Instructor: Justine Calcagno Email: jcalcagno@gc.cuny.edu Office Hours: By appointment Office: HN 627 Psychology of Women (PSYCH 235/WGS 235) SECTION 051 Fall 2011 Monday and Wednesday 5:35 6:50 Room # HW 511 Course Basics Course Prerequisites: Introduction to Psychology (PSYCH 100) and any other 3 credit PSYCH course Course Description: This course surveys psychological literature related to women s lives and experiences. Through this course you will gain knowledge of the vocabulary, concepts, and methods that psychologists use to describe and explain phenomena that are especially relevant to women. We will examine both theory and research, and seek to understand women s psychology as it intersects with other dimensions of social identity (e.g., race, social class, sexual orientation). Course topics include the sex/gender differences and similarities, gender roles, women s sexuality and close relationships, women in the media, women's experiences as they intersect with other social identities and roles, women s health, and applied issues, such as women in the workforce and violence against women. This course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion, supplemented by course readings and video material. This course operates on a points system. There are a total of 1000 possible points you can earn. Each assignment is worth a set number of points. See below for more information about the grading scale. Why a Psychology of Women?: Women face social experiences distinct from those of men. Historically, psychology has studied human beings from the perspective of men, and so women s experience has been under acknowledged and undervalued. Theory and research has begun to catch up, however, there is a need for more knowledge and discussion of women s lives and experiences. Text Text Book: Shibley Hyde, J. (2007). Half the Human Experience: The Psychology of Women. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Seventh Edition. ISBN-10: 0-618-75147-5. Note: Use the 7 th edition, not the 6 th edition. Blackboard: Readings not in the required textbook will be posted on Blackboard (as noted on class schedule). If you do not have your own computer at home with which to access Blackboard, computers are available in the library and labs on campus. Class Format This course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion, supplemented by course readings. You are responsible for learning all course content, including content within readings, films, lectures, and activities. In some cases lectures will cover material in the readings, in other cases they may not. All
content in the readings, films, lectures, and activities are fair game for examinations. Assignments and Assessments Exams (125 points per exam): There will be 5 exams during this course. Each exam is worth 125 points. Together, exams are worth 625 points. Each exam will be a mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions. Exams will include material covered in lecture/discussion and assigned readings. Unexcused absences from an exam will receive a score of 0 on that exam. Essay (215 points): There will be one essay assignment (2-3 pages) in which you will select a current event in the news and write about its relation to topics in the course. The essay is worth 215 points. Note that there will be a midterm check in regarding the essay. More information will be given when the course proceeds. Reading Responses (20 points each): There will be 8 reading responses due during this course. Each reading response is worth 20 points. Together, reading responses are worth 160 points. Other Expectations Reading: You are expected to complete reading for the day of a class before the class meeting. You should read the assigned material. It will improve your knowledge of the content, and enhance your grade by helping you participate in course discussions. Attendance: Students are expected to attend class. Attending class is an extremely useful way to learn course material and prepare for assessments. This will also improve your grade, by giving you opportunity to participate in course discussions. When you come to class you are expected to stay for the duration of the class time. If you miss a course meeting, it is your responsibility to obtain notes and information regarding what was covered that day. I will not provide these. You will accountable for all material covered the day of an absence. Participation: Students are expected to actively participate in class. Ways to actively participate include: attendance, ask questions, challenge assumptions, raise criticism, express concerns, raise personal points of interest, and respond to lecture and discussion prompts. Power points: I will do my best to post power points at least the day before the class meeting. However, if attendance, participation, or reading of the material drops, then I will cease to do so. Grading Scale There are 1000 points possible in this course. The number of points you earn will determine your grade according the following grading scale: A+ 975-1000 B- 800-824 A 925-974 C+ 775-799 A- 900-924 C 700-774 B+ 875-899 D 600-699 B 825-874 F 0-599
Email Policy Reaching the Instructor and TA: A good way to reach me quickly is via email. Make sure to read the syllabus and what is posted on Blackboard thoroughly before emailing with questions. Highly important and time sensitive emails: If you have a medical or religious reason for missing an assignment or exam and would like to ask about extensions, please contact the instructor. Professionalism: You should email in a professional manner. This means you should use formal greetings and punctuation. Do not use shorthand language, such as thx for thanks. Subject line: Indicate in the subject line the course you are in and the section (PSYCH 235 or WGS 235, Section 051). Important Note Regarding Academic Integrity Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures. From the Office of AccessABILITY In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical and/ or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY located in Room E1124 to secure necessary academic accommodations. For further information and assistance please call (212-772- 4857)/TTY (212-650- 3230).
