DREXEL UNIVERSITY

 

Course:  Soc. 230-001                                          Instructor:  Dr. Diamantino P. Machado

Title:  Women & Men Changing Society             Office:       C & C Room 318

Summer Term:  06-07                                         Office Hours: By Appointment

E-Mail: machadod@drexe.edu                             Telephone: 215-895-2402

 

SYLLABUS

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES : This course introduces the student to a  survey on the sociology

of gender, i.e., the roles of women and men in a changing society.  While the perspective is sociological, we will cover anthropological, biological, and psychological arguments about  being a woman – femininity,  and about being a man – masculinity. A great deal of attention will be given to the issues of the Other, of  Power, and of  the Social Construction of human beings. The topical matter may make this course complex and somewhat difficult. Students must be willing to have an open mind, do the readings, and participate in class discussions.

 

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS  : 1. The Sociology of Gender: A Brief Introduction, by Laura Kramer et al  [LK]  in the readings, 2nd ed., 2007 ; and 2. WomanÕs Relationship With Herself,

by Helen OÕGrady, [HO], 2005.

 

EXAMINATIONS : The evaluation of your  accomplishment in this course will be based on the results of  two in-classes exams and a term paper covering any aspect of the problematics  of 

femininity/masculinity, sex, power, and social construction. Each exam will count 30 percent and the paper 40 percent of the Final Course Grade.

 

EXAM DATES.  Tentatively, the first exam will be given on Friday, July 20, and  the second  exam on Friday, August 17.  The Term Paper is due on the last day of class, Friday,  August 31.

 

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES:  Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of lectures, discussions and  showing of relevant  documentaries, films. But studentsÕ questions, comments and observations are welcome and encouraged.

 

 

BEFORE CLASS READING ASSIGNMENTS AND CLASS CALENDAR

 

Week 1   6/25    LECTURE TOPIC                                                                        READING

 

                         General Information, The Three Worlds,                                     This syllabus

                          What is the Sociology of GenderÉ?                                           LK, Intro

 

 Week 2   7/2     NOTE: NO CLASS ON W 7/4

                          Culture and Ideology                                                                   LK ch2

 

 

 

 

SOC 230. Women & Men, Syllabus, Summer 07 , Dr. Machado  p. 2

 

BEFORE CLASS READING ASSIGNMENTS     

 

Week 3   7/9     Learning and Doing Gender, The FamilyÉ.                              LK chs  3, 4

 

Week 4 7/16     NOTE: EXAM 1 ON F 7/20

                         A Lens for Viewing  Self-Policing, Gender and Self-Policing      HO chs 1, 2

 

Week 5  7/23    Education, The Economy and Work                                              LK chs 5, 6

 

 

Week 6  7/30    Challenging Negative Identity Practices, Immanent  Critiques     HO chs 3, 4

 

 

Week 7  8/6     An Ethics of Care for the Self                                                          HO ch 5

 

 

Week 8  8/13    NOTE:  EXAM 2 ON F 8/17 

                          The Political and Legal System , The Changing Gender System    LK chs  7, 8

 

Week 9  8/20      FoucaultÕs and Therapy – a contradiction?                                     HO ch 6

 

Week 10  8/27    Conclusion                                                                                       HO

 

 

NOTE 1. : The instructor reserves the right to alter any aspect of this syllabus, in which

                   case  students shall be informed in advance

 

NOTE 2 : Relevant videos will be shown in the course.