Women's Studies 2000: An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Women's Studies
Winter, 1996
Instructor: Ellen Balka e-mail: ebalka@kean.ucs.mun.ca
Office Location: S-4079 Office phone: 737-2515
Office hours: Monday 12:00-2:00
Monday 5:00-6:00 and by appointment.
Required Reading:
Aaron, J.E. (1994). Little Brown Essentials Handbook. Little Brown & Co.: Toronto.
Luxton, M., Rosenberg, H. and Sedef, A. (1990). Through the kitchen window: The politics of home and family (2nd Edition). Garamond Press: Toronto.
Mandell, N. (1995). Feminist issues: Race, class and sexuality. Prentic-Hall: Toronto.
Several articles will be on reserve in the QEII Library. There are three sections of WSTD 2000 so be sure when checking for these articles that you have the correct section (taught by E. Balka) as well as the correct course number (I teach 3 courses and have readings on reserve for all of them). Reserve articles are marked with ® in your course outline.
Required Work:
Weekly writing 30% (3% per week x 10 weeks)
Paper # 1 15%
Paper #2 20%
Final exam 30%
Class participation 5%
Outline:
Week Date Topic and Readings
1 Jan. 15 Introduction to the course; gender as an organizing principle in culture
(no weekly writing required).
2 Jan. 22 Explanations of sex and gender differences; feminist theories
Birke, L. (1986). Determined women: Feminism and biological determinism.
In Women, feminism and biology: The feminist challenge. ®
Women's Policy Office (1993). Gender Socialization: New ways, new world.
Province of Newfoundland: St. John's. ®
Chapter 1, Mandell (Feminist theories).
3 Jan. 29 Difference
Chapters 2 and 3, Mandell.
4 Feb. 5 Education
Chapter 10, Mandell
Gaskell, J. (1992). Course streaming in the school. Gender matters from
school to work. Open University: Philadelphia. ®
5 Feb. 12 Representation of women
Chapter 4, Mandell
Barthel, D. (1988). Beauty status/Social status. In Putting on
appearances: Gender and advertising. Temple Uniersity: Philadelphia. ®
6 Feb. 19 Women , work and family- overview; women's work outside of the home.
Chapter 9, Mandell
Assignment 1 Due, Beginning of class (no weekly writing due)
Video in Class: Keep the Home Fires Burning.
7 Feb. 26 Women, work and family: the gendered division of labour in the home
Introduction: The politics of home and family. In Through the
Kitchen Window. (21 pages).
Introduction to the First Edition. In Through the Kitchen
Window. (7 pages).
Two hands for the clock: Changing patterns in the gendered
division of labour in the home. In Through the Kitchen
Window. (18 pages)
8 March 4 NO CLASS- MIDTERM BREAK
Non-citizen domestic workers and the crisis of the domestic
sphere in Canada. In Through the Kitchen Window. (23 pages).
The home is the workplace: Hazards, stress and pollutants in
the household. In Through the Kitchen Window. (23 pages).
Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women. (1994).
Work in progress: Tracking women's equality in Canada. Govt.
Of Canada: Ottawa. ®
9 March 11 Women, work and family: wrap-up
Women and Health
Chapters 5 and 11, Mandell
10 March 18 Violence against women
Chapters 6 and 7, Mandell
11 March 25 Women and Violence continued.
Assignment 2 Due (no weekly writing required).
Video: The Montreal Massacre and Guest Speaker, Filmmaker
Gerry Rodgers.
Diamond, S. Pornography: Image and reality. ®
12 April 1 The Women's Movement
Epilogue in Mandell
Change within and without: The modern women's movement in
Newfoundland and Labrador. In L. Kealey, (Ed.). (1993).
Pursuing equality: Historical perspectives on women in
Newfoundland and Labrador. ISER: St. John's. (58 pages) ®
13 April 8 Wrap-up
From ladies auxiliaries to wives' committees: Housewives and
the unions. In Through the Kitchen Window. (18 pages)
Chapter 8, Mandell (Women and the law)
Directions and strategies for the future
Overview of exam.
April 12 TAKE HOME EXAM DUE, by 5:00 p.m. Science Building Room 4079.
Women's Studies 2000, Winter 1996
Instructor: Ellen Balka
INFORMATION ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
ASSIGNMENTS:
Beginning with the second week of the semester, students will be required to hand in 1 page (typed) or 2 page (handwritten) DOUBLE SPACED comments about the readings assigned for that week's class. Weekly writings should provide evidence that students have completed the readings, and contain critical reflections on the assigned readings. Students may also draw on class discussions or news events in their weekly writings, but these may not be used as a substitute for critical reflection on assigned readings.
Students will be required to write two short papers (assignments 1 and 2) during the term, as well as a take home exam. Assignments 1 and 2 will be given out at least two weeks in advance. They will be short essays (5 typed pages, double spaced). Students will be given one or more topics to write about. The intention behind the essays is to give students an opportunity to synthesize material from readings and class discussions.
Students are expected to follow conventions of grammar when writing their assignments, and should refer to Little Brown Essentials Handbook if they have any questions about grammar and punctuation. Assignments will be corrected according to editing marks found on the inside cover of the handbook. All assignments will be marked according to the following criteria (reproduced from p. 59 of the 1995-1996 Memorial University Calendar):
Grading:
"A" (80-100%) indicates EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE with clear evidence of
- a comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter and principles treated in the course
- a high degree of originality and independence of thought
- a superior ability to organize and analyze ideas and
- an outstanding ability to communicate.
"B" (65-75%) indicates GOOD PERFORMANCE with evidence of
- a substantial knowledge of the subject matter
- a moderate degree of originality and independence of thought
- a good ability to organize and analyze ideas and
- an ability to communicate clearly and fluently.
"C" (55-60%) indicates SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE with evidence of
- an acceptable grasp of the subject matter
- some ability to organize and analyze ideas and
- ability to communicate adequately.
"D" (50%) indicates MINIMALLY ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE with evidence of
- rudimentary knowledge of the subject matter
- some evidence that organizational and analytic skills have been developed, but with significant weaknesses in some areas, and
- significant weaknesses in the ability to communicate.
"F" (below 50%) indicates FAILING PERFORMANCE with evidence of
- an adequate knowledge of the subject matte
- failure to complete required work
- inability to organize and analyze ideas and
- inability to communicate or failure to complete required work.
Students are advised to familiarize themselves with the section of the Memorial University Calendar (1995-1996) titled 'Academic Offenses' on p. 60. In particular, students should note that it is considered an academic offense to submit work for one course which has been or is being submitted for another course without express permission to do so (Calendar, p. 60). In addition, academic offenses include submitting someone else's paper as your own, and not properly crediting sources in essays. If you have any questions about how to properly cite the work of others in your essays, you should speak to either your professor or teaching assistant prior to handing in your assignment.