This course is an introduction to the discipline of Women’s Studies, surveying numerous academic areas and exploring concepts basic to the field. Students will critically examine the social understandings of gender, and the powerful role it plays in American culture. Areas of consideration will include the role of gender in education, labor, economics, and privacy issues.
Prerequisites
ENGL& 101 completion recommended
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Discuss Women’s Studies as an academic manifestation of feminism.
- Explain relevant theories on gender and power.
- Apply theories of gender and power to specific historical and current events, and social problems.
- Identify the contributions of feminism and the modern women’s rights movements to society.
- Critically examine the current theories of oppression and privilege.
- Explain the social construction of gender, sexuality, race, and class in contemporary society.
- Discuss the feminist analysis of social institutions such as: family, health care, media, religion, legal systems, work and labor, and education.
Course Content Outline
- What is Women’s Studies? Who is the ‘American Woman’?
- The Three Waves of Feminism
- Current Issues Related to Feminism and Culture
- Gender Roles and Construction
- Biological vs. Political Definitions
- Privacy Issues
- Gender and the Media
- Gender and the Public Arena
- Work and Education
- Politics and Religion
- Activism and Change
Department Guidelines
PO4 should be assessed: Students will be able to recognize or articulate personal/interpersonal aspects of, or connections between, diverse cultural, social, or political contexts.
PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.