ANT324

The Anthropology of Gender

A Human Diversity/ Women’s Studies Course

Fall 2006

Thursdays 6:00-9:50 pm
Professor:    Dr. Barbara G. Hoffman

Office:           CB 145

Phone/Voicemail:  216/687-3549

Office Hours:     T-TH 4:30-5:30,

                               others by appointment

email:    b.hoffman@csuohio.edu

Required Text:                 

·        Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective, Caroline B. Brettell and Carolyn F. Sargent, eds., 4th edition (B&S hereafter)  

(available CSU Bookstore & online)

Course Content: 

This course explores the cultural construction of gender: how different societies shape the meanings of sex and gender in different ways. We will look at a variety of human societies from an anthropological perspective which is neither feminist nor masculinist, but holistic and humanist, taking into account the evolution of the species in particular physical and social environments. We will see how ideas about gender have evolved as well. Humans have created many different definitions of "woman" and "man" over time, and humanity's conceptualizations of how sex and gender are related, and how the genders should interract, continue to vary in fascinating ways. What kinds of work do women do? What is appropriate for men? Are they equally valued or is one more important than the other? Why? Are there only two genders or more? How do these ideas from culture to culture? What impact is globalization having on the transformation of ideas about gender, both in this country and beyond?

By taking into account aspects of gender systems such as division of labor, stratification, gender roles, and their variation throughout the life cycle across cultures, this course investigates the range of human gender systems, and uses this knowledge as a filter through which to examine our own cultural configurations of gender. Through the research they will do for the final project in this class, students will consider what can be learned from the diversity of human gender systems, and will reflect on how global forces today are working to decrease the range of this form of social variation.

Evaluation

Students are evaluated on the basis of their active participation in the study and discussion of class topics and on the completion of a course project.

Participation

·        Participation is demonstrated through attendance and discussion of the specified topics, and through completion of assignments. 

·        Attendance will be taken randomly. More than TWO absences will result in the final grade being lowered one full point. Any absence results in loss of attendance credit for the period of absence, regardless of the reason. Late arrival or early departure from class will result in loss of attendance credit as well.

·        Students must read assignments in advance and be prepared to demonstrate their understanding of the assignment the day the reading is listed on the syllabus.

            Course Project (Click here for instructions)

·        For the course project, students may choose whether to write an 8-10 page research paper or to prepare a research report for an in-class Power Point presentation which will be submitted on both hardcopy and electronic media (email attachment, floppy, or CD-R).

·        All projects must be submitted on paper as well as digital media and will be subjected to online plagiarism detection.

·        As part of preparation for the final project, each student must consult one of the following approved websites: 

Ø      How to write a research paper: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

Ø      How to prepare a research report:  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/reportW/

o       If, after consulting these websites, you are at all uncertain of your mastery of the techniques of writing an adequate research paper or preparing a research report, you are urged to seek remedial help at the Writing Center (RT 105). You are responsible for proper structure, use of sources, citation format and bibliography, as well as spelling, punctuation and grammar. USE THE SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECK FUNCTIONS ON YOUR WORD PROCESSOR.