Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - SA 335 E100

Gender Relations and Social Issues (S) (4)

Class Number: 2615

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Tue, 4:30–8:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Agnes MacDonald
    ama102@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: By appointment

  • Prerequisites:

    SA 101 or 150 or 201W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Together we will think about how gender influences and suffuses social interaction, in both historical and contemporary contexts: consider how assumptions and expectations about gender shape identity, the things people do, and how they do them; and discuss gender inequality and equality across society. Students with credit for GSWS 308 are not eligible to take SA 335 for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Together we will think about how gender influences and suffuses social interaction, in both historical and contemporary contexts: consider how assumptions and expectations about gender shape identity, the things people do, and how they do them; and discuss gender inequality and equality across society. Gender is one of the socially constituted markers of difference. Through gender our embodied experiences and sense of ourselves construct our ideas about and interactions with others, while also serving as structuring principles of social organization. We will consider aspects of the established gender binaries of masculinity and femininity, and transgender developments in the contexts of body, power, language, identity and government among others in relation to the weekly topics. We will unravel the taken-for-granted views about gender by asking questions, such as: What is gender? What does femininity and masculinity mean? How have historical events shaped gender relations and identity globally and in Canada? How does gender intersect with the various social relations, eg. race, class, age, sexuality? We will examine and discuss these aspects and other questions embedded in everyday thinking about and acting in gender. Sociological categories of intersection from sexuality, race, class, age and more will be useful lenses to explore gender in the topics of culture, media, medicine, work among others which will propel us to compare and contrast the similarities and differences of gender relations in society.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • The objective of this Gender Relations course to facilitate students’ knowledge expansion of sociology by exploring the socio-historical discourses and debates surrounding gender.
  • Theoretical, conceptual, and research methodological approaches will enable students to investigate sociological ideas about gender construction, identity, transformation, along with structural and individual challenges about the taken-for-granted assumptions in society and at the level of the individual.
  • Selected book chapters, articles, video clips, and discussions will help students gain advanced sociological knowledge and in turn demonstrate their understanding of the material in assignments and examinations.
  • The course is delivered online and therefore the traditional  components of teaching and learning, such as readings, lectures, tutorials, class discussion, in-class exercises, and audio-visual materials will be designed in a way that enable students to achieve the educational goals of this third-year sociology class.

Grading

  • Participation (2 x 10 Q&A discussions; no make-ups) 20%
  • Presentation (2-4 students/class) 20%
  • Midterm exam 30%
  • Final research essay 30%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct Policy: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T 20.01) and academic dishonesty and misconduct procedures (S10.01‐S10.04). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style.  It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All readings will be available through Canvas, the SFU Library, or otherwise online as noted.

Please note, you will need to access the readings and have read the first assigned chapter for the second week of classes.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/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

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).