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SOC 280
The Social Construction of Genders
SOC 280 SP
Crosslistings: SISP280, WMST282
Next Offered in 9899 SP
In this class we will examine the relationship between
images of black, white and lesbian women within a changing
historical context--from the 1930s to the 1990s. By locating
these images in specific historical moments and exploring
how they play off each other and change over time we can
begin to unpack: 1) How social, economic and political
anxieties change over time, 2) How these anxieties are
represented, reproduced and undermined in popular
discourses, science and social science research, cultural
and political narratives and policy decisions, and 3) How
these anxieties contribute to the production of social and
political realities as well as to the construction of
gendered, raced and sexed ideologies and to women's lived
experiences. While the relationship between images of women
will be our primary focus, these images are, of necessity,
closely linked and symbiotically related to others--to
images of men, heterosexuality and the nuclear family.
MAJOR READINGS
Solinger, WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE
Kennedy and Davis, BOOTS OF LEATHER, SLIPPERS OF GOLD
May, HOMEWARD BOUND
Faderman, ODD GIRLS AND TWILIGHT LOVERS
Breines, YOUNG, WHITE AND MISERABLE
Lorde, ZAMI
Evans, PERSONAL POLITICS
Echols, DARING TO BE BAD
Faludi, BACKLASH
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Weekly readings and journals,
class participation, individual and group projects. No
examinations. Two take-home papers based on life histories,
located historically and analyzed sociologically.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
A prerequisite
override form, secured from the Registrar's Office, will be
available for SISP and WMST majors and pre-med students.
Sophomores will be considered during the Drop/Add period.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting
or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the
first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE:
Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the
Registrar's Office.
COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Seminar
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level: UG Credit: 1.00
Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS SOC
Prerequisites:
SOC 151
Last Updated on MAR-03-1998
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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459