 2009 SOC
324 (#12437)
VENUE: JA 100 TIME: FRI 8:00 – 10:45 AM
INSTRUCTOR: STAVROS N.
KARAGEORGIS
TELEPHONE: (818)
677-3594 (during office hours)
E-MAIL: stavros.karageorgis@csun.edu
OFFICE: SN 334 OFFICE
HOURS: FRI Noon – 3:00 PM
SOCIOLOGY of GENDER (and SEXUALITY)
The substantive goal
of this course is to introduce you to social-scientific ways of
conceptualizing, analyzing, understanding and researching gender (and
sexuality) and their continual, reciprocal, interactive relationship with other
social phenomena and institutions (age, race, ethnicity, class, the family, the
state, the economy, the media, education, etc.) Since both gender and sexuality
involve our relationships with our own and others’ bodies, the sociology of the
body will be a constant theme, as well.
Our primary geographical and chronological focus will be on the
contemporary
Successful
completion of this course will, in addition to enhancing your knowledge and
understanding of gender and sexuality, enable you to develop and apply your
critical reading, writing, and oral skills.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Class attendance and Constructive class participation
2.
Careful study of the assigned readings.
3.
Completion of three Exams.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
1. Kimmel, Michael S.: The Gendered Society, Third Edition (TGS)
2. Kimmel, Michael S.
and Aronson, Amy: The Gendered Society Reader, Third Edition (TGSR)
Or, bundled together: ISBN:
9780195342246
IMPORTANT
DATES:
September 11 : Last day to register late, add a class, drop a
class, or change basis of grading
OCTOBER 2 : Click here for a 'study guide'
for EXAM 1;
NOVEMBER 6 : Click
here for a 'study guide' for EXAM 2;
November 27 : NO class (Thanksgiving)
Dec 11 :
Click here for a 'study guide'
for EXAM 3.
EVALUATION:
Grading will be according to the
following scheme:
Class Attendance & Participation : up to 250
points
Exam 1 : up to 250 points
Exam 2 : up to 250 points
Exam 3 : up to 250 points
_______________________________________________
Total : up to 1000 points
I will assign final letter grades
according to the following scheme:
925
to 1000 = A
895
to 924 = A-
875
to 894 = B+
825
to 874 = B
795
to 824 = B-
775
to 794 = C+
725
to 774 = C
695
to 724 = C-
675
to 694 = D+
625
to 674 = D
595
to 624 = D-
0 to 594 =
F
GENERAL REMARKS:
Since
class participation is an important part of the learning process, you should
expect to be called upon, if you do not volunteer, to participate. Come to class
prepared to reconstruct and debate the arguments and claims of the authors of
assigned readings, to constructively critique those of your colleagues and the
Instructor, and to be so critiqued.
The
Exams may consist of multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer in-class
exams, in-class short-essay exams and/or take-home longer-essay exams.
NOTE:
I will NOT tolerate academic
dishonesty (cheating, plagiarizing, etc).
The minimum penalty for confirmed academic dishonesty will be a
grade of F and zero points for the assignment in question. Repeated or
egregious violations may result in a grade of F for the course and University
disciplinary action referral.
Topics,
reading and writing assignments
(Subject to revision; monitor your @csun.edu e-mail account and http://www.csun.edu/~snk1966/324SYLF9.htm
regularly)
Weeks One and Two (Aug 28 and Sep 4)
Introduction: Sex and Sexual Differences vs Gender
and Sexual Inequalities
Biological and/vs Cultural Determinist
Perspectives: A False Dichotomy
Read:
1.
TGS : Introduction,
Chapters 2 and 3;
2.
TGSR : Introduction
(Michael S. Kimmel),
1. Anatomy
and Destiny: Biological Arguments About Gender Differences (
2. Cultural Constructions of Gender
(Margaret Mead; Gilbert Herdt; Candace West and Sarah Fenstermaker)
3.
TGS: Chapter 5 (optional but
recommended)
Weeks Three to Six (Sep 11, 18, 25 &
Oct 2)
Psychological and Sociological
Perspectives
Read:
1.
TGS: Chapters 4 and 5;
2.
TGSR: 3. Psychology of Sex Roles (Janet Shibley Hyde; C.J. Pascoe; Daryl J.
Bem)
4. The Social Construction of Gender Relations (Judith M. Gerson and Kathy
Peiss; Candace West and Don H. Zimmerman; Raine
Dozier)
Exam 1: OCT 2 (Click here for a 'study
guide' for Exam 1)
Weeks Six to Eleven (Oct 2, 9, 16, 23,
30 & Nov 6)
Gendered Identities and Gendered
Institutions
Read:
1.
TGS: Chapters 6, 7 and 8;
2.
TGSR: 5. The Gendered Family (David Popenoe; Scott Coltrane, Toni Calasanti)
6. The Gendered Classroom (Karen Zittleman, Diane Reay, Ann Ferguson)
7. The Gendered Workplace (Joan Acker, Barbara F. Reskin; Christine L.
Williams; Kara Erickson and Jennifer L. Pierce)
Exam 2: NOVEMBER 6 (Click here for a 'study
guide' for Exam 2)
Weeks Eleven to Thirteen (Nov 6, 13, 20]
Gendered Interactions
Read:
1.
TGS: Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12
2.
TGSR: 8. The Gendered Media (Melissa A. Milkie; Michael S. Kimmel)
9.
The Gendered Body (Susan Bordo; Don
Sabo)
10.
Gendered Intimacies (Francesca M.
Cancian; Susan Sprecher and Maura Toro-Morn; Paula England, Emily
Fitzgibbons-Shafter and Alison C.K. Fogarty; Beth A. Quinn)
Week Fourteen (Dec 4)
A Degendered Society?
Read:
1. TGS: Epilogue
Exam 3: Dec
11 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Click here for a 'study
guide' for Exam 3)