Syllabus Ant 405

ANT 40501 Anthropology of Gender Dr. Dorothy D. Wills
Spring, 2005 000484 Cal Poly Pomona

Course Syllabus

Meetings: MWF 10:30-11:35, 5:143
Units: 4 lecture/discussion (no lab)
Office hours: MW 8:00 - 10:15, Tues. 11:00 - 12:00, or by appointment, located in
Bldg. 5-147, 869-3582
Phone: X3582
Email: ddwills@csupomona.edu
Web: www.csupomona.edu/~ddwills/

Expected Outcomes

Students will:

1) Become knowledgeable about the varied contributions of women and men of different social groups in different cultures around the world and through history,

2) Develop an understanding of the continuity between traditional and contemporary patterns of role and status for the sexes/genders, for groups based on sexual orientation, and for life cycle categories,

3) Increase their awareness of all minority groups, their individual problems of accommodation to norms established by dominant groups, and of the political and cultural processes that produce change,

4) Acquire a critical appreciation of nature- (biology-)based and environment-based arguments surrounding the issues of sexuality, relationship dynamics, dominance and hierarchy, taboo behavior, reproduction, and child-rearing norms related to gender,

5) Be able to assess critically periodical and popular materials on sex and gender.

Readings

Feminist Fields: Ethnographic Insights, ed. R. Bridgman, S. Cole & H. Howard-Bobiwash. Ontario: Broadview Press, 1999.

Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective, ed. C. Brettell & C. Sargent. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, 2001.

These texts are to be purchased. Other readings will be provided in class, or obtained from the library or elsewhere. You will need to identify a literary work (fiction, biography, autobiography, poetry, drama) with a gender theme by an author from a culture other than your own. A list of suggestions is to be found on the web page.

Outline of Classes and Assignments

Mar. 28 The study of women and men, girls, boys, and everyone in between from an anthropological perspective. Overview of course, readings, and assignments. Basic concepts and terminology.
Read: Gender I Intro, Feminist 1, pp. 1-3.

Mar. 30 An evolutionary approach to gender. Human nature and some basic biology. Mammals, primates, and people.
Read: Gender I article to be assigned in class.

Ap. 1 Discussion of articles. Is it all about reproduction?
Read: Feminist Ch. 2.

Ap. 4 Brief overview of the variation in culture and society and how it may influence the construction of gender theory.
Read: Gender II Intro.

Ap. 6 The archaeological record: gender in pre-history. The debate about the position of women. Goddess and fertility cults. Primordial matriarchies.
Read: Gender II article.

Ap. 8 Discussion of articles. Historical information, ethnographic data, and research issues in gender theory. Discussion of Assignment #1 Fieldwork.
Read: Gender III Intro.

Ap. 11 The public/private dichotomy. Sexual division of labor, social roles, power and status.
Read: Gender III article.

Ap. 13 Discussion of articles. Literature as an ethnographic research strategy.
Read: Feminist 3, "Lotus" (handout).

Ap. 15 Points of view, labeling, stereotyping, muted group theory, and communication resources. Avoiding ethnocentrism, sexism, racism, and other isms.
Read: Gender IV Intro.

Ap. 18 Cultural construction of gender. Identity and self. Psychological and ideological gender. Importance of language.
Read: Gender IV article.

Ap. 20 Effects of culture change and social disruption. Discussion of articles. Urbanization and sedentarization of indigenous peoples.
Read: Feminist 8, 12.

Ap. 22 Sexuality, sexual orientation and variation. The third gender phenomenon.
Read: Gender V Intro.

Ap. 25 Kinsey's research. Desire, behavior, and identity. The international gay rights movement.
Read: Gender V article.

Ap. 27 Discussion of articles and fieldwork projects. Relations between men and women. Courtship.
Read: Feminist 11.

Ap. 29 Written Assignment #1 due. Social structure, social stratification, and gender. Rights, rules, and associations.
Read: Gender VI Intro.

May 2 Discussion of Assignment #2 Book Report. The individual and the group(s) of which he/she is a member. Codes of conduct in the (post-)modern world.
Read: Gender VI article.

May 4 Discussion of articles. Epistemological and methodological issues in gender research.
Read: Feminist 13, 15.

May 6 Political organization and evolution. Resources and ownership. Inheritance.
Read: Gender VII Intro.

May 9 Social control and the legal position/rights of men, women, and children.
Read: Gender VII article, Feminist 7.

May 11 Discussion of articles. The family as crucible of gender.
Read: Gender VIII Intro.

May 13 Kinship and marriage. The forms of marriage, re-marriage, divorce, and celibacy.
Read: Gender VIII article.

May 16 Discussion of articles. Politicization and change of marriage.
Read: Feminist 6.

May 18 Assignment #3 Gender in a Belief System. Overview of religions of the world and their philosophical issues.
Read: Gender IX Intro.

May 20 Ritual, taboo, myth, and symbolism of gender in worldviews. Life cycle rites. Obscenity and pornography.
Read: Gender IX article.

May 23 Discussion of articles and book reports. Gender, art, expression, and social impact.
Read: Feminist 10, 14.

May 25 The politics of reproduction. Family planning, population, and health problems in developing countries. Effects of reproductive technological innovation.
Read: Gender X Intro.

May 27 Controversies: clitoridectomy, AIDS, abortion.
Read: Gender X article.

June 1 Discussion of gender and belief systems.
Read: Gender XI Intro and article, Feminist 16.

June 3 Women in development. Technical assistance projects, aid programs, and the position of women. Written book reports and belief systems reports due.

Requirements

The course consists of:
1. Lecture/discussion/student presentation of 1) theoretical background, 2) case studies, 3) readings, 4) fieldwork projects.
2. Use of films, slides, etc., to supplement readings.
3. In- and outside-class writing projects for discussion.
4. Research outside class, resulting in brief oral and written reports.
5. Small group discussion and research.

This is a research-intensive course requiring extensive reading and limited fieldwork, assigned both individually and collectively. Most assignments will be peer-evaluated as well as graded by the instructor. Due dates for all assignments will be established in class. Material will be placed on the web whenever possible. Progress toward goals will be monitored through ungraded pre- and post-tests and informal question/answer discussions. The major formal evaluation consists of:

1. Book report 20%.
2. Oral reports on reading 40%.
3. Two other projects/homework 30%.
4. Class attendance and participation 10%.