WOST 187 INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN S STUDIES Fall 2007 Instructors Miliann Kang and Kirsten Isgro Lectures M W 10 10 11 00 at Bartlett 65 Fri Discussion Section see times below Module II Feminisms and Societies Miliann Kang Office 61 Bartlett email mkang wost umass edu Office Hours Mon 11 10 noon Wed 1 30 2 20 Module I Feminisms Theory and Histories Kirsten Isgro Office 387 Bartlett email kisgro comm umass edu Office Hours Mon Wed 9 00 10am Discussion Section Instructors all discussions on Friday You Must Attend the Discussion Section For Which You Are Registered Time Section Location TA 9 05 9 55 AD01 47324 Tobin 520 Jolane Flanigan flanigan comm umass edu 9 05 9 55 AD10 43582 Pierpont 101 Rani Varghese varghese educ umass edu 10 10 11 00 DD01 43562 Rani Varghese varghese educ umass edu 10 10 11 00 AD02 47325 RAP Pierpont 101 Tobin 520 Jolane Flanigan flanigan comm umass edu 10 10 11 00 AD03 43482 Bartlett 3 Sandra Haley shaley history umass edu 10 10 11 00 AD04 43486 Tobin 307 Kat Jones kjones soc umass edu 10 10 11 00 BD01 47326 Allia Matta amatta afroam umass edu 11 15 12 05 AD08 43484 RAP Butterfield 7 Bartlett 3 Sandra Haley shaley history umass edu 11 15 12 05 AD07 43492 Tobin 520 Kat Jones kjones soc umass edu 11 15 12 05 CD01 47327 RAP Butterfield Allia Matta 7 Course Description amatta afroam umass edu Women s Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field spanning the humanities social natural and physical sciences Scholars in Women s Studies have developed frameworks theories and methods used to study and understand ourselves and our natural and social worlds Because Women s Studies challenges traditional academic and cultural understandings on many issues it is often viewed as political We will argue that all knowledge is political and explore how academic knowledge and histories are both shaped by and shape our Syllabus Page 1 WS 187 Fall 2007 intellectual histories and knowledges Placing women and gender at the center of analysis this class introduces some basic concepts and perspectives in Women s Studies Focusing on both historical and contemporary women s issues we will examine women s lives with a particular emphasis on the intersections of gender and race class sexuality and ethnicity The central aim is to foster critical reading and thinking about gender and the ways in which the interlocking systems of colonialism racism sexism ethnocentrism ageism and heterosexism shape women s and men s lives and how women have resisted these inequalities and worked to create new systems of change This is a challenging course It has the potential to be transformative We are interested not only in your understanding and command of the course material but also in your ability to apply these frameworks to analyzing our current times politics and your own lives Therefore throughout the course we have assignments that ask you to connect the course material to events outside the classroom and your own lives Some of this material may be new to some of you and challenging to others You may agree passionately with the ideas presented or passionately disagree We welcome engaged responses and arguments but insist that you are respectful of others in all conversations debates and discussions Course Requirements This course is structured into two modules Module I Feminisms Theory and Histories Instructor Kirsten Isgro Module II Feminisms and Society Instructor Miliann Kang While the exams focus primarily on the material for specific modules both modules are interconnected and share key concepts There is a midterm exam at the end of Module I and a final exam covering Module II You must be registered for both the lecture and discussion section Attendance at BOTH is required We will use SPARK Once you registered in the course you will automatically be added to the course on SPARK You will use your OIT username and password to sign into the course SPARK and access course information Please contact OIT if you have any problems Reading assignments must be completed by the class period for which they were assigned This course fulfills a general education requirement IU and so we will pay particular attention to your writing Let us know early in the semester if you have special learning or writing needs You are responsible for knowing when assignments are due and handing them in on time Dates of major writing assignments are in this syllabus But other assignments will be given in your discussion sections Absence from these sections on the day the assignment is due is no excuse for not handing in the assignment on time It is each student s responsibility to find out about assignments from someone in your discussion group or from your Teaching Assistant All sections may not have the same assignments Discussion sections will provide the opportunity to talk critically and analyze issues and topics You will be expected to have completed and thought about all of the readings for each class Sections begin this Friday September 7th Videos and guest lectures are part of the class material You are responsible for this material We will follow all university policies on issues of Academic Honesty Grading Attendance Examinations and Absences due to Religious Observance Syllabus Page 2 WS 187 Fall 2007 Written Assignments and Exams MIDTERM EXAM at the end of Module I TWO SHORT ANALYTICAL PAPERS one due during each Module Guidelines will be given out Papers must always be typewritten and double spaced No handwritten or papers via email will be accepted Late papers will be graded down A FINAL EXAM scheduled during finals week Do not make plane reservations or plans to leave before you check the final exam schedule Note The final exam will primarily focus on Module II but you will be responsible for key concepts and frameworks from Module I Unannounced pop quizzes in lecture or discussion section 2 each five highest grades considered Discussion groups are an important and integral part of the class Attendance and participation in discussion sections are factored into the final grade Two unexcused absences will result in your grade being marked down Non attendance will result in an F If you have an excused absence in addition to an official note excusing you from absence you must submit a two page reflection paper based on the readings assigned for that week The paper is due the next class day Once during the semester each student will sign up to be a discussion leader for discussion section A two page essay on the