GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES
ANTH 390B/SPRING 2015
DePauw University/Spring 2015
Department of Sociology & Anthropology
Mon/Wed/Fri 12:30pm­1:30pm
Julian Science and Math Ctr. 161
Dr. Ama Boakyewa
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 9:30­11:30am
E­mail: [email protected]
Asbury Hall, Room 308
Phone: 765­658­4672
Meetings also by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION: According to anthropologist/folklorist Beverly J. Stoeltje, “Gender is a process, a situated accomplishment in the conduct of social life, and ….multiple variations of the concept of gender may exist within one culture as well as across cultures.” In this class we will explore gender and sexuality in its many forms of masculine, feminine, cross­gender, transgender, etc. Additionally, we will look at the ways gender impacts a cross­section of human experiences within a global perspective. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Introduction to the field of gender, sexuality and to a range of interdisciplinary tools and methods for understanding and analyzing sex, gender, and sexuality across cultures.
2. The development of a rich understanding of anthropological approaches to the social and cultural construction of gender and sexuality.
3. A critical understanding of “intersectionality” as an awareness of gender and its complex intersections with other social, cultural, and biological categories, including but not limited to sex, race, ethnicity, class, nation, sexuality, ability, and age.
4. The development of written and oral skills and an introduction to the critical vocabulary in the field.
5. The ability to think critically and thoughtfully about the self and others through a deepened understanding of how social, cultural, and biological categories shape our lives and our understandings of the world.
1
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
REQUIRED CORE TEXTS/SOURCES:
1) Brettell, Caroline B. and Carolyn F. Sargent (Eds.) 2013. Gender in Cross­Cultural Perspective 6th Edition. (GCC)
2) Other reading, websites, films, videos, speakers and field trips as posted in the syllabus and on Moodle (MOO)
NOTE ABOUT THE SYLLABUS: This should be considered a “sacred text.” Everything in it is important to you and your subsequent grade. If you want to succeed in this class, you will follow all of its instructions and warnings. If not adhered to, it could lead to poor performance. CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Special note on electronic devices: Cell phones and computers should be turned off and not visible during class. Earphones should also be put away. If I see a phone in the classroom, I will issue an immediate “F” for participation on that day.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY – DePauw’s policy states that “cheating, plagiarism, submission of the work of others, etc. violates DePauw policy on academic integrity and may result in penalties ranging from a lowered grade to course failure or expulsion.” (http://www.depauw.edu/files/resources/tipsplanningcoursesyllabi2.pdf) Please see the following link for more information about the university’s academic integrity policy. http://www.depauw.edu/handbooks/academic/policies/integrity/ A self­tutorial, which includes examples and a detailed explanation of plagiarism, can be found at http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/. I strongly encourage you to visit this website in order to confirm your understanding of plagiarism. Neither DePauw nor any other university accepts ignorance of these rules as a justifiable excuse. STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SERVICES – “DePauw University is committed to providing equal access to academic programs and University administered activities with reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and Amendments (ADAAA). Any student who feels she or he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability or learning challenge is strongly encouraged to contact Pamela Roberts, Coordinator of Academic Success and Student Disability Services for further information on how to receive accommodations and support. Academic Success and Student Disability Services is located at 101 E Seminary St. 765­658­6267. It is the responsibility of the student to share the letter of accommodation with faculty and staff members. Accommodations will not be implemented until the faculty or staff member has received the official letter. Accommodations are not retroactive. It is the responsibility of the student to discuss implementation of accommodations with each faculty and staff member receiving the letter.”­quoted from Pamela Roberts’s Handbook on Academic Success & Student Disability Services
2
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
GRADING: Your final grade will be determined by:
4 Definition Quizzes@ 10 points each (20 terms for each quiz @ .5pts each)
Film Analysis (3­4 pages)
40 points
10 points
Ethnographic Interview Report (6­8 pages)
Class attendance/ participation (Attendance, reading, active role in discussion, groups, debates, NO CELL PHONES IN CLASS)
Research Project (5 points proposal/abstract/outline, 5 points presentation, 10 points Final Report)
20 points
10 points
FINAL GRADE
100 POINTS
20 points
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 1. READING, ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, EXCUSED ABSENCES, Make­
Ups: Class attendance (taken daily) and active participation in discussions are mandatory. You are expected to read and work with the ideas of the assigned readings. Interactive lectures, speakers, films and class discussion will REINFORCE, but not repeat, the content of your assigned readings. I will have various unannounced exercises to quiz you on the daily assigned readings­­­they could include minute papers, pop quizzes, reviews, or collaborative group tools. Learning collaborations ­­­ group or pairs activities­­­ will be a part of your attendance/participation grade. There are no make­ups on the unannounced exercises or activities­­­if you are out you will lose participation points. Homework and class assignments must be turned in on time and quizzes/exams cannot be made up without documentation, e.g. doctor’s note or similar note from the health center or hospital, further written proof of crucial work, business or legal matters, or other proof of an emergency. I can offer 3 excused absences for the semester with no penalty; however you will have a reduction of your grade after that. If you know you have a crucial meeting, obligation or urgent matter, please let me know in advance or at some point in order to maintain your professionalism, and I will not count these as excused absences. Call me at my office number posted above and PLEASE leave a message if I do not answer. If you miss class, please secure the notes from another student­­­not from me. 2. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:
A. QUIZZES: There will be 4 definition quizzes throughout the semester. These terms will be drawn from the readings and movies. Detailed lists will be posted on Moodle and will be discussed in class. The quizzes are worth 10 points each for a total of 40 points toward your final grade. Each quiz has 20 terms to identify with each one worth .5 points. NOTE: The quizzes are given at the beginning of the class period. If you are late for class, you CANNOT take the quiz. 3
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
B. FILM ANALYSIS: One ANALYSIS will be required in this class and is worth 10 points toward your final grade. This is a critical analysis­­­NOT a summary. I will give specific instructions, but bear in mind that this paper is a critical interpretation and analysis of the film that incorporates our class materials, vocabulary and meanings around gender and sexuality. You may NOT use any of the films shown in class; you must choose one of your own (suggested list provided). C. ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEW REPORT: You must write a report of your preparation (e.g. how did you choose your interviewee), experiences and findings from doing at least an hour­long conversational interview with a person who will discuss their experiences with gender. Perhaps you would want to talk to a woman who might have experienced gender inequality at some point in her life. Another source would be a person who will discuss “coming out” as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. We will prepare in class for this assignment. This is 20 points of your final grade. D. CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: To be successful in this course coming to class is imperative since class discussions and lectures will not duplicate the readings, but augment them with new information and insights. Students with the highest achievement in college: (1) Read before class, (2) Take excellent notes, (3) Pay attention in class, (4) Actively participate in class discussions, and (5) ASK QUESTIONS, for clarification, either in the class or outside class with the professor. This is worth 10 points toward your final grade. E. RESEARCH PROJECT: We will talk in detail later, but each person will turn in a proposal/abstract/outline for your project (5 points). The remaining points of your Research Project will include the presentation {you are encouraged to use PowerPoint or Prezi} (5 points) plus a 5­6 page conclusion of your findings (with a bibliography and a summary of your experience in this ethnographic endeavor (10 points)
NOTE: Grades are not based on effort but on your command of the material, the originality of your work, how closely your work fulfills the requirements of the assignment, and how well­written it is. Your work should follow standard English writing conventions, which means few if any spelling or grammar mistakes; introductory and conclusion paragraphs in papers, thesis statements, and topic sentences in essays. This is standard expectations that you will find at most if not all classes at DePauw and universities across the United States. It is your responsibility as a student to keep asking questions until you understand the assignment or concepts in the course. I do NOT read minds and can only help you if you ask questions about the material in class and during office hours/appointments. Asking questions and making mistakes are important components of learning. Please come see me in my office for questions related to your scores on assignments or exams. Email or speaking immediately before or after class does not allow for sufficient discussion of questions and concerns.
4
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
I will assign letter grades to the written assignments in this course. Written project grades have the following expectations:
A
Excellent. Assignment exceeds the minimum requirements for the assignment. A well­conceived and well­argued paper with an introduction, thesis statement, body, and conclusion. Sufficient evidence is provided and explained to support the argument. Well written with no spelling or grammatical errors.
B
Very Good. Assignment exceeds the minimum requirements for the assignment. A well­ argued paper with an introduction, thesis statement, body, and conclusion. Evidence to support the argument may be missing or not fully explained in a few places. Fairly well written with few spelling or grammatical errors.
C
Fair. Assignment meets the minimum requirements for the assignment, but lacks an argument and/or critical analysis. Sufficient evidence to support the argument is lacking or not explained. Several spelling or grammatical errors.
D
Unsatisfactory. Barely meets the minimum requirements for the assignment. Several spelling or grammatical errors.
F
Does not meet the minimum requirements for the assignment. Several spelling or grammatical errors...
QUIZ EVALUATIONS:
A 94% +
A‐ 90‐93%
B+ 87‐89%
B 84‐86%
B‐ 80‐83%
C+ 77‐79%
C 74‐76%
C‐ 70‐73%
D+ 67‐69%
D 64‐66%
D‐ 60‐63%
F 59‐0%
5
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
CLASS SCHEDULE—ANTH 390
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
Note on Reading sources:
Gender in Cross­Cultural Perspective=GCC
MOO=Readings posted on Moodle
Mo 1/26
INTRODUCTIONS to each other and the course
We 1/28
MANDATORY Community Wide Forum on diversity and difference. REGISTER AT 8:30AM NEAL FIELDHOUSE. Speakers include:
Fr 1/30
x
Dr. Derald Sue, Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University. Dr. Sue has been a pioneer in the field of multicultural psychology and multicultural education. His theories and concepts have paved the way for a generation of younger scholars interested in issues of multicultural psychology. x
Sharon Morgan and Tom DeWolf, authors of Gather at the Table, winner of the Phillis Wheatley Book Award for Nonfiction/Biography & Memoir. Their book's subtitle is "The Healing Journey of a Daughter of Slavery and a Son of the Slave Trade," and it shares the story of their shared project to better understand the complex history of their families.
Discussion on Community Wide Forum on diversity and difference
UNIT 1: GENDER BIOLOGY AND HUMAN EVOLUTION (p. 1­5)
Mo 2/2
GCC Animal Models and Gender (Zuk), p. 7
GCC The Cultural Nexus of Aka Father­Infant Bonding (Hewlett), p. 42
We 2/4
Discussion
6
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
Fr 2/6
Methodology Training: Doing Cultural Anthropology, Ch. 3 Conducting Life History Interview (MOO)
UNIT 2: EQUALITY AND INEQUALITY: THE SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOR AND GENDER STRATIFICATION (p. 119­123)
Mo 2/9
GCC Woman the Hunter: The Agta (Estioko­Griffin and Griffin) p. 124
GCC Gender, Horticulture, and the Division of Labor on Vanatinai (Lepowsky) p. 131
We 2/11
GCC Do Tents and Herds Still Matter? Pastoral Nomadism and Gender among the Tuareg in Niger and Mali (Rasmussen) p. 139
Fr 2/13
Definition Quiz #1 UNIT 3: GENDER THROUGH RITES OF PASSAGE Mo 2/16
Film: Kindaalda: a Navajo rite of passage
We 2/18
Kindaaalda continued
Fr 2/20
GCC Rituals of Manhood: Male Initiation in Papua New Guinea (Herdt) p 175
UNIT 4: GENDER, POLITICS AND REPRODUCTION (p 361­365)
Mo 2/23
GCC Female Genital Cutting: Culture and Controversy (Gruenbaum) p 393
We 2/25
Film: Mother of George (Netflix) WATCH AT HOME­­­REVIEW IN CLASS
Fr 2/27
Definition Quiz #2
7
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
UNIT 5: CULTURE, SEXUALITY AND THE BODY (p 203­207)
Mo 3/2
GCC Is There a Muslim Sexuality? Changing Constructions of Sexuality in Egyptian Bedouin Weddings (Abu­Lughod) p 208
We 3/4
GCC Hijras: An ‘alternative’ Sex/Gender in India (Reddy and Nanda) p 223
Fr 3/6
FILM ANALYSIS DUE
UNIT 6: GENDER, RITUAL AND RELIGION (p 319­322)
Mo 3/9
MOO Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? –Lila Abu­Lughod
We 3/11
GCC: How to Change a Man: Spiritual Transformation and Shifts in Gender Ideology in Evangelical El Salvador (Santos) p 351
Fr 3/13
Definition Quiz #3
UNIT 7: GENDER AND THE MILITARY Mo 3/16
GCC Gender and War: Are Women Tough Enough for Military Combat? (Peach) p 28
We 3/18
Film: The Invisible War (Netflix) WATCH AT HOME­­­REVIEW IN CLASS
Fr 3/20
Discussion Women in the military
SPRING BREAK MARCH 23­MARCH 27, 2015
8
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
UNIT 8: GENDER, BODY AESTHETICS AND IDENTITY
Mo 3/30
GCC Surgical Transformation in the Pursuit of Gender (Gulbas) p 196
Film Clip: Ted Talks­­­Nina Jablonski, The History of Skin Color
We 4/1
Why Do People Get Tattoos (MOO) TBA Speaker: Tattoo Artist
ETHNOGRAPHY DUE
Fr 4/3
DISCUSSION OF FINAL RESEARCH PROJECTS
UNIT 9: GENDER, DOMESTIC ABUSE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Mo 4/6
Rutgers 16 Days of Activism Against Gender­Based Violence
http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu
Speaker TBA: Domestic Abuse from all sides of the gender spectrum
We 4/8
National Human Trafficking Resource Center—overview
http://www.polarisproject.org.index.php
Fr 4/10
Discussion
UNIT 10: GENDERED POWER AND AUTHORITY IN SOCIETY
Mo 4/13
Catachresis in Cote d’Ivoire: Female Genital Power in Religious Ritual and Political Resistance (Laura S. Grillo) (MOO)
We 4/15
The Dialectic in Russia­­Thesis: Pussy Riot, Female Power and Political Ideology in Russia; Antithesis: Putin’s Response; Synthesis: Russian Power Moves (MOO)
Fr 4/17
Discussion
9
GENDER ACROSS CULTURES/SPRING 2015
BOAKYEWA/SYLLABUS
UNIT 11: GENDER AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Mo 4/20
Rap and Hip­Hop: Hyper­masculinity, Machismo, Misogyny­­­Who, What, Why , When and How
Matthew Oware, Brotherly Love: Homosociality and Black Masculinity in Gangsta Rap Music, Journal of African American Studies, 2011, Vol. 15, No. 22, p 22­39 MOO
Film: Hip­Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes­­­Byron Hurt
Strippers, Prostitutes and Video Vixens: Power or Subordination
We 4/22
Empowering, Degrading or a “Mutually Exploitative” Exchange for Women?: Characterizing the Power Relations in a Strip Club (K. Pilcher) MOO
Fr 4/24
Definition Quiz #4
Mo 4/27
We 4/29
Presentations of Research
Presentations of Research
Fr 5/1
Presentations of Research
Mo 5/4
Presentations of Research
We 5/6
Fr 5/8
Presentations of Research /RECAP
STUDY DAY
Mo 5/11­
5/14
FINALS
10