WMS 1000 - WOMEN AND SOCIETY

credits: 3.0
This course, which is broadly interdisciplinary and cross-cultural in scope, examines the ways in which various societies define and limit human beings on the basis of gender. It will examine images, power relationships, and cultural and historical sources of female roles and status, and will explore how the social construction of femaleness occurs in our contemporary world. Objectives: A) To identify ways in which social institutions define human beings and constrain their actions on the basis of gender; B) To trace the formative influence of earlier cultural, historical, and religious ideas on the contemporary image and definition of femaleness; C) To introduce the concepts of oppression, domination, and subordination– not only as they apply to women, but to other groups as well; D) To present an overview of the global struggle for women’s rights and examine the interplay of social, economic, and cultural forces. Method of Instruction: Seminar discussions, lecture, and small group work. Method of Evaluation: Papers, a midterm and final projects, regular class attendance, and participation in class discussions. Meets *WEP Distribution Requirement.