Course Schedule Date Topic Come to class having read Monday, August 29 th Introduction to the course n/a Psychological Science & Psychology of Women Wednesday, August 31 st Psychological Science & Hyde, pages 6-19 Psychology of Women Wednesday, September 7 th Sex & Gender - Introduction Golden, The Intersexed and the Transgendered: Rethinking Sex/Gender (on Anne Fausto-Sterling, The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female are not Enough (on Monday, September 12 th Sex & Gender Biology Hyde, pages 280-293 Lorber, The Social Construction of Gender (on Wednesday, September Sex & Gender Society Hyde, pages 280-293 14 th Exam 1 Review Lorber, The Social Construction of Gender (on Monday, September 19 th Exam 1 Wednesday, September Gender: Stereotypes vs. Hyde, pages 86-115 21 st Differences Natasha Josefowitz, He Works, She Works, but What Different Impressions they Make (on Monday, September 26 th Gender and Power Ruth Ostenson, Who s in and Who s Out: The Results of Oppression (on Monday, October 3 rd Women & Work Crosby et al., Understanding Affirmative Action (on Hyde, pages 252-277 Gender Wage Gap handout (on Wednesday, October 5 th Women & Achievement Hyde, pages 225-249 Exam 2 review Wednesday October 12 th Exam 2
Monday, October 17 th Female Sexuality Hyde, pages 302-320; Hyde, pages 331-351 Wednesday, October 19 th Sexual Orientation: Lesbian Hyde, pages 358-377 and Bisexual Women Monday, October 24 th Close Relationships Matlin, Love Relationships (on Wednesday, October 26 th Race and Gender Hyde, pages 120-150 Exam 3 review Monday, October 31 st Exam 3 Wednesday, November 2 nd Gender & Body Image Video: Beyond Killing us Softly 3 (in class) Monday, November 7 th Media & Body Image Smith, Women, Weight, and Body Image (on Wednesday, November 9 th Body Image: Psychological Consequences Hyde: pages 426-436 Monday, November 14 th Women s bodies in a Cross- Cultural Context Exam 4 review Wednesday, November Exam 4 16 th Video: Warrior Marks (in class) Monday, November 21 st Domestic Violence Hyde, pages 396-405 Mid-Valley Women s Crisis Service, Domestic Violence: Information and Resources for Survivors and Their Supporters (on Wednesday, November Sexual Assault Hyde, pages 383-396 23 rd Sexual Assault Hyde, pages 383-396 Monday, November 28 th Women and the Criminal Justice System Video: What I want my words to do to you Wednesday, November 30 th Women and the Criminal Justice System Continue Video: What I want my words to do to you (in class) Monday, December 5 th Women s Health Hyde, pages 417-449 Wednesday, December 7 th Women s Lifespan Hyde, pages 191-223 Monday, December 12 th Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood Wednesday, December 21st Exam 5 TIME 5:20-7:20pm Current Events Essay Due Matlin, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood (on
Assignment Schedule Reading Response 1 Sunday, September 11 th Reading Response for Lorber, The Social Construction of Gender Reading Response 2 Sunday, September 25 th Reading Response for Ruth Ostenson, Who s in and Who s Out: The Results of Oppression Reading Response 3 Reading Response 4 Tuesday, October 4 th Tuesday, October 18 th Reading Response for Hyde, pages 225-249 Reading Response for Hyde, pages 358-377 Reading Response 5 Tuesday, October 25 th Reading Response for Hyde 120-150 Reading Response 6 Sunday, November 6 th Reading Response for Smith, Women, Weight, and Body Image Current Events Essay Outline due Wednesday, November 16 th Current Events Essay Outline due at the beginning of class Reading Response 7 Sunday, November 20 th Reading Response for Mid-Valley Women s Crisis Service, Domestic Violence: Information and Resources Reading Response 8 Sunday, December 11 th Reading Response for Matlin, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood