Summer 2023 - SA 365 D100
Selected Regional Areas (A) (4)
Class Number: 4831
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
May 8 – Aug 4, 2023: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Yuan Wei
weiyuanw@sfu.ca
Office: AQ 5089
Office Hours: Monday 12:00-2:00 PM
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Prerequisites:
SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An examination of selected aspects of the social structure, culture and the processes of social change in varying regional areas. The focus will vary from semester to semester.
COURSE DETAILS:
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has undergone dramatic social and political changes since its establishment in 1949. In this course, we will study the country’s radical transformation from the Maoist/collective era (1949-1978) to the post-Maoist/reform era (1978-now) through the lens of gender, intimacy, and (re)production. The course is divided into four parts. We will start by examining women’s status and role within the patrilineal kinship network, asking whether they are merely victims of the patriarchal social system or they may hold certain forms of agency in the everyday life. We will then move on to study the socialist state-led reforms and campaigns around class, labor, family, and women during the Maoist/collective era (1949-78), to understand the political ideas and practices of Maoism and its impact on women. The third and fourth parts will focus on contemporary (after 1978) social practices around economic production, consumption, intimacy, marriage, sexuality, and child-rearing, where we will examine the experiences of both the social groups situated in the “center” of the PRC (Han, heterosexual, mainlander) and those on the “margins” of the state (ethnic minorities, queer, and the “Chinese” societies on the periphery or outside of the PRC). Throughout the course, we will read academic articles from the disciplines of history, sociology, anthropology, and gender & sexuality studies and learn about different approaches in studying gender relationship, intimate life, social classification, governance, state-society relationship, and historical (dis)continuity.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
- Understand social and political changes on gender relationship, intimate life, and (re)production in China (PRC) since 1949.
- Approach intimacy, sexuality, and reproduction not only as people’s private matter, but also social formations that are closely related to state-building, governance, and political struggles.
- Approach PRC state and society not as homogenous entities but intertwining spaces full of differences, contentions, conflicts, and changes.
- Learn about theories and methodologies in historical, social, and political studies on gender relationship, intimate life, social classification, state-society relationship, and governance; Develop skills of reading legal, policy, and media texts that can help us understand social changes.
Grading
- Active participation and attendance 15%
- Class presentation and discussion facilitation 10%
- Asynchronous online tutorial activities 15%
- Mid-term paper 25%
- Final paper: film analysis 35%
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 Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). 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.
The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved! Follow Facebook and Instagram pages!
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
All the required and recommended reading will be available on Canvas.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.