Overview

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:

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 (e.g. 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, sport, medicine, work and more 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 to 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

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

You will need access to a computer and a reliable internet connection for online/remote learning, writing exams and uploading assignments on CANVAS and ZOOM, along with access to mobile phone apps (e.g., Messenger, WhatsApp) for in person communication. I will be providing you with links to these various platforms.

Universal Access Remote learning for this semester requires a computer or tablet, camera, and internet access. Most laptops and desktops are running OSX and Windows. Tablets may be Android, iOS or Windows based. Headsets are advised but not necessary. Note that students have access to free Office 365 or Adobe Creative Cloud found here.

REQUIRED READING: