Sociology/Women’s Studies 110.1: The Sociology of Gender

TTh 1:00-2:15 110 Wartik

Fall Semester, 2004

Mike Johnson (www.personal.psu.edu/mpj)

Office Hours: TTh 3:00-4:00

Office: 415 Oswald Tower

865-1937, mpj@psu.edu

Mailbox: 211 Oswald Tower

This is a course on gender in the contemporary United States, an introduction to the analysis and understanding of how men's and women’s lives are different and how they intersect with each other. My basic teaching philosophy centers on ensuring that you leave this course with some lasting memories that will alter the way you understand gender in your everyday lives. The class sessions are therefore a lively mixture of lectures, group discussions, films, and exercises. The readings range from a sophisticated academic analysis of gender differences in income to a non-sexist children’s fable. The course is designed so that you read and do what interests you most.

Choosing specific topics and readings for a course such as this is both exciting and frustrating. The general topic (gender in contemporary society) is close to all of our lives and is thus almost inevitably interesting. But the pervasive influence of gender on all aspects of social life implies an overabundance of interesting material. I may not have chosen exactly the topics you would have chosen for this course, but I think you'll be happy with most of it. And, as you'll see, there is enough flexibility in the grading system to allow you to pursue your own interests to a large extent if you wish.

I. Introduction to the course

II. Gender in the Contemporary United States

A. What are sex roles?

B. The women's movement and men’s reactions

III. Socialization: The Creation of Men and Women

A. The impact of parents on children

B. Non-parental influences on children

C. Adult socialization

IV. Gender Differences

A. Beliefs

B. “Reality”

V. Work Life

A. Paid work

B. Unpaid work: Housework and parenting

VI. Personal life

A. Gender, sexual orientation, and relationships

B. Interpersonal violence

VII. Making Change

CLASS SESSIONS AND DEADLINES

I. Introduction to the Course

Th, 9/2 Introduction to the course

II. Gender in the Contemporary United States

T, 9/7 Discussion of gender questionnaires

Th, 9/9 Lecture on gender concepts

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FIRST DEADLINE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

ALL CLASS PAPERS ABOVE AND THE READING ON SEX ROLES

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T, 9/14 Lecture on women’s movements

Th, 9/16 Lecture on women’s movements (cont’d)

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SECOND DEADLINE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND ALL READINGS ON THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT & MEN’S REACTIONS

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III. Gender Socialization: The Creation of Men and Women

T, 9/21 Film, “The Pinks and the Blues” (50535) 1980 58m

Th, 9/23 Lecture on extra-familial socialization

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THIRD DEADLINE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND ALL READINGS ON CHILDREN’S SOCIALIZATION

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T, 9/28 Film: “Dreamworlds II” (62022) 1995 56m (WARNING: RAPE SCENE)

Th, 9/30 Lecture on pornography as socialization

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FOURTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND STEINEM READING ON PORNOGRAPHY

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T, 10/5 Film: “Not a love story” (80055) 1981 70m (WARNING: CONTAINS EXPLICIT SEX, AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN)

Th 10/7 Discussion of film (attend only if you saw the film)

T, 10/12 Demonstration on self-concept socialization

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FIFTH DEADLINE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND ROACHE READING ON BEING A HOUSEHUSBAND

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IV. Gender Differences

Th, 10/14 Discussion of gender differences

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SIXTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19

CLASS PAPER AND READING ON GENDER DIFFERENCES

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V. Work Life

T, 10/19 Lecture on occupation and income

Th, 10/21 Film and discussion: “The Workplace Hustle” (40391) 1980 34m

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SEVENTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND READINGS ON PAID WORK

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T, 10/26 Film and discussion: “Heroes and strangers” (33959) 1984 30m

Th, 10/28 Lecture on housework

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EIGHTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND ALL READINGS ON UNPAID WORK

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VI. Personal life

T, 11/2 Lecture on gender differences in personal relationships

Th, 11/4 Lecture on gender and sexuality

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NINTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND FIRST THREE READINGS ON RELATIONSHIPS

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T, 11/9 Discussion and guest speakers: Gay and lesbian relationships

Th, 11/11 Lecture on creating a household

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TENTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND LAST THREE READINGS ON RELATIONSHIPS

REMEMBER, THERE IS ONLY ONE BOOK REPORT AND ONE SPECIAL PAPER ALLOWED PER WEEK

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· THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 IS THE LATE DROP DEADLINE. CHECK OUT YOUR POINTS AND BE REALISTIC.

