Z Misogyny syllabus

GSWS 318: Misogyny

COURSE SYLLABUS (FINAL: posted Aug 28 2011)

Class meets: Tuesdays @ 8:30a – 12:20p

Blusson Hall BLU-10901

Instructor: Dr. Özlem Sensoy

Office: EDB 8654

Best/fastest way to contact me is via E: ozlem@sfu.ca

“What’s the worst possible thing you can call a woman? Don’t hold back, now.

You’re probably thinking of words like slut, whore, bitch, cunt (I told you not to hold back!), skank.

Okay, now, what are the worst things you can call a guy? Fag, girl, bitch, pussy. I’ve even heard the term “mangina.”

Notice anything? The worst thing you can call a girl is a girl. The worst thing you can call a guy is a girl. Being a woman is the ultimate insult.”

Jessica Valenti, Full frontal feminism:

A young woman’s guide to why feminism matters, p. 5

Course Description:

Scholars have identified misogyny (the hatred of women) as one of the foundations of sexism. While the overt expressions of misogyny may be recognizable, the covert manifestations are often invisible. Using the example of children’s socialization, students will examine the covert expressions of sexism and misogyny in order to understand how these expressions become normalized in society.

To do so, we will study the popular culture and media culture targeting school-aged children to explore the ways in which misogyny is normalized. We will examine how elements of misogyny emerge in youth culture in ways that construct relations of sexism (and concurrent relations of oppression such as racism and classism) as normal, and in some cases, as desirable. Concepts will be studied via case studies of “texts” from youth culture that include: toys and dolls, tween magazines, beauty and body, fashion, pop music and music videos, and tween movies.

This course serves as an introduction to key concepts and authors in fields including social justice education, critical pedagogy, media studies, gender and sexuality studies, sociology, and cultural studies. It will provide undergraduate students an interdisciplinary set of conceptual tools and language with which to examine, understand, and respond to the educative and normalizing role of misogyny in popular youth culture.

Course Objectives include:

The course activities are organized with attention to the following learning objectives. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

•Identify and define elements of misogyny and trace them into popular youth culture;

•Describe and analyze the role of media and popular youth culture in normalizing discourses of misogyny;

•Describe and analyze the relationship between misogyny and concurrent relations of oppression such as racism, classism, ableism);

•Develop and improve one's critical thinking, listening, writing, and speaking skills to cogently communicate about the complexity of the concepts under study;

Required texts:

Required texts (in the order they will be taken up in class):

1. Dworkin, A. (c1974). Woman hating. New York: E. P. Dutton. ISBN: 0525474234 / 0-525-47423-4) (This book is out of print. There are various used copies available via abebooks.com or other used booksellers. The bookstore will make some coursepacks available for purchase).

2. Durham, M.G. (2009). The Lolita effect: The media sexualization of young girls and what we can do about it. New York: The Overlook Press. 1590202155, 9781590202159 (Amazon $13.36)

3. Azam, S. (2008). Oral sex is the new goodnight kiss: The sexual bullying of middle class girls. ISBN: 978-0-973971118 (approx. $19.95)

4. Brock, R. (2005). Sista Talk: The personal and the pedagogical. NY: Peter Lang. ISBN: 0-8204-4953-9 (Amazon $18.38)

5. Jeffreys, S. (2005). Beauty and misogyny: Harmful cultural practices in the West. NY: Routledge. ISBN-10: 0415351820 (Amazon $24.46, e-book available via SFU library)

6. Jiwani, Y., Steenbergen, C., & Mitchell, C. (Eds.) (2006). Girlhood: Redefining the limits. Montréal: Black Rose Books. ISBN: 155164276X (Amazon $17.00)

* Additional readings will be required week-to-week. These will be articles from the SFU library database. You should be familiar with accessing library databases to acquire journal articles.

There will be additional required readings available via the SFU Library database that are indicated in the syllabus or will be indicated in-class -- Be certain you know how to use and access Library databases.

Required Learning Activities:

Attendance & Participation

Ongoing, attendance will be taken, 2% point reduction for each unexcused absence

Your attendance & participation grade requires arriving on time, and staying the full length of the session (attendance will be taken). If you must miss all or part of any session, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor with a doctor’s note. Although real life does sometimes collide with our educational goals, I have a very low tolerance for absences, and any absences, and chronic late arrivals/ early departures will be reflected in your final grade.

Participation means you must contribute to large group as well as small group class discussions and activities in ways that are informed by the readings (rather than informed solely by opinions you already held prior to class); demonstrate an effort to speak and to give space for others to speak; not appear unprepared or ignorant of course readings or past discussions.

Pop quizzes

Ongoing, 25 % of final grade

There will be quizzes randomly given *only at the very start of class sessions. Students who keep up with the readings find these to be quite straightforward, and an easy way to demonstrate their knowledge and earn course marks for having done the readings. At least 6 quizzes will be given. Your highest 5 scores will count towards your final 25% quiz grade. You can only make up a quiz with an excused absence.

