Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2018 - CMNS 455W D100

Women and New Information Technologies (4)

Class Number: 7040

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Thu, 8:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    75 units, including CMNS 253 (or 253W).

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Topics include the processes through which gendering of technologies takes place; information and communication technologies (ICTs), gender and public and private spheres; issues related to computerization of women's paid and unpaid work; and gender roles and the use of ICTs in relation to health; as well as the contributions which the study of gender and ICTs have made to theoretical debates within science, technology and society studies. Students with credit for CMNS 486 (in Spring 1998 or Spring 2000) may not take this course for further credit. Students with credit for CMNS 455 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Overview:

This writing-intensive, weekly seminar is designed to explore feminist science and technology studies (STS) approaches to information and communication technologies. Changes in technology have challenged feminist scholars to reconsider the notion of what “counts” as a technology, how feminist politics can influence women’s participation in the design and use of technology, and how technical changes can influence gender relations.

Topics include: the processes through which gendering of technologies takes place; information and communication technologies (ICTs); gender and public and private spheres; issues related to the computerization of women’s paid and unpaid work; gender roles and the use of ICTs in relation to health; and the contributions that the study of gender and ICTs has made to theoretical debates within science, technology, and society studies.

As this course is writing-intensive, the seminars include a tutorial component focusing on analyzing, writing, and peer-reviewing various texts including editorials, policy briefs, literature reviews, and essays.

This is a writing-intensive course.
Students who began their degrees in Fall 2006 onwards must successfully complete at least two (W) courses, at least one of which must be upper division, within the student’s discipline. It is strongly recommended that students take one (W) course as early as possible, preferably in their first 30 units. Students are required to complete their first (W) course within their first 60 units. Each (W) course must be at least 3 units, and achieve at least a C- grade.

Grading

  • Initial Proposal 5%
  • Revised Proposal 5%
  • Draft Literature Review 10%
  • Final Literature Review 30%
  • Final Policy Brief 15%
  • Final Letter to the Editor, or Facts and Arguments Piece 15%
  • Portfolio of Peer Reviews 20%

REQUIREMENTS:

A minimum 2.25 CMNS GPA and 2.00 overall CGPA, and approval as a communication student is required for entry into most communication upper division courses.   

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline. [Note: As of May 1, 2009, the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Fox, M.F., D.G. Johnson, and S.V. Rosser (eds.), Women, Gender, and Technology. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2006 [Paperback].  Alternate ISBN: 0252073363.
ISBN: 9780252073366

Gajjala, R. and Y.J. Oh (eds.), Cyberfeminism 2.0. New York: Peter Lang Publishers, 2012 [Paperback].  Alternate ISBN:  1433113589.
ISBN: 9781433113581

Skloot, Rebecca, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Crown Archetype Publishers, 2011 [Paperback].
ISBN: 9781400052189

Selections from: Wyer, M., M. Barbercheck, D. Cookmeyer, H. Ozturk, and M. Wayne, Women, Science, and Technology: A Reader in Feminist Science Studies. Routledge, 2013. (E-book available through the SFU Library.)

Additional required readings will be made available on Canvas.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS