Gender and Society (SOCI 5330-002) –Spring 2012
Instructor: Dana Dunn, Ph.D.
Office Number: UH 458
Phone: 817-272-2661
Email: (best method for reaching me)
Office Hours: Monday 5-6 p.m. and at other times by appointment
Course Description: This course explores the contributions that a sociological perspective brings to the understanding of gender. We will examine the causes and consequences of gender differences. Sociological and feminist theories of gender difference and gender inequality will be the focus of the first several class meetings. We will then examine gender stratification as it operates in the context of major social institutions including the workplace, the academy and the family. We will also explore how race/ethnicity and class interact with gender to pattern our lives. The focus of the course is on U.S. society, though we will devote one topic to gender issues globally, with an emphasis on developing societies.
Given that this is a seminar course, the quality and effectiveness of the course will depend much on your input as a careful reader of the assigned materials and as a participant and leader of discussions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
(1) Students will be able to describe the contributions that a sociological perspective bring to an understanding of gender and gender inequality.
(2) Students will be able to explain how gender results in the differential distribution of rewards and opportunities.
(3) Students will be able to describe how gendered experiences differ by social class, race/ethnicity, and cultural background.
(4) Students will be able to explain how gender is learned and manifest in social institutions such as the family, the academy, and the workplace.
(5) Students will be able to describe the major theories explaining gender inequality, and to offer critiques of these theories.
(6) Students will be able to explain how sociological research methods can be used to better understand gendered social behavior.
Required Readings: There are two required books for the class: (1) Guyland by Michael Kimmel and (2) Gender Inequality by Judith Lorber (4th edition—be sure to purchase this edition, not the 5th edition just issued). The books are available in the University bookstore.
There is also a packet of required readings which have been placed on electronic reserve. To access the readings packet go to the UT Arlington Library Catalog and scroll down and click on the “Course Reserves” tab. Use the drop down arrow to select my name, then cursor down to select “Sociology 5330.002”. You will then see a list of all materials on reserve for the course. Select the title of an item by clicking on the title that begins with “Click E-Items Link” items beginning with this entry are the E-Reserves for this course. You’ll then see the brief record, which will have a web link. Click on the “E-Items” web link to access your E-reserves reading. The system will prompt you to enter your UTA NetID and password to be able to view the entire article and or chapter. If you have difficulties accessing the information, a UT Arlington librarian can assist you. Please also let me know if you are having difficulty accessing the readings packet. You should print the readings and bring them to class on the date they are to be covered.
Topics, Schedule, and Reading Assignments:
Jan 23 Organizational Meeting for the Course and Brief Introduction to the Sociological Perspective on Gender
Jan 30 Theoretical Perspectives on Gender, Part 1
Feminisms and their Contribution to Gender Inequality
Lorber, J. 2010. Gender Inequality: Feminist Theory and Politics. (4th edition) New York: OxfordUniversity Press. Pages 1-23 (For the remainder of the reading list this book will be abbreviated as “Lorber, 2010”
Liberal Feminism
Lorber, 2010: Part 1, Section 1
Marxist Feminism
Lorber, 2010: Part 1, Section 2
Shelton, B.A. and B. Agger. 1993. “Shotgun Wedding, Unhappy Marriage, No-Fault Divorce? Rethinking the Femninism-Marxism Relationship.” Pp. 25-41 in P. England (ed.) Theory on Gender/Feminism on Theory. New York, NY: Aldine de Gruyter.
Radical Feminism
Lorber, 2010: Part 2, Section 5
Lesbian Feminism
Lorber, 2010: Part 2, Section 6
Feb 6 Theoretical Perspectives on Gender, Part 2
Psychoanalytic Approach to Gender
Lorber, 2010: Part 2, Section 7
Williams, C. 1996. “Psychoanalytic Theory and the Sociology of Gender.” Pp. 131-149 in P. England (ed.) Theory on Gender/Feminism on Theory. New York, NY: Aldine de Gruyter.
Biological and Sociobiological Approaches to Gender
Kimmel, M.S. 2008. The Gendered Society. (3rd edition) New York: OxfordUniversity Press. (Chapter 2)
Udry, R. 2000. “Biological Limits of Gender Construction.” American Sociological Review65: 443-457.
“Exchange on the Biological Limits of Gender Construction.” American Sociological Review 66: 592-621.
Feb 13 Theoretical Perspectives on Gender, Part 3
Ideological Theories of Gender Stratification
Nielsen, J.M. Sex and Gender in Society: Perspectives on Stratification. 1990. Illinois: Waveland Press. (Pages 202-212).
Macrostructural Perspectives on Gender Stratification
Dunn, D, E. Almquist, and J. Chafetz. “Macrostructural Perspectives on Gender Inequality” Pp. 69-90 in P. England (ed.) Theory onGender/Feminism on Theory. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Chafetz, J.S. 1984. Sex and Advantage: A Comparative, Macro-Structural Theory of Sex Stratification. New Jersey: Rowman and Allanheld. (Pages 10-22 and 109-117)
Feb 20 The Intersection of Race, Class and Gender
McIntosh, P. 2000.“White Privilege” Pp 247-250 in M. Baca Zinn, P. Hondagneu-Sotelo, and M. Messner (eds.) Gender Through the Prism of Difference. (2nd Edition) Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Elmelech, Y. and H. Lu. 2004. “Race, Ethnicity and the Gender Poverty Gap.” Social Science Research 33 (1): 158-182.
