Ant 405 Project

ANT 40501 Anthropology of Gender Dr. Dorothy D. Wills

Assignment #2 Book Report

Identify a work of literature - fiction, biography, autobiography, drama, poetry, etc. - to read outside class. This should be by an author from a cultural background different from yours. Some possibilities are listed in the Readings web page (Book Report). Please confirm your choice with the instructor. You will make a brief class presentation on the book, and turn in a brief written report on it, as well. Some things to focus on are:

- is gender a theme in the book?

- do people in this culture seem to like being men or women, as portrayed by the author?

- how do people in this culture identify masculine and feminine traits in people?

- what differences are there in the work, home lives, sexual activities/behavior, relations with others, and other life paths related to gender (if any)?

- how are boys and girls socialized?

- how do people talk about marriage, sex, men and women, family, men's work/women's work, etc.?

- what does the author think about his or her culture in regard to its statements about gender?

- what kinds of communication are represented in the book, and are any of them gender specific?

- do any of the basic story elements hinge on relations between men and women, and if so, what are they?

Also, state your opinion or reaction to the book.

Your oral report (5 mins.) should touch on a) author, b) cultural background, c) main gender themes, d) effectiveness of work in conveying points of view and conditions.

The written report should be no more than 5 pages, and address some or all of the above questions, in addition to providing the basic information about the book.