Active Outline
General Information
- Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
- WMSTD001.
- Course Title (CB02)
- Introduction to Women's Studies
- Course Credit Status
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Effective Term
- Fall 2024
- Course Description
- This course examines the varying positions of women in society, emphasizing the diverse nature of women's experiences. Includes investigation of family, work, embodiment, popular culture, and social movements. It also focuses on power and gender roles and how they vary for women and men of different racial, ethnic, class, national, and sexuality groups.
- Faculty Requirements
- Discipline 1
- [Women's Studies]
- FSA
- [FHDA FSA - INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES]
- Course Family
- Not Applicable
Course Justification
This course fulfills a General Education requirement for transfer and serves as the introductory course for all Women's Studies courses. Additionally, it serves as a requirement for most Women's Studies majors at many transfer colleges and universities. It addresses the need for students to be culturally competent, including understanding the historical and contemporary issues affecting women's lives. This course belongs on the Liberal Arts (Social and Behavioral Sciences Emphasis) degree.
Foothill Equivalency
- Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
- No
- Foothill Course ID
Formerly Statement
Course Development Options
- Basic Skill Status (CB08)
- Course is not a basic skills course.
- Grade Options
- Letter Grade
- Pass/No Pass
- Repeat Limit
- 0
Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options
- Transferability
- Transferable to both UC and CSU
| °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2GDX | °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral Sciences | Approved | |
| 2GES | °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE - Environment Sustainability and Global Citizenship | Approved | |
| 2GEX | °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area E - Personal Development | Approved |
| CSU GE | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGDY | CSU GE Area D - Social Sciences | Approved | |
| CGEX | CSU GE Area E - Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (Non-Activity) | Approved |
| IGETC | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG4X | IGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral Sciences | Approved |
| C-ID | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJS | Social Justice Studies - AOE | Approved | C-ID SJS 120 |
Units and Hours
Summary
- Minimum Credit Units
- 4.0
- Maximum Credit Units
- 4.0
Weekly Student Hours
| Type | In Class | Out of Class |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture Hours | 4.0 | 8.0 |
| Laboratory Hours | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Course Student Hours
- Course Duration (Weeks)
- 12.0
- Hours per unit divisor
- 36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
- Lecture
- 48.0
- Laboratory
- 0.0
- Total
- 48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
- Lecture
- 96.0
- Laboratory
- 0.0
- NA
- 0.0
- Total
- 96.0
Prerequisite(s)
Corequisite(s)
Advisory(ies)
EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.
Limitation(s) on Enrollment
Entrance Skill(s)
General Course Statement(s)
(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)
Methods of Instruction
Lecture and visual aids
Discussion of assigned reading
Discussion and problem solving performed in class
Homework and extended projects
Collaborative learning and small group exercises
Guest speakers
Assignments
- Written: Students will write at least 2,500 words during the quarter, including analytical and argumentative writing. Writing assignments will involve investigation of issues as well as personal writing in which students journal in ways that relate their own experiences to the course material.
- Reading: Students will carry out daily reading assignments. This will include material from assigned texts as well as news articles, journals, ads, and materials provided by the students and guest speakers.
- Service Learning and Civic Engagement: Students will participate in a minimum of 12 hours of integrated service learning, and reflect on it in writing.
Methods of Evaluation
- Students will be evaluated on their written work. Evaluation will be based on the student's analytical skills and ability to present a clear view and to argue for that view. Students will also be evaluated on their ability to use resources well.
- Students will be evaluated on their participation in small group discussions. Evaluation will be based on students ability to discuss and analyze assigned material.
- Comprehensive final exam and/or periodic exams throughout the term. Students will be evaluated on their ability to retain the factual material presented throughout the course, and on their ability to analyze and critically respond to this material.
- Other methods, such as group projects or presentations, may also be used. Evaluation will vary according to the specific project, but will focus on student's ability to think critically and incorporate their own thinking with the material presented.
- Students service and civic engagement will be assessed by engagement in the project and their written reflection.
Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities
Essential Student Materials:Â
- None
- None
Examples of Primary Texts and References
| Author | Title | Publisher | Date/Edition | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burn, Shawn Meghan | Women Across Cultures: A Global Perspective | McGraw Hill | 2023, 5th Edition | |
| Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin | Unladylike: A Field Guide to Smashing the Patriarchy and Claiming Your Space. | Ten Speed Press. | 2018 | |
| Gillis, Melissa and Andrew T. Jacobs | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: An Interdisciplinary Approach 2nd edition | Oxford University Press | 2019 | |
| hooks, bell | Feminism is for Everybody, Passionate Politics | Routledge. | 2014, 2nd Edition | |
| Saraswati, L. Ayu, Barbara L. Shaw, and Heather Rellihan | Introduction to Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies | Oxford University Press | 2020, 2nd edition |
Examples of Supporting Texts and References
None.
Learning Outcomes and Objectives
Course Objectives
- Examine the historical and theoretical background to Women's Studies as an interdisciplinary enterprise
- Examine the cultural and biological aspects of sexuality and gender
- Analyze the variety of ways in which gender has been structured in various societies, past and present
- Examine the influences of ethnicity, race, culture, religion, disability, sexual orientation, nation, and class on women's experiences
- Explore the impacts of women's social-political movements
- Analyze contemporary social problems for Women in the US
- Synthesize the course material in order to analyze and understand one's own social position and ways of transforming it
CSLOs
- Analyze core values of Women's Studies in a multicultural and class sensitive manner, including feminism, 'voice', consciousness-raising, and others of the instructor's choice.
- Research local organizations which support women's goals, and engage in community activities.
Outline
- Examine the historical and theoretical background to Women's Studies as an interdisciplinary enterprise
- History of Women's Studies as an interdisciplinary field.
- Major theoretical frameworks used in Women's Studies
- Liberal feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, womanist feminism, multi-systems theory, queer theory, and postcolonial feminism.
- Feminist pedagogy.
- Feminist methodology.
- Feminist critiques of the traditional disciplines, and transformations of those disciplines.
- Examine the cultural and biological aspects of sexuality and gender
- Sex, sexuality and gender.
- Essentialism versus social constructivism.
- Cross-cultural variation.
- Analyze the variety of ways in which gender has been structured in various societies, past and present
- Debates around the origins of sexism.
- Social roles for the different genders in various societies, including societies with more than two genders.
- Variety in human society in role and personality expectations.
- Examine the influences of ethnicity, race, culture, religion, disability, sexual orientation, nation, and class on women's experiences
- Differences in experiences around the public-private split.
- Variety of notions of femininity and masculinity.
- Images of appropriate sexuality for people of different races, classes, and disability statuses.
- Explore the impacts of women's social-political movements
- The various waves of women's liberation movements in the US. and issues of equality versus difference
- Women's liberation movements globally and transnational organizing.
- Challenges to Women's liberation.
- The impact of environmental stress and women's role in creating a more sustainable and just world.
- Analyze contemporary social problems for Women in the US
- Sexual and domestic violence.
- Work, wages, discrimination and occupational segregation.
- Sexual harassment.
- Beauty images and related health concerns.
- Reproductive rights.
- Family structure and social systems for the care of children.
- Homophobia, ableism, racism, classism and their intersections with sexism.
- The role of the media in reproducing stereotypes of gender, race and class
- The interconnectivity of economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality
- Synthesize the course material in order to analyze and understand one's own social position and ways of transforming it
- Reflection on student's sense of self as a gendered person.
- Reflection on student's own gender socialization process.
- Reflection on expectations around work, family, sexuality and the environment.
