Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Psychology of Gender
Winter 2011
This syllabus contains valuable information on course structure and policy. it is a contract that tells you how the course will run, how you will be graded, and what will be expected of you. Your continued enrollment in the course signals that you have read and agree with all points of this contract.
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Meeting timeS/Locations:1-2:20pm, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, GWN 301
Instructor: Ann Voorhies, Ph.D.
Office: Guthrie 218
Office hours: Wednesday 9:30-11:30am and by appointment
Email:
Teaching assistants:
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Karen Pang, GTA
Office: Guthrie Annex 4 (Study Center)
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30pm
Email:
Alexsandra Dimic, UGTA
Email:
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Course website:
Course materials, resources and announcements will be posted here. Bookmark and check it regularly.
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Required reading: Brannon, L. (2011) Gender: Psychological Perspectives (6th ed.)
Additional readings posted in PDF form on the course website.
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Email: Check your UW email account at least once per day – important course information will be communicated via email. Use your UW account when contacting your professor or TA. There is no guarantee that email from non-UW addresses will be seen.
Attendancecourse etiquette: You are responsible for your attendance and for any information you miss by not attending class. This includes, but is not limited to: lecture material, exam information, and other announcements. It is up to you to get missed material from another student or by listening to the class podcast.
Turn off and put away all cell phones, iPods, et cetera, prior to the beginning of class. Texting and other electronic activity that diverts your attention from lecture is both distracting and disrespectful. Please refrain from these activities while you are in class. Laptops are permitted in the back row only, though not recommended. Recording devices are permitted.
Demonstrate respect for everyone else in this classroom community. This includes listening to the questions and comments of others, exercising restraint if you are emotionally challenged by something, keeping your own participation relevant and succinct, and being intellectually present.
Disabled students: To request academic accommodations due to a disability, contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz Hall, (543-8924: V/TDD). Provide me with a letter from DSS indicating the accommodations required, so that we can discuss your needs for the class.
ABOUT THIS COURSE
What makes us “male” or “female”? Is gender in our genes, or only in our jeans? What differences in mental processes and behaviors exist between genders, and where do those differences originate? How is life experienced differently for men, women, and those outside of the binary gender system? This course will examine the idea of gender through the lens of psychology and its perspectives. Through readings, lectures, and discussion, we will explore many different experiences of gender and issues surrounding gender politics in the United States. We will examine the research on gender role development, and the biological and environmental influences that may affect sex differences in behavior, health, work and achievement, affiliation, communication styles, and sexuality.
COURSE GOALS:
The assigned readings and exams are designed to enhance and assess your understanding of the topics presented in lecture and discussion section. Following this class, students should be able to:
- Understand the nature of gender as it relates to cognition and behaviors, and explain different theories regarding gender differences;
- Demonstrate awareness of the experience of other genders as well as one’s own identified gender;
- Think critically about research, media, and cultural representations of gender differences;
- Recognize the role of culture in the socialization of gender roles within the U.S.;
- Discuss sensitive topics such as culture, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, prejudice, sexual orientation, and abilities in a respectful manner.
ASSESSMENT:
There will be 3 multiple choiceexams during the quarter, totaling 215 points. Exams 1 and 2 will consist of 65 questions and will be worth 65 points each. Exam 3, worth 85 points, will be a cumulative final consisting of 65 questions on material covered since exam 2, and 20 comprehensive questions covering topics from the entire quarter. All exams will be based on lectures, discussions and assigned readings. Bring a Scantron form, #2 pencil and photo ID to all exams.
Makeup exam policy: All exams are REQUIRED and must be taken at the scheduled time. If you are unable to take the exam at the scheduled time, you must contact me at the time of the exam (via email). You will be allowed one essay-based makeup exam for the quarter, to be taken after the final on 3/12/12. (It is strongly recommended that you do not miss an exam.) No makeup finals will be given.
Academic dishonesty – Read the statement of academic responsibility found at (This is linked on the course website.) You are responsible for knowing all of the material contained therein. Students suspected of violating UW policies will receive notice of the suspicion, and may be subject to the following penalties: a grade of 0 for that exam, being reported to the committee on academic conduct, and failing the course.
Grading Scale
All grades will be posted in your gradebook, available on MyUW. Please check your grade after each exam, so that you are aware of your performance. Your final grade will be calculated from the total points on your 3 exam scores. For more grading information, please see the course website.
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
Psych/GWSS 257Winter 2012
Psychology of Gender
COURSE SCHEDULE
This is a general outline of the schedule for Psych/GWSS 257. We may deviate a bit from this schedule as needed. However, you should have each set of readings done by the assigned date, unless otherwise instructed. All readings are posted on the course website.
Date / Topic / Reading dueWeek 1 / 1/4 / Course introduction
1/6 / Study of gender / Ch. 1
Week 2 / 1/9 / Research on gender / Ch. 2
1/11 / Critical thinking about gender studies / "Why race, class, and gender still matter"
1/13 / Gender stereotypes / Ch. 3
"Doing gender, doing heteronormativity…"
Week 3 / 1/16 / No Class / MLK day
1/18 / Gender in culture / "Female chauvinist pigs: Review"
"Masculinity as homophobia"
1/20 / Gender in media / "Empowerment/sexism: Figuring female sexual agency in contemporary advertising"
"Nothing queer about queer television"
"Is advertising a barrier to male movement toward gender change?"
Week 4 / 1/23 / Wrap up unit 1
1/25 / Exam 1
1/27 / Sexual development / Ch. 4
Week 5 / 1/30 / Hormones and behavior
2/1 / Gender role development / Ch. 5
"Gender and group process"
2/3 / Gender identity development / Ch. 6
Week 6 / 2/6 / Transgender issues / "(Rethinking) Gender"
"Care of transsexual persons"
2/8 / Relationships / Ch. 9
2/10 / Communication / "Women Are More Likely ThanMen to Use Tentative Language,Aren’t They?..."
"Can't we talk?"
Week 7 / 2/13 / Sexuality / Ch. 10
2/15 / Wrap up unit 2
2/17 / Exam 2
Week 8 / 2/20 / No Class / Presidents day
2/22 / Intelligence / Ch. 7
2/24 / Emotion / Ch. 8
Week 9 / 2/27 / Education / Ch. 11
"Signaling Threat…"
2/29 / Careers & Vocation / Ch. 12
3/2 / Physical health / Ch. 13
Week 10 / 3/5 / Mental health / Ch. 14
3/7 / Health care / Ch. 15
"Gender and cardiovascular disease…"
3/9 / Course wrap up / Ch. 16
Week 11 / Monday 3/12/12 / 2:30-4:30pm / Cumulative final