In class group work, and/or collected homework

Ongoing, 25 % of final grade

You will be asked to “collect data” regularly as homework via field assignments – viewing music videos, watching a particular program or network, taking a trip to a toy store, drug store, etc. These homework assignments are due at the start of class and may only be submitted late with a doctor's note. You may also be asked to produce work in small group activities in class. These may also be collected and marked. Your five highest scoring homework assignments or in-class group work will be counted towards your final 25% homework/group-work grade.

Each assignment will be marked on this scale for a maximum of 5 pts:

1-2 pts = handed in on time, but no evidence of thoughtful completion, bare minimum, many errors of spelling, grammar, hard to read/ messy/ incomplete

3-4 pts = handed in on time, completed adequately, fairly good work, but does not integrate knowledge of course concepts or readings (or does not do so well or accurately)

5 pts = on time, evidence of superlative care, thoughtful connections to readings and evidence of careful analysis

MIDTERM Critical media analysis (multimedia group project)

Week 7 (Friday Oct 21, by 5pm), 25 % of final grade

>> MIDTERM PROJECT guide for previous course offering at bottom of this page.

FINAL project (written essay or multimedia)

Week 13 (Monday Dec 5, by 5pm), 25 % of final grade

Detailed assignment descriptions for midterm and final will be provided in class

Grading:

In assigning grades at the undergraduate level, the following guidelines will be followed:

90-100+ is the A range (“A” = 95% = 4.0):

A+ Superior scholarship, incorporating originality. Superior mastery of subject matter. (100+ = 4.33)

A Superior scholarship showing complete comprehension and synthesis of the subject matter.

A- Excellent scholarship showing complete comprehension and sound application of information.

80-89 is the B range (“B” = 85% = 3.0):

B+ Very good scholarship showing sound comprehension and good application of information.

B Good scholarship, some lack in comprehension and application of subject matter.

B- Adequate performance. Gaps in comprehension, knowledge, and application of subject matter.

70-79 is the C range (“C” = 75% = 2.0):

C+ Adequate performance. Concerns about understanding and competency.

CMinimal performance. Lack of comprehension. Concerns about understanding and competency.

C- Marginal performance.

D < 69 % = 1.0 Significant gaps in comprehension.

F < 59 % Fail. Unsatisfactory performance

Please familiarize yourself with SFU’s Code of Academic Honesty and Student Conduct

Full policy: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/teaching/t10-02.htm

If you need to, review the SFU library's plagiarism tutorial to familiarize yourself with what constitutes plagiarism

http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/tutorials/plagiarism-tutorial

Academic Honesty

All members of the University community share the responsibility for the academic standards and reputation of the University. Academic honesty is a cornerstone of the development and acquisition of knowledge. Academic honesty is a condition of continued membership in the university community.
Academic dishonesty, like other forms of dishonesty, is misrepresentation with intent to deceive or without regard to the source or the accuracy of statements or findings. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University; it is, furthermore, unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University.
The following examples are representative but not exhaustive of activities constituting academic dishonesty: plagiarism (presenting the work of another person as your own); submitting the same work more than once without prior approval; cheating; impersonation; submitting false records or information; stealing or destroying the work of another student; removing, mutilating, misplacing or destroying books or other library material; unauthorized or inappropriate use of computers, calculators and other forms of technology in course work, assignments or examinations.
The University code of academic honesty is contained in policy T10.02 or in the Course Timetable and Exam Schedule published every semester, or on the Web.

Penalties for Acts of Academic Dishonesty

Penalties imposed by the University for academic dishonesty may include one or more of the following: a warning, a verbal or written reprimand, reassessment of work, failure on a particular assignment, failure in a course, denial of admission or readmission, forfeiture of awards or financial assistance, suspension or expulsion from the University.

Student Conduct

Simon Fraser University is committed to creating a scholarly community characterized by civility, diversity, free inquiry, mutual respect and individual safety. The code of student conduct is intended to define students' basic responsibilities as members of the academic community, to define inappropriate student conduct and to provide procedures and penalties to be invoked and applied if they engage in such unacceptable behaviour. Each student is responsible for his/her conduct which affects the University community. The code shall not be construed to unreasonably prohibit peaceful assemblies, demonstrations or free speech.
The following activities are representative but not exhaustive of behaviours constituting misconduct: disruptive or dangerous behaviour; behaviour which results in damage, destruction and theft of University property or the property of any member of the University; forgery or alteration of University documents or records; misuse of University resources including information (computing) resources; unauthorized entry or presence in University premises; misuse of student disciplinary procedures.
The University code of student conduct is contained in policy T10.01 available in the Library or any departmental office, or in the Course Timetable and Exam Schedule published every semester, or on the Web.

Penalties for Acts of Student Misconduct

Penalties imposed by the University for misconduct may include one or more of the following: a verbal or written reprimand, exclusion from specified areas of the University, restitution or other ameliorative measures, suspension or expulsion from the University.

Please note that I want all students to learn, to receive the good grades you desire, and to have a positive experience in the class. So please make an appointment to talk to me should you have undue difficulty in the course.

Please also note that you are completely entitled to privacy about any unique circumstances related to your learning, learning style or abilities. However, if you have any situation that you would like me to be aware of (e.g. chronic health issue, etc.) then please let me know -- come see me at break or after class, or send me an email to schedule a time to chat.

SCHEDULE: There will likely be changes to this schedule, in which case you will be notified in advance.

WEEK 1 WELCOME! Understanding misogyny and girl culture

T Sept 6

Key concepts: misogyny, sexism, girl culture

Required readings (sent via email prior to class)

(1) Lyn Mikel Brown (2003) Girlfighting: Betrayal and Rejection among Girls.

Read Chapter 1 only “Reading the Culture of Girlfighting” (pp 11-35) Available via SFU libraries as an e-book.

(2) Thomas Keith (Spring, 2010). “Men, Misogyny and the Future: When Men Challenge Sexism.” Voice Male Magazine (pp 20-21). Available online at: http://voicemalemagazine.org/pdfs/voice_male_spring_2010.pdf

In class film: Generation M: Misogyny in media and culture (2008)

WEEK 2 Let’s Start at the Beginning: Fairy Tale Princess

T Sept 13

Homework: “Fairy Tales” Interview

Key concepts: archetype, symbolic and discursive violence, post-feminism

Required readings

(1) Andrea Dworkin, Woman Hating [read entire book/ approx. 170 pp]

In class film: Bratz Kidz Fairy Tales (2008)

WEEK 3 THE SEXUALIZATION OF GIRLHOOD

T Sept 20

CLASS MEETS IN BLU 10901

Homework: Toddlers and Tiaras

Key concepts: “sexuality” versus “sexualisation”, girls socialization as “pleasure providers”, media literacy

Required readings

(1) Durham, Lolita Effect [read Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4/ approx. 125 pp]

(2) Debra Merskin (2004). Reviving Lolita?: A Media Literacy Examination of Sexual Portrayals of Girls in Fashion Advertising. American Behavioral Scientist 48(1), 119-129 [available via SFU library]

(3) Susan Linn (Aug 25 2011). Commercialized sexualization and the choice to opt out. http://commercialfreechildhood.blogspot.com/2011/08/commercialized-sexualization-and-choice.html

In class film: Baby Beauty Queens (2010)

WEEK 4

T Sept 27

CLASS MEETS IN EDB 8680

Guest: Myriam Dumont, elementary and sexuality education teacher Vancouver School Board

Key concepts: adolescent sexuality, sexual misinformation

Required readings

(1) Durham, Lolita Effect [read Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9/ approx. 100 pp]

(2) Guide to Sexy Inc. http://www3.nfb.ca/sg/100522.pdf

In class film: Sexy Inc. Our Children Under Influence (2007)

WEEK 5

T Oct 4

CLASS MEETS IN EDB INSTRUCTIONAL LAB

iMovie workshop with Brian Lee

** Late start this week. Class will meet at 9:30 am in the Education Building CET Instructional Lab

You will have time after the workshop to map out your midterm projects

WEEK 6

T Oct 11

CLASS MEETS IN EDB 7600

Guest: Sharlene Azam, author Goodnight Kiss

Homework: watch Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss DVD

Required reading:

(1)Azam, Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss [read entire book/ approx. 130 pp]
(2)Jackson Katz (2000). Pornography and men’s consciousness. Readings for diversity and social justice. NY: Routledge. http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/genderandmedia/assignments/katz001.pdf

In class film: Very Young Girls (2007)

WEEK 7

T Oct 18

EDB 7600 RESERVED

Midterm projects. Education instructional lab will also be reserved.

***MIDTERM MOVIE PROJECTS DUE: Friday Oct 21 by 5 pm via e-mail to ozlem@sfu.ca ***

WEEK 8 BEAUTY AND BODIES UNDER CONSTRUCTION

T Oct 25

CLASS MEETS IN EDB 7600

Homework DUE in class: Drugstore field trip CANCELLED

Key concepts: discourse of choice; cultural imperialism; body modification

Required readings

(1)Jeffreys, Beauty & Misogyny [read Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4/ approx. 86 pp]
(2)Cressida J. Heyes (2007). Cosmetic surgery and the televisual makeover: A Foucauldian feminist reading. Feminist Media Studies, 7(1), 17-32 [available via SFU library database]

In class film: Western Eyes (2000), NFB

WEEK 9 “CHOICE” AND BEAUTY

T Nov 1

CLASS MEETS IN BLU 10901

Homework DUE in class: Drugstore field trip

Key concepts: discourse of choice; beauty standards

Required readings

(1)Jeffreys, Beauty & Misogyny [read Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, Conclusion/ approx. 90 pp]
(2)Adi Bloom (2009).The schoolgirls who are asking for 'designer vaginas'. Times Educational Supplement. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6028548