10930/31 Anth 355/WS 355 Anthropology of Gender W'2008
8:00-10:00 TR Instructor: Dr. Kathy Fine (fine_k@fortlewis.edu)
120 CSWS Office hours:
10:00-12:00 TR (279 CSWS)
Who we are as human beings, how we achieve and
keep our dignity and power, and what we often see as being at the heart of
social justice, centers a great deal around a concept called "gender"
that lies restlessly at the busy intersection of biology, culture, society,
history, personality, and a host of other elements. Gender is more than “male” and “female” or
“femininity” and “masculinity.” Rather,
it is a powerful resource that we “are,” that we “wear,” that we “construct,”
that we “perform,” that we “resist,” and that can be at the heart of human
fulfillment as well as human limitation and violence.
In this course we just scratch the surface of this
powerful and embodied concept by doing three things. First, we situate the study of gender and
women within the history of anthropological thought in order to historicize our
subject matter and examine the kinds of conceptual and theoretical tools that
have been developed to address these complex phenomena. Next, we actually focus on the “gendered
body” by reading a book of essays written by two prominent gender
sociologists. These essays will be
interspersed with the centerpiece of the course, an anthology of readings that
explore some of the fascinating research carried out by anthropologists on
gender-centered issues.
*Important
note for anthropology majors: Although
this course is not designated as a “research” course in the catalog, you may
count it for such. Just let me know and
I will make arrangements to have this reflected on your transcript.
REQUIRED TEXTS –
·
GA: Gender & Anthropology (1999). Frances E. Mascia-Lees
& Nancy Johnson Black (Waveland).
·
GB:
Gendered Bodies: Feminist Perspectives (2007). Judith Lorber &
Lisa Jean Moore.
·
CC:
Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (4th edition,
2005). Caroline B. Brettell
& Carolyn F. Sargent, eds. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
·
OPTIONAL The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World. Completely Revised and Updated. Joni Seager.
Course requirements:
·
20% Attendance, participation (are you
prepared when you come to class to answer questions about the readings?) and Class
lecture. You will lead discussion
over one of the chapters/articles from our three texts. As part of this grade
you must submit a 2-3 page analytical summary of the main points of that
chapter. You must RELATE the reading to
other readings in that week’s assignment, to the discussion in the GA text, or
to phenomena discussed in the Penguin
Atlas. How does the article
complement, contradict, and/or expand our understanding of the issues raised in
any of these readings?
·
20%
Film review. Choose a film from
pp. 253-255 of the Gendered Bodies text or from the list of films
provided in the “CC” book. Write a 3-4
page analysis of the ways the film reflects specific themes discussed in
our texts, and situate your analysis within a particular conceptual framework
that informs your own views. Cite your
sources.
·
20% Midterm
exam.
·
40%. Research paper: Class article
analysis/exploration/expansion. You
will choose an article from the Brettell & Sargent reader. In
an 8-10 page paper (including a References Cited page), you are to critique
and extend the subject matter of the article by 1) examining and citing several
of the bibliographic references used to construct the article; and 2) conducting
library research of your own (at least 5 references to come from
library-based books, academic journals, etc.—I don’t want you to “google” everything, unless you find actual academic
articles posted on line via one of the library search engines such as EBSCO, AnthroSource, JSTOR, Google Scholar, etc.) to expand and
develop the topic further. Questions
that should guide you include: What is the article about? What questions did the author ask to address what
general problem? What was the author’s
research design in approaching answers to his/her questions? Where does the research fit within other
scholarship on the topic both within and beyond anthropology? What additional information needs to be considered
to bring the subject matter of the article up to chronological or contextual
speed? If you were to conduct additional
ethnographic work to continue the discussion, what would it be? By addressing these questions you have a chance
to delve more deeply into a topic that interests you while working within the
parameters established by the course materials.
IMPORTANT
NOTES:
o
You
may choose the article that you presented in class when leading discussion, but
you don’t have to (especially as I am the one who will assign that first
presentation);
o
You
MUST GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER SOON! I will
want a commitment to a paper topic by the midterm time.
COURSE, COLLEGE POLICIES, AND OTHER IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATIONS… ü
Chronic tardiness and
disruptive, disrespectful behavior (towards me, others, or the course material)
will not be tolerated. I reserve the
right to ask you to leave class or to drop you from the class if you are
disruptive.
If you plagiarize any work or
cheat on an exam, you will be given a grade of “F” for the course and a report
of the incident will be filed in the Office of the Vice President for Academic
Affairs. The action could result in your
expulsion from the college.
If you do not show up for an
exam or your assigned presentation you will receive an “F” for the entire
course. If an emergency prevents you
from coming to class the day of an exam, please leave a message on my voice
mail (247-7438) as soon as possible to explain your absence. I may require further documentation to allow
you to make up the work.
If you miss class the day a
film is shown, you will have to get the notes from someone who is willing to
share them with you. If the film is one
owned by the college, you may view it in the library or check it out, but
I do not loan out Department of Anthropology films.
You
must be earning a passing grade to withdraw from this class and receive a “W,”
otherwise you will receive a grade of “F.”
Exceptions will be made only under extreme circumstances. If you find that you are struggling, it is in
your best interest to stay in the course and try to bring up your grade. I
encourage anyone who is having trouble to come see me during office hours or to
make an appointment to come talk to me.
Incomplete
grades
A grade of “I” is given only in cases where a
student is currently passing the class and is unable to complete the final work
for the course due to some sort of emergency situation. An “I” is a student- initiated grade that
must be approved by the instructor.