Socialist Feminism
Lorber, Part 1, Section 3 (pages 70-75)
Standpoint Feminism
Lorber, Part 2, Section 8
Multiracial/Multiethnic Feminism
Lorber, Part 3, Section 9
King, D. 1988. “Multiple Jeopardy, Multiple Consciousness: The context of Black Feminist Ideology.” Signs88-111.
Feb 27 Gender and Paid Work:Occupational Sex Segregation and the Sex-based Wage Gap
Marini, M.M. 1989. “Sex Differences in Earnings in the United States.” Annual Review of Sociology 15: 343-380.
England, P and D. Dunn. 1988, “Evaluating Work and Comparable Worth,” Annual Review of Sociology 14: 227-248.
McKay, Steven T. 2006. “Hard Drives and Glass Ceilings: Gender Stratification in High-Tech Production” Gender and Society20 (2): 207-235.
March 5 Gender, Family, and Carework?/Paper Proposal Presentations
England, Paula. 2005. “Emerging Theories of Carework” Annual Review of Sociology 31:381-399.
Duffy, M. 2007. “Doing the Dirty Work: Gender, Race and Reporductive Labor in Historical Perspective.” Gender and Society 21 (3) 313-336.
March 19 Gender, Knowledge and the Academy/Paper Proposal Presentations
Valian, V. 2005. “Beyond Gender Schemas: Improving the Advancement of Women in Academia” Hypatia 20 (3).
Selections from Kournay, J. 2002. The Gender of Science.New Jersey: Prentice Hall. (Pages 39-85)
Gornick, V. “Women in Science: Half In, Half Out”; Weisstein, N., “How can a little girls like you teach a great big class of men?” the Chairman Said, and Other Adventures of a Woman in Science”; Keller, E. F., “The Anomaly of a Woman in Physics; and Angier, N. “ “Women Join the Ranks of Science but Remain Invisible at the Top.”
March 26: Gender, Globalization and Development/Exam Review
Freeman, C. 2001. “Is Local:Global as Feminine: Masculine? Rethinking the Gender of Globalization” Signs 26(4) 1007-1037.
Lorber, 2010. Part 1, Section 4
Acker, J. 2004. “Gender, Capitalism, and Globalization” in CriticalSociology 30(1) pages 17-41.
April 2 EXAM (In class essay exam)
April 9 The Construction and Maintenance of Masculinity, Part 1
Kimmel, M. 2008. Guyland Pages 1-122
April 16 The Construction and Maintenance of Masculinity, Part 2
Kimmel, M. 2008. Guyland Pages 123-289
Lorber, 2010 Part 3, Section 10
April 23 The Construction and Maintenance of Femininity/Final Paper Presentations
Williams, L. 2002. “Trying on Gender, Gender Regimes, and the Process of Becoming Women.” Gender and Society. 16(1): 29-52.
Milkie, M. A. 2002. “Contested Images of Femininity: An Analysis of Cultural Gatekeepers’ Struggles with the “Real Girl” Critique.” Gender andSociety. 16 (6): 839-859.
Selections from Spade, J.and C. Valentine. 2008. The Kaleidescope ofGender California: Pine Forge Press.
Urla, J. and Alan Swedlund. “The Anthropometry of Barbie: Unsettling Ideals of the Feminine Body in Popular Culture”
April 30th: Final Paper Presentations
Course Requirements and Determination of Final Grade:
There are 3 major requirements:
(1) Leading Discussion over Readings/Topics and Class Participation (30% of final course grade) —Each student will be responsible for leading discussion over reading topics 2 times during the course of the semester. Discussion leaders should prepare a summary outline of their presentation (approximately one-two pages) for distribution to class members on the date of their presentation. The summary should briefly review and evaluate the assigned reading and identify questions for class discussion. Discussion leaders are to provide the class with a short overview (approximately 20 minutes) of the main issues covered in the readings, and then lead a discussion based on the questions posed in the summary. Assignments for discussion leaders will be made on the first day of class.
All students are expected to come to class having read class materials and prepared to make thoughtful contributions to class discussion. The extent and quality of participant discussion is also a component of the overall grade.
(2) Exam (35% of final course grade)—There will be an in class, essay exam covering course readings and lecture. The exam will be April 2nd.
(3) Research Paper (35%) of final course grade—Each student will prepare a research paper (approximately 20 pages in length, typed, double spaced). Paper topics should be related to a course topic/s, and must be submitted to me for approval. A brief description of a page or less is all that is required for me to evaluate your topic. Topics should be submitted to me for approval by February 20th. On March 5th and 19th (after topics have been approved by me), each student will make a brief (about 5 minutes) presentation of the paper proposal to the class for feedback from class members. This feedback may be helpful in developing your paper. Final presentations of papers (approximately 15 minutes) will be scheduled for the the last two class session. Papers are due on the last day of class.
General Information:
Americans with Disabilities Act: UT Arlington is committed to boththe spirit and the letter of federal equal opportunity legislation and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Students are responsible for informing me of their need for accommodation and for providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Please see Also, you are encouraged to visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room 1002 UH (817-272-3364).
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any form. “Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.” (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2).
E-Culture Policy: UT Arlington has adopted the University email address as an official means of communication with students. Please be sure to regularly check your university email for important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation. Information about activating your university email account is available at You are responsible for checking your email regularly. Important information about this course may also be transmitted periodically using university email.
Student Support Services: If you have an interest in academic support programs, please contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107.