Santa Clara UniversityWomen, Gender & SexualityAnthropology 90 Fall 2009Class: Monday, Wednesday 9:55 AM to 11:40 AM O’Connor 106 Instructor: Dr. Mary Elaine Hegland O'Connor 318 554-4646 [email protected] Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, 3:30 - 4:00 Or by appointment Until the last three decades or so, the great majority of anthropologists were male. Influenced by the assumptions of their own cultures (U.S. and England mainly), they concentrated on the activities of males and male viewpoints in their approach to research. Women's contributions to society and culture and female perspectives were assumed to be unimportant and were neglected. Influenced by the social organization of their own societies and of the societies in which they studied, male anthropologists tended to interact with other males in the field. These male informants conveyed to the researchers a picture of their society and culture centered around male activities and male perspectives.In recent decades more women have been entering the field of anthropology. Although initially they wereusually trained by male anthropologists and influenced by traditional ideas about what is important to study and who are the important actors in societies, because of their sex, they often interacted far more with other women inthe field than had male anthropologists. Female anthropologists, therefore, sometimes almost in spite of themselves, come up against anthropological information and perspectives which differ quite radically from thoseof earlier, male-centered research. The results have been exciting and dynamic developments in the area of the anthropology of women, gender and sexuality, and also drastic modifications in our ideas about what societies and cultures are really like and how they really work.In this course, we will examine some of the tremendous amount of material produced related to the anthropology of women, gender and sexuality. What are anthropologists learning about the lives of women in various cultures? How does knowledge about women's activities and women's views modify our understanding ofcultures and societies? How has feminism, a perspective which takes into account women's inputs, views, and interpretations, changed the field of anthropology--what we study, how we study, and why we study--or how should it change our field? How can the focus on gender and sexuality constructions contribute to new understandings about what it means to be female and male? How do people utilize gender constructions and gender symbolisms in politics and to order their worlds and pursue status and power? Anthropologists are now more often turning to study of the meanings, uses, and connections to power of sexuality. In various cultures and sub-cultures, what are the meanings and practices related to sexuality, and how and why can meanings and practices change? In thinking about these questions, we will look at the lives of women and men in other cultures and sub-cultures and how they are connected with power structures, as well as at our own lives and how we interact with power structures. Hopefully, looking at women, gender and sexuality in other cultures will give us new insights about ourselves, our own gender and sexuality constructions, and the situations of women and men in our own culture and society.The spirit of the class will be one of cooperative inquiry, examination, and analysis. Students are encouraged to be helpful and supportive towards each other. Please tell me if you have questions or difficulties–I am here to help you learn and get a good grade. We will deal with both of the two main steps in anthropological inquiry: 1. description or the gathering and organizing of information and 2. analysis or the explaining and interpreting of data to shed light on how and 1why things happen the way they do. The class will be a discussion class as much as possible with the aim of exploring ideas and interconnections. Everyone is required to read, study, think about, discuss, and develop insights about the readings. It is expected that students will work in an active way inside the classroom as well as outside. Course Requirements and Evaluation :Participation is required. Students should actively engage in gathering material and thinking about women and gender in American society and elsewhere. You must be prepared at all times to discuss class materials. I will callon students if necessary. Contribution to class discussion is an important part of the grade. Eventually, students are expected to do more than just add information to the conversation, but also to discuss concepts and ideas, probe the material, and come to new insights. The expectation is that students will be constantly and actively involved with the material and with the learning process. You will be practicing independent and critical thinking.Students are to share responsibility for the learning process and will be evaluated accordingly.The class is a participatory and discussion class, and you certainly can not participate or discuss if you aren't present! Students are allowed ONE absence only. With each additional unexcused absence after two, your grade will be lowered by a third of a grade (A- to B+). If you are more than five minutes late or leave class early, it is counted as an absence. An absence can be excused only for serious and officially documented reason and only if I am notified before hand. Each student is responsible for signing the attendance sheet. With each class where you are present, you will have a better opportunity to earn a good class participation grade. Preparation is required. Students are expected to study assignments carefully and to review and think about notesfrom readings, class lectures, discussions, and films. Periodically, you will write an in-class essay based on readings and films. Your answer must demonstrate that you have read and thought about the materials. It is crucial to keep up with the reading. In order to pass the course, all requirements must be completed. Academic integrity is required. Plagiarism or cheating brings an automatic F for the course and perhaps more. See student handbook and handouton writing essays for the definition of plagiarism.Promptness in fulfilling assignments is required. Essays or assignments may be completed late only if (1) I am notified beforehand and (2) the reason is serious and documented. Paper