The structure, schedule, and goals of this course
are clearly spelled out in this syllabus. Because the course guidelines are
very clear, no extra credit will be given in this class.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities have equal access and
equal opportunity in this course. If you require
reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet
course requirements, you must register with Disability Services, 280 Noble
Hall, 247-7459. If you qualify for services, bring your letter of
accommodation to me as soon as possible.
Statement on
Cheating & Plagiarism
Cheating in any form
will result in an “F” for the class
and a file established in your name in the Office of the Vice President for
Academic Affairs. More than one entry in
the file may result in your dismissal from the college.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
Use of drugs or alcohol
by students on campus or in college sanctioned off-campus activities is
strictly against FLC policy and will not be tolerated in this class. If I find
a student in violation of this policy he or she will be asked to leave the
classroom and may be faced with sanctions as specified in the student handbook
(www.fortlewis.edu/administrative_services/flc_policies/04_human_resources/4-14.asp).
SCHEDULE – FILMS &
GUEST LECTURES (I will add many!)
|
Week # |
Topic |
|
Notes |
|
1.
Jan
8, 10 |
History
of Study of Gender in Anthropology Relevance
of Anthropology & Gender in Contemporary World |
GA
xi-xv, 1-19, 103-106 GB Intro & Ch. 1, 1-27 “Theories of the Gendered Body” - CC
xiii-xvi, 1-7 |
-
Look at Seager |
|
2.
Jan
15, 17 |
I.
Biology, Gender, & Human Evolution n Sociobiological and Psychological
theories in Anthropology |
GA
20-46 CC
Zuk 7-16 2005? CC
16-21 Ehrenberg 1989 CC
21-30 Peach 2005? GB
Ch. 2, 29-59 “Gendering Procreation” CC
31-37 Scheper-Hughes 1989 CC
37-48 Hewlett 1991 |
Choose
articles for presentations |
|
3.
Jan
22,24 |
II. Gender &
Prehistory n
Materialist theories in
Anthropology |
GA
47-67 CC
49-53 CC
53-62 Conkey CC
Galloway 63-73 1997 CC
Guenter & Friedl 74-80 |
Film:
“Gods of Our Fathers” |
|
4.
Jan
29, 31 |
III. Domestic Worlds
& Public Worlds n
Structuralist approaches |
GA
68-79 CC
81-86 CC
Lamphere 86-95 2005? CC
Townsend 105-119 2005? CC
Weismantel 120-133 2001 |
|
|
5.
Feb
5, 7 |
IV. Gender
Stratification n
Discursive &
Sociolinguistic Approaches |
GA
80-91 CC
135-141 CC
Estioko-Griffin & Griffin 141-151 1981 CC
Rasmussen 155-169 2005? CC
Babb 169-184 GB
Ch. 5 113-136 “Constructing Men’s Bodies” |
|
|
6.
Feb
12, 14 |
V. Cultural Construct of Gender &
Personhood n
Reflexive Approaches in
Anthropology |
GA
92-106 CC
185-190 CC
Gilmore 190-202 1990 CC
Herdt 203-207 1982 CC
Watson 207-219 1986 CC
McElhinny 219-230 2003 GB
Ch. 4 85-111 “Constructing Women’s Bodies” |
FILM:
“Small Happiness” |
|
7. Feb 19, 21 |
|
WEEK
TO CATCH UP & REVIEW FOR MIDTERM |
|
|
8. Feb 26, 28 |
MIDTERM |
MIDTERM EXAM |
MIDTERM EXAM Tues Feb 26 Feb 28 Film: “Paris is Burning” |
|
9.
Mar 5,
7 |
|
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
10.
Mar
12, 14 |
VI. Culture, Sexuality,
& the Body |
GB Ch. 6 137-67
“Transgender & Intersex” CC
241-247 CC
Abu-Lughod 247-256 CC
Gottlieb 256-267 CC
Blackwood 268-278 CC
Reddy & Nanda 278-285 GB
Ch. 3, 61-83 “Barbie & G.I. Joe” CC
Urla & Swedlund
285-298 1995 |
Film: “Middle Sexes” |
|
11.
Mar
20, 22 |
VII. Gender, Property,
& the State |
GB Ch. 7 169-193 “Gender & Disability” CC 299-304 CC Rapp 304-310 CC Stone & James 310-320 1995 CC Allison 332-348 1991 |
Film essay due, March 22 |
|
12.
Mar
27, 28 |
VIII. Gender,
Household, & Kinship |
CC
349-353 CC
Menon 354-363 CC
Stack 363-372 1974 CC
di Leonardo 380-389 1987 GB
Ch. 8 195-219 “Political Bodies” |
|
|
13.
Apr
2, 4 |
IX. Gender, Ritual, and Religion |
CC
391-396 CC
Boddy 397-408 1989 CC
Brown 421-430 1991 CC
Kendall 430-442 |
|
|
14.
Apr
9, 11 |
X. Gender, Politics, & Reproduction |
CC 443-449 CC Davis-Floyd 449-461 1994 CC Browner 461-471 1986 CC Gruenbaum 481-494 GB Ch. 9 221-243 “Social Bodies” |
|
|
15.
Apr
16, 18 |
XI.
Culture Contact, Development, & the Global Economy |
CC 495-500 CC Lockwood 500-515 CC Wilson-Moore 515-522 CC Mills 536-549 1997 CC Zimmer-Tamakoshi
550-564 |
|
|
16.
Finals week |
|
RESEARCH
PAPERS DUE Wed Apr 23 5 pm. |
RESEARCH PAPER DUE WED
5:00 PM |