T, 11/16 Guest speaker and discussion: Rape

Th, 11/18 Film and discussion: “Someone you know” (34806) 1986 30m

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ELEVENTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND THE READING ON RAPE

REMEMBER THERE IS ONLY ONE BOOK REPORT AND ONE SPECIAL PAPER ALLOWED PER WEEK

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T, 11/23 Film and discussion: “To Have and to Hold” (23743) 1981 21m

T, 11/30 Guest speaker and discussion: Domestic violence

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TWELFTH DEADLINE, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2

ALL CLASS PAPERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND THE READING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

REMEMBER THERE IS ONLY ONE BOOK REPORT AND ONE SPECIAL PAPER ALLOWED PER WEEK

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VII. Making Change

Th, 12/2 Film and discussion: “Sylvia, Fran and Joy” (31878) 1973 25m

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FINAL DEADLINE, TUESDAY, DEC. 9

DECEMBER 2 CLASS SESSION AND THE READING ON MAKING CHANGE

NO REWRITES ALLOWED

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VIII. Course Evaluation

T, 12/9 Discussion: Impact of the course (ATTENDANCE MANDATORY; BRING COURSE OUTLINE)

READING LIST

The readings are available on Electronic Reserve, which can be reached through Angel (www.angel.psu.edu) or through the library on-line catalogue (CAT): www.lias.psu.edu. Once you’re into the CAT, click on Course Reserves and track down Michael Johnson’s SOC/WMNST 110.

Each reading is worth the indicated number of points for a two-page paper.

The dates listed below are the dates the papers are DUE.

I. Introduction to the Course

No readings

II. Gender in Contemporary America

9/14 9 points David, Deborah, & Robert Brannon, “The male sex role.” Pp. 1-45 in Deborah David and Robert Brannon (Eds.), The Forty-Nine Percent Majority. New York: Random House, 1976.

9/21 9 points Jennifer Baumgardner & Amy Richards. (2000). “What is activism?” Pp. 267-314 in Baumgardner & Richards, Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

9/21 3 points D'Amico, Debbie. “To my white working class sisters.” Pp. 185-196 in Deborah Babcox and Madeline Belkin (eds.), Liberation Now!: Writings from the Women's Liberation Movement. New York: Dell, 1971.

9/21 9 points Dill, Bonnie Thornton. “Race, class and gender.” Feminist Studies, 9, (Spring, 1983): 131-150.

9/21 6 points Pharr, Suzanne. “Homophobia: A weapon of sexism.” Pp. 1-26 in Suzanne Pharr, Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism. Little Rock, AR: Chardon, 1988.

9/21 3 points Farrell, Warren. “Women's liberation as men's liberation.” Pp. 162-177 in Warren Farrell, The Liberated Man (Bantam edition). New York: Random House, 1974.

9/21 9 points Goode, William S. “Why men resist.” Pp. 287-310 in Barrie Thorne with Marilyn Yalom (eds.), Rethinking the Family: Some Feminist Questions. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1992.

III. Socialization: The Creation of Men and Women (Childhood)

9/28 3 points Pogrebin, Letty Cottin. “Homosexuality, hysteria, and children: How not to be a homophobic parent.” Pp. 274-292 in Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Growing Up Free. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980.

9/28 9 points Lips, Hillary. “Gender role socialization: Lessons in femininity." Pp.128-148 in Jo Freeman (ed.), Women: A Feminist Perspective. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1995.

9/28 3 points Gould, Lois. “X: A fabulous child's story.” Ms., 1(December 1972): 74-76,105-106.

III. Socialization: The Creation of Men and Women (Adulthood)

10/5 6 points Steinem, Gloria. “Erotica vs. pornography.” Pp. 247-60 in Gloria Steinem, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (Signet edition). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1983.

10/5 3 points Roache, Joel. “Confessions of a househusband.” Ms., 1 (November 1972): 25-27.

IV. Gender Differences

10/14 9 points Tavris, Carole and Carole Wade, “Sex differences, real and imagined.” Pp. 37-78 in Carole Tavris and Carole Wade, The Longest War. San Diego, CA: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1984.

V. Work Life (Paid Work)

10/19 9 points Waite, Linda. “U.S. Women at Work.” Pp. 1-21 in Linda Waite, U.S. Women at Work. Santa Monica, CA: Rand, 1981.

10/19 9 points Kanter, Rosabeth. “Numbers: Minorities and majorities.” Pp. 206-242 in Rosabeth Kanter, Men and Women of the Corporation. New York: Basic Books, 1977.

10/26 6 points Susan Eisenberg. “Marking gender boundaries: Porn, piss, and power tools.” Pp. 286-295 in Laurel Richardson, Verta Taylor, and Nancy Whittier (eds.), Feminist Frontiers. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

V. Work Life (Unpaid Work)

11/2 3 points Vanek, Joann. “Housewives as workers.” Pp. 89-103 in Patricia Voydanoff (ed.), Work and Family. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield, 1984.

11/2 6 points Pleck, Joseph. “Men's family work.” Pp. 232-241 in Patricia Voydanoff (ed.), Work and Family. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield, 1984.

11/2 6 points Scott Coltrane. “Parenting in transition.” Pp. 3-24 in Scott Coltrane, Family Man: Fatherhood, Housework, and Gender Equity. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

11/2 3 points Bernard, Jessie. “The mother role.” Pp. 122-133 in Jo Freeman (Ed.), Women: A Feminist Perspective (2nd ed.) Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield.

11/2 9 points Collins, Patricia Hill. “Black women and motherhood.” Pp. 115-137 in Patricia Hill Collins, Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. London: Harper Collins, 1990.

VI. Personal Life (Gender, sexual orientation and relationships)

11/9 9 points Wood, J. T. (2000). “Gender and personal relationships.” In C. Hendrick & S. S. Hendrick (Eds.), Close relationships: A sourcebook (pp. 301-313). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

11/9 3 points Sattell, Jack. “The inexpressive male: Tragedy or sexual politics?” Social Problems, 23 (1976): 469-477.

11/9 3 points Peplau, Letitia Ann. “Power in dating relationships.” Pp. 100-112 in Jo Freeman (Ed.), Women: A Feminist Perspective. (3rd ed.) Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield, 1984.

11/9 9 points Collins, Randall. “Love and property.” Pp. 119-154 in Randall Collins, Sociological Insight. New York: Oxford U., 1982.

11/16 9 points Peplau, L. A., & Spalding, L. R. (2000). “The close relationships of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals.” In C. Hendrick & S. S. Hendrick (Eds.), Close relationships: A sourcebook (pp. 111-123). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

11/16 9 points Peplau, L. A. (2001). “Rethinking women's sexual orientation: An interdisciplinary, relationship-focused approach.” Personal Relationships, 8(1), 1-19.

VI. Personal Life (Interpersonal violence)

11/23 6 points Joseph Weinberg and Michael Birnbaum. “Conversations of consent: Sexual intimacy without sexual assault.” Pp. 87-100 in Emilie Buchwald, Pamela Fletcher, and Martha Roth (eds.), Transforming a Rape Culture. Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 1993.

12/2 6 points Johnson, Michael P. (2001). “Conflict and control: Symmetry and asymmetry in domestic violence.”  In Alan Booth, Ann C. Crouter, & Mari Clements (Eds.), Couples in Conflict (pp. 95-104).  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

VII. Making Change

12/9 6 points Gray, Stan. “Sharing the shop floor.” Radical America, 18 (#5 1984): 69-88.

GRADES

Of course, nobody really cares about grades, but the structure of the university is such that they shape my behavior and yours. So, my grading system is designed to shape our behavior in the direction of maximum personal impact of this course.

Class and Reading Papers

Minimum two-page typewritten papers worth 3 or more points each. The readings vary in length and difficulty and are worth different numbers of points accordingly. Although you don’t have to write a longer paper for the readings worth more points, you may find it difficult to cover all the major points in the longer papers in two pages. Papers will be graded Pass/Add with the Pass criterion being the display of a clear understanding of the basic points made by the reading or class activity AND a clear statement regarding the importance of the reading or class activity for an understanding of sex roles in contemporary America. You need not cover all the little details, but the grader must be certain that you have learned the major points and understand their importance for the course. Verbatim quotes from the readings do not display understanding. Class notes from the classes do not display understanding. Analysis and thoughtful personal reaction do display understanding. Think about the reading or class activity and write a short paper about it.

If your first attempt does not pass, you may add to your paper (with guidance from the grader) until it does. Note that you may not rewrite anything from the final deadline.

If I have counted things correctly, doing all of these papers (i.e., attending and writing about all of the classes, and reading and writing about all of the readings) would give you 210 points. You need 90 for an A. Thus, within fairly broad limits, you can pick and choose among the materials as your interests dictate.

Other Ways to Get Points

YOU CAN ONLY DO ONE OF EACH OF THESE EACH WEEK, SO DON'T COUNT ON DOING LOTS OF THEM AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER TO RESCUE YOURSELF SHOULD YOU FALL BEHIND.

Book Reviews. If you read a book related to this course and write a 5-10 page review of it that clearly indicates the connection of the book with a course on sex roles, I will grade it Pass/Add and give you 15 points for a Pass. As you read the book jot down notes on the gender issues that you encounter, and organize your paper around them. You may only turn in one of these each week.

Special Papers. You may also write 2-page papers on campus events that have scholarly content relevant to this course, or on relevant papers published in scholarly journals (no newspapers, no Cosmo, no Time, no Newsweek, etc.). For articles, turn in a copy of the article with your paper. 3 points. You may only turn in one of these each week.

Other. If you can think of other ways to get points, check them out with me. I’m generally pretty flexible.

Overall Constraints.

Well, I guess I’m only flexible about some things. Not others. You need:

90 points for an A;

80 points for a B;

70 points for a C;

60 points for a D.

89 points is a B, so if you have 89 points and you want an A, don’t explain... do some more work.

And one more thing I’m not flexible about. You can only turn in one book report and one special paper each week. So, if you plan to do a lot of book reports and special papers, START NOW!