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SOC 280

The Social Construction of Genders
SOC 280 SP

Crosslistings: SISP280, WMST282

Not Currently Offered

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 how social, economic and political anxieties change over time; how these anxieties are represented, reproduced and undermined in popular discourses, science and social science research, cultural and political narratives and policy decisions; and 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 the 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-22-1999


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