Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 89A, Fall ‘17
When Violence Hits Home - Seminar and Internship Course
Deirdre Hunter, MSW, LCSW
Rabb 107, Thursday Office Hours and by request
Students participate in 9 seminar classes, which support an independent 104 hour semester length internship at a community setting. Seminar meetings, readings, presentations by people working in the field and student projects explore cultural, public health and interpersonal facets of violence from a feminist perspective. Topics include theories, causes and prevention of rape, battering, child abuse and animal abuse. Class discussions and brief essays integrate practical internship experiences in local organizations with course readings and seminar presentations.
Internship placement is the first assignment of the course.
Internships entail 104 hours of practical experience providing advocacy, direct support, educational counseling, public health, policy analysis or community education at local organizations. Students secure their own placements and are encouraged to begin the application process the previous semester.. Students complete a Learning Contract with their internship supervisor and course instructor, which outlines the learning objectives and responsibilities of the internship and documents approval of the internship. A list of potential internship sites is attached. For more information on experiential learning courses, go to www.brandeis.edu/experientiallearning.
Learning Outcomes
The ability to describe the social determinants, and the developmental and life course impacts of interpersonal violence, child abuse, rape and animal abuse.
The ability to describe trauma theory and its contribution to clinical and public health approaches.
The ability to describe prevention and response systems that integrate public health and clinical approaches.
The ability to evaluate the intersectionality of the causes, course and responses to violence
The successful performance of practical experience in a professional setting.
Contributions to the mission and activities of an organization in a related field.
The ability to reflect on and communicate about the interplay of field work and academic work.
Course grade is based on:
Success in this 4 credit hour course is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of 12 hours of study time per week including internship hours and preparation for class (readings, essays, final paper and presentation).
Internship at a relevant organization: includes approved Learning Contract, completion of minimum of 104 hours, participation in all required training, and quality of work performed as evaluated by supervisor. 40% of grade.
Seminars: include 100% attendance, attention to discussion and presentations, and contributions to discussion. 15% of grade.
Research paper: includes timely submission of an essay of a minimum of 10 pages which further explores a relevant topic using research from sources not assigned in class. HSSP students are expected to include an interpretation through the lens of health. 30% of grade.
Essays: 2 pages each. Includes timely submission of thoughtful, well written analyses of assigned topics. 15% of grade.
Schedule of Required Seminar Classes and Assignments
Class Date / Non-negotiable Assignments DueThurs. 8/31 / Signed Learning Contract due
Thurs. 9/7 / Internship hours, reading, signed Learning Contract, 1st essay due
Thurs. 9/14 / Internship hours, readings, 2nd essay due
Tues. 10/3 / Internship hours, readings and 3rd essay due
Thurs. 10/19 / Internship hours, readings and 4th essay due
Thurs. 11/2 / Internship hours, readings and 5th essay due
Thurs. 11/16 / Internship hours, readings and 6th essay due
Thurs. 11/30 / Internship hours, readings, 7th essay due
Thurs. 12/7 / Internship hrs complete. Research paper with presentation. Internship Performance Evaluation.
Texts: Accessible on reserve and online through the Brandeis Library website
1. Herman, Judith Lewis, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. New York: Basic Books, 1992.
2. Ascione, Frank, and Arkow, Phil, eds., Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse. West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University Press, 1999.
3. McAlister Groves, Betsy, Children Who See Too Much. Boston: Beacon Press, 2002.
4. Sokoloff, Natalie, J. ed., Domestic Violence at the Margins, Rutgers, 2007.
5. Mac Donald, Michael Patrick, All Souls: A Family Story From Southie, Beacon Press, 1999.
6. Girshick, Lori B., Woman-to-Woman Sexual Violence, Northeastern University Press, 2002.
7. Additional reading available online and from the instructor.
Websites of Interest
www.mincava.umn.edu/; http://www.janedoe.org; http://www.barcc.org; http://www.tnlr.org/; http://www.jwi.org; http://www.teendvmonth.org/; http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/; http://www.jfcs-atlanta.org/
Mobile Devices in Class
Because the temptation to take “just a second” to check messages and updates is hard to resist, and because the use of all mobile devices in class distracts me and other students, I require that we turn off and stow our devices. If your learning will be hampered by this, please speak to me privately.
Accessibility and Accommodations
If you have academic accommodations because of a documented disability, please provide your letter of accommodation within the first two weeks of the semester, so that arrangements may be made.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is an expectation of the course. Please refer to http://www.brandeis.edu/studentaffairs/srcs/ai/index.html for guidance. Suspected academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and falsified internship hours are reported to the Office of Student Development and Conduct.
Seminar Meetings
Thursday Aug. 31, First Seminar Meeting, Naming and the Roots of Violence
Thursday Sept. 7, Second Seminar Meeting, Violence as a Normative and Foundational Experience
Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman
Graham, Dee L. R. and Rawlings, Edna I., “Bonding with Abusive Partners: Dynamics of Stockholm Syndrome”, pp. 119-135 in Dating Violence, by Levy, Barrie, Seal, 1991.
Thursday Sept. 14, Third Seminar Meeting, Intersectionality: Living at the Crossroads
Selections from Domestic Violence at the Margins, Natalie J. Sokoloff, ed., Rutgers, 2007.
· “Strengthening Domestic Violence Theories” by Michelle Bograd, pp. 25-39.
· “Compounding the Triple Jeopardy: Battering in Lesbian of Color Relationships”, Valli Kanuha, pps 71-82.
· “Lifting the Veil of Secrecy”, Beverly Horsburgh, pp. 206-226
· “Women’s Realities”, Shamita Das Dasgupta, pp. 56-70.
Available through LATTE
“The Abused Black Woman, Challenging a Legacy of Pain”, Evelyn C. White, pp. 84-93 in Dating Violence, Barrie Levy, Seal, 1991.
Selections from Facts about Domestic Violence and African American Women, 2015, IDVAAC, University of MN, School of Social Work, online at http://idvaac.org
· “Black Women’s Lives: Social Determinants of Domestic Violence”, Joyce Thomas, RN, pp.1-4.
· “Health Disparities: Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence”, Robert Hampton, pp. 11-14.
· “Intersection of Violence Against Women and Trauma”, Tameka Gillum, pp. 25-31.
Tuesday Oct 3, Fourth Seminar Meeting, Identity, Coming of Age and Violence
“Teen Dating Violence and the African American Community”, IDVAAC Fact Sheet, http://idvaac.org/wp-content/up;oads/Teen_Dating.pdf.
“Blindsided” film, produced and directed by Lisa Olivieri, available on library reserve
Available through LATTE:
· “The Context of Date Rape”, by Py Bateman, pp. 94-99 in Dating Violence, by Levy, Barrie, Seal, 1991
· “Confronting the Reality of Sexual Violence on the College Campus”, David Lisak at Emory University, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iZCWfYZ9IU., 53.15 minutes.
· “Rape”, by Patrick Letellier, pp. 9-10, Same Sex Domestic Violence, eds, Leventhal and Lundy, Sage Press, 1999.
· “Speaking the Unspeakable”, pp. 9-30, Woman-to-Woman Sexual Violence, by Lori B. Girshick, Northeastern University Press, 2002.
Thursday Oct.19, Fifth Seminar Meeting, Violence and Public Health I: Complex Trauma in Personal and Public Realms
All Souls: A Family Story From Southie, by Michael Patrick MacDonald, Beacon Press, 1999
Thursday Nov.2, Sixth Seminar Meeting, Violence and Public Health II: Impact of Violence on Children
Children Who See Too Much, Betsy McAllister Groves, Boston: Beacon Press, 2002.
“Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment”, Joyce Thomas, RN, pp. 15-19, Facts about Domestic Violence and African American Women, 2015, IDVAAC, University of MN, School of Social Work, http://idvaac.org.
“Action Partnerships for Black Children Exposed to Violence and Victimization”, in The National Center for Victims of Crime, http://victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/other-projects/youth-initiative/interventions-for-black-children's-exposure-to-violence/black-children-exposed-to-violence
Thursday Nov. 16, Seventh Seminar Meeting, Intersections With Animal Abuse
Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse, Ascione, Frank, and Arkow, Phil, eds., Purdue University Press, 1999:
· “The Evolution of Animal Welfare as a Human Welfare Concern”, by Phil Arkow, pp. 19-35.
· “The Abuse of Animals and Human Interpersonal Violence”, by Frank R Ascione, pp. 51-60.
· “First Person Account” by Marsha Millikin, pp. 176-188.
· “The Relevance of Cultural Competence to the Link Between Violence to Animals and People”, by Michael E. Kaufman, pp. 260-270.
· “Cruelty and Abuse to Animals”, by Andrew N. Rowan, pp. 328-334.
Available through LATTE:
“Animal Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence” Frank Ascione at Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, CQ University, online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv0fs-Go5EA.
Thursday Nov. 30, Eighth Seminar Meeting, Saving Lives, Changing Systems, Cultural Revolution?
Available through LATTE:
· "feminism a transformational politic”, bell hooks, Talking Back , South End Press, 1989, pp. 19-27.
· “Victim Centered Intensive Case Management”, Penn State Public Broadcasting, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFv4DiPKFg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
· “The Vision and the Challenge”, in Woman-to-Woman Sexual Violence by Lorei B. Girshick, pp. 163-169.
· Jackson Katz, MVP Strategies, Youtube.com “Jackson Katz, Ted Talk”, 18 minutes.
· “A Call to Men”, Tony Porter, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFv4DiPKFg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
· “Men Taking a Stand”, Vera House, https://youtu.be/q-WOyHZrTwQ
· “48 Things Men Hear that Are Bad for Everyone”, Huffington Post, https://youtu.be/jk8YmtEJvDc.
Selections from Domestic Violence at the Margins, Natalie J. Sokoloff, ed., Rutgers, 2007:
· “Gender Violence in the Prison Industrial Complex” by Incite!, pp. 102-114
· “Battering, Forgiveness and Redemption”, by Brenda V. Smith, pp. 321-339
“Domestic Violence and Homicide of Black Women in the United States”, Robert Hampton, pp. 5-10, Facts about Domestic Violence and African American Women, 2015, IDVAAC, University of MN, School of Social Work, http://idvaac.org.
Thursday Dec. 7, Ninth Seminar Meeting
Presentation and submission of Student Research Papers
Internship Hours complete
Internship Evaluation due