WGS 3810 - Global Women, Global Issues (4)

Tuesday,Thursday

03:00 PM - 04:47 PM

Main Campus Campus | South Foundation Hall | Room 270

Examines the lives of women in a global perspective.  Takes an intersectional perspective which views gender, sex, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation as part of an intertwined matrix influencing life opportunities.  Focus on issues of health, war, religion, education, global economy and development This class satisfies the General Education requirements in the Explorations of Knowledge area of global perspective and social science, (Note: Students may only get credit for one of the areas).

Office: 217 Varner EX 2154                

E-mail: patters@oakland.edu

Office Hours:  By appointment

The student will demonstrate:

     1.  knowledge of the environments, political systems,     economies, societies and religions

          of one or more regions outside the United States and awareness of the transnational

          flow of goods, peoples, ideas and values

     2.  knowledge of the role that different cultural

           heritages, past and present, play in forming values in another part of the world enabling

           the student to function within a more global context

Course Objectives:

    1.  A better understanding of women’s issues and the status of women throughout the world

    2.  Realize the ways that race, class, age and other factor combine to create the realities of

         women’s lives around the globe                

    3.  Analyze global women’s issues from feminist perspective.

    4.  Identify and analyze current events and their impact on women’s lives.        

Social Science

The student will demonstrate:

      1.  knowledge of concepts, methods and theories designed to enhance understanding

           of human behavior and/or societies

      2.  application of concepts and theories to problems involving individuals, institutions, or                  

           nations

Cross-Cutting Capacities:

      1.  Critical thinking

      2.  Social Awareness

      3.  Information Literacy

Half the Sky, Nichlas Kristof/WuDunn, 2009, Vintagae Book

Global Woman Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy, Ehrenreigh and Hochschild, 2004, Henry Holt & Co.

There will also be articles on E-reserve

TOTAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Reading Logs            10 points        

Paper 1                20 points

Paper 2                          20 points

Biography/Presentation #1    10 points

Presentation#2             10 points

Final Presentation #3        25 points

Attendance                           5 points

                         100 point

Student Grievance Process

If students have concerns involving an instructor, the student should first contact the instructor directly so that the instructor is aware of the concern and has an opportunity to address or respond to the concern.  To the extent that it is possible, it is recommended that the student make an appointment with the instructor and/or meet in person or on the phone to address the issue. If a resolution is not achieved after discussing the matter directly with the instructor, then the student is welcome, but not required, to discuss the issue with the Interim Director of Women and Gender Studies, Ami Harbin at aharbin@oakland.edu

Reading logs - total of 15:   You are to turn in a reading log for each day’s reading assignment or a specific question posed in class that will tie into the readings for that day. These logs will be used to focus class discussions. Your log should be typed and be no longer than one single-spaced page (unless you just can’t help yourself) and no shorter than 2 paragraphs. You should print two copies of the log. One will be used by you to help with class discussion.

At the top of the page put your name and the date. Your responses are your reactions to and comparison of the readings. If you are given a question for that day, analyze your response while considering the reading for the day. What do you agree with and disagree with, explain why? What question would you ask in regards to the day’s readings or question? You will receive no credit for incomplete logs, handwritten logs, logs done while absent, or logs turned in after the start of class.

Logs will be graded pass fail.

Paper 1 - WOMEN’S RIGHTS PAPER - (20 points)

This is a research paper exploring women’s rights issues in the past/present in two different countries around the world. You will compare and contrast these two contexts. Some possible sites: Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Guatemela, India, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Uganda.

The paper should be 8-10 pages long with a work-cited page. You are to use articles from peer reviewed scholarly journals.

Students will also be required to go to plagiarism tutorial on the library website, complete the tutorial and turn in certificate of completion with paper.

Paper due Feb 13. A more detailed assignment to be passed out in class.

Paper 2 - INTEGRATION OF IDEAS PAPER- (20 points)

What are the important things you have learned about women’s lives from this course? How will you integrate this new knowledge into your life? Students will refer to 6-7 articles from the texts that you think relevant. Don’t just summarize the articles; use arguments from the various authors to make your argument. Paper should be 6-8 pages long.

Paper due March 26. A more detailed assignment to be passed out in class.

All papers must be typed, edited, double-spaced with one-inch margins, pages numbered and stapled together.

Presentation #1 - FEMINIST BIOGRAPHY - (10 points)

Each student will be responsible for a biography of a feminist using a global perspective that she/he will share in class a short presentation. The presentation will cover this women’s life and achievements, describing why she/he chose this particular woman and why this women is a feminist. In addition students will hand in a paper 2-3 pages long.

Paper due January 16. A more detailed assignment will be handed out in class.

Presentation #2 - (10 points)

Each student will be expected to summarize, discuss and prepare 2 questions on a reading assignment. Presentations will be assigned early in January.

Presentation #3 - (25 points total)

Students will be divided in groups. Each group will be asked to select a topic that relates to the struggles and triumphs of women using a global perspective historically and culturally. Topics to be discussed will be approved by the instructor. The students are encouraged to use different sources for the presentation books, music, film and individuals. Student will be graded separately not as a group. Each group will be required to present a 45 to 60 minute presentation depending on how many students are in the group. This will be due in March/April.

Possible Topics:  Women leaders throughout history, women in politics in modern history, arranged marriages in India, women and climate change, child sex tourism, women’s/girls’ education, the yearly International Women’s Conference, women and military service, human trafficking, family planning and religion, women and AIDS, midwives both  local/global.

Each topic should be developed from a global perspective.

All papers/presentations required for class must be turned in before a final grade can be given. Final paper is due March 26 and I will not accept papers after that date!!    

ATTENDANCE - (5 points)

 Attendance is worth 5 points.  Students that regularly attend and miss less than 5 classes will earn five points.  Students that miss or fail to attend 5 or more classes will not earn these points.

GRADING SCALE: Listed below are the points that will be earned for each assignment and number of points needed for a particular grade.