women,
culture
and society
instructor: betsy keller
(elynnkeller at yahoo)
"Été" (Summer) by Sonia Delaunay
women, culture and society instructor: betsy keller (elynnkeller at yahoo) | "Été" (Summer) by Sonia Delaunay | |
|
Articles
marked as being
online
can be accessed
by clicking on title. Students should print out online articles well in advance of class! click on photos on this page--many
of them are linked to relevant sites! |
"WCS"
means readings are found in course textbook, "Women, Culture and Society."
Readings marked as "handout" will be given out early in the semester. A small fee ($2 to $3) may be requested later to cover the costs of photocopying these. |
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| dates |
what to read for today; what films we'll watch |
assignments due this day AND optional links to explore for fun! |
| class #1 weds 1/18 |
Introduction to course If you missed today's class, it is strongly recommended that you find someone who took good notes about what was said about class expectations. It is also doubly important for you to read the website carefully so you are aware of the course expectations, especially the strict attendance policy. |
Assignment: BUY YOUR MAGAZINES FOR THE MAGAZINE COMPARISON PAPER ASSIGNMENT AS SOON AS YOU CAN FIND THEM!!! (The February 2006 issues of Maxim and Cosmopolitan) The magazines have been ordered just like textbooks for the class, and should be in the Douglass co-op bookstore. But you may want to get them elsewhere. |
| class #2 mon 1/23 |
Today we will be talking about women and art and the early feminist movement. Reading Assignment: "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" by Linda Nochlin, 1971 (online) See writing assignment at right! Please note that you must print out and bring to class all articles that are assigned. |
assignment: create an "I.D. page" with a picture of you and some info about yourself (see instructions here) Turn this in today or class #3 at the latest. writing assignment due today! Go here for the assignment Women Artists (Images) |
| class #3 weds 1/25 |
IMPORTANT: We meet today at the Mason Gross
School for the Arts (located in the Civic Square building in downtown
New Brunswick.) Go here for directions and maps to this building. We are going here to see an exhibit entitled "How Women Artists Invented Postmodernism: A Celebration of the Year of the Woman Artist." When you enter the building, walk to the right and you will see the gallery. The location is served by the EE and the F buses. There is a parking garage under the building where you CAN park, but only if you give me your name SOON so I can give them a list of people who will be parking there. Otherwise you can park there but I believe it costs $5. Attendance will be taken. If you can't make it for some reason try to let me know in advance. |
Assignment: visit the class bulletin board (see link from main page of
this website). It is very important to get onto the bulletin board
early so that I know all of you can access it successfully. I will be
able to tell if you have managed to get into the bulletin board even if
you do not post a message immediately. last day to turn in I.D. page |
| class #4 mon 1/30 |
Unit I: Women's Suffrage and the "first wave" of the women's movement in the U.S. There may be a quiz on the reading today. If you are not prepared it will convey to me that you are not serious about getting a good grade in this class. "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions,
Seneca Falls" by Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Matilda
Joslyn Gage, 1848 WCS Read the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions online (for those who may not have the textbook yet) Film: Beginning of
"One Woman, One Vote"
**Reminder: you are expected to come to
class with a copy of all articles being discussed that day. You may
lose points from your grade if you come to class without the articles
being discussed.
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Have you bought your magazines yet??? Make sure to get them before they disappear from the bookstore shelves and the newstands! Please note: all assignments for this class should be typed unless otherwise indicated. Great site with suffrage documents, from the Library of Congress Timeline of the suffrage movement Suffrage images--Library of Congress Online museum exhibit on suffrage  click on photo!  Great image of the cartoon we discuss in class Please note: all assignments for this class should be typed unless otherwise indicated. |
| class #5 weds 2/1 |
Women's Suffrage and the "first wave" of the women's movement in the U.S. continued There may be a quiz on the reading today. If you are not prepared it will convey to me that you are not serious about getting a good grade in this class. Essay on Suffrage (online)
excerpt on suffrage from "Divided Sisters: Bridging the
Gap Between Black Women and White Women"
by Midge Wilson
and Kathy Russell 1996 Continuation of film and suffrage discussion
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Timeline of the women's rights movement, 1848-1998 Some women's "firsts" |
| class #6 mon 2/6 |
Women's Suffrage and the "first wave" of the women's movement in the U.S. continued we continued suffrage film. if you missed class today, please make sure that you go to Livingston library Media center to view the portion you missed. |
make sure you have looked ahead to see the upcoming assignment on the suffrage unit! Please note: all assignments for this class should be typed unless otherwise indicated. Do you have your magazines yet??? do not delay--they will only get harder to find! |
| class #7 weds 2/8 |
Women's Suffrage and the "first wave" of the women's movement in the U.S. continued 1892 Speech by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, "The Solitude of Self" considered her greatest speech. There may be a quiz on the reading today. If you are not prepared it will convey to me that you are not serious about getting a good grade in this class. We continue and (possibly) finish viewing the suffrage film. If you missed class today, please make sure that you go to Livingston library Media center to view the portion you missed. |
make sure you have looked ahead to see the upcoming assignment on the suffrage unit! |
| class #8 mon 2/13 |
class cancelled due to snowstorm |
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| class #9 weds 2/15 |
Excerpts from the Malleus Maleficarum We finally finish watching the film on suffrage and wrap up this unit. There may be a quiz on the reading today. If you are not prepared it will convey to me that you are not serious about getting a good grade in this class. |
do men hate women? make sure you have looked ahead to see the upcoming assignment on the suffrage unit! |
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class #10 mon 2/20 |
Unit 2: Women, Advertising and Art Part 1: the pictorial representation of women "Ways of Seeing" by John Berger (WCS textbook) p. 114 Please go here while you are reading the Berger article; here you will find the IMAGES discussed in the article. (You need to scroll down and see "chapter 3" to see the correct images.) Come to class prepared to discuss or possibly write about the following question: 1. What is the psychological harm to women (and men too) that Berger thinks can occur because of how women were portrayed for centuries in the dominant European painting tradition (Renaissance through 19th century) and also in modern advertising images? (You need to read between the lines of the article somewhat to answer this.) Today we will view slides of some paintings that illustrate Berger's ideas, as well as at least one of a modern ad. Extra credit assignment for today's class: Berger says that today we see women depicted in ADS in similar ways that they were depicted in the European painting tradition from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Find a modern magazine ad that echoes or correlates to a particular European painting from the time period Berger is discussing. (You could find the painting either in the images site linked above or perhaps at a museum website such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York, or from a web search for European paintings.) Bring the two images (the AD and the PAINTING) to class for show and tell. Click here for an example of what I am talking about ** Note: This unit begins the segment preparing you to write the magazine comparison paper. **Reminder: you are expected to come to class with a copy of all articles being discussed that day. You may lose points from your grade if you come to class without the articles being discussed. There may be a quiz on the reading today. If you are not prepared it will convey to me that you are not serious about getting a good grade in this class. This goes for every class when there is reading assigned. |
Writing Assignment: due today, click here for assignment instructions. Please note: all assignments for this class should be typed unless otherwise indicated. Adbusters What's at the Met? Fascinating examples of what digitally retouching does to women's images (must see!) example 1 example 2 NOW Media Activism page About-Face Adios Barbie More women and advertising links My summer/winter women and advertising class Here are the instructions for the Magazine Paper (also linked on main welcome page of this site) **reminder: websites listed in this column are here for optional enrichment--they are not required reading. (this does not apply to assignment instruction websites, naturally) Images of Women in Ancient Art |
class #11 weds 2/22 |
Women, Advertising and Art continued "Buy this 24-Year Old and Get All His Friends Absolutely Free" (Chapter 1 from "Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way we Think and Feel" by Jean Kilbourne Film: Killing Us Softly III by Jean Kilbourne Study Guide for film from Kilbourne's website (not required reading--this is just for optional enhancement of film) |
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class #12 mon 2/27 |
NEW! Article about Phthalates in Beauty Products (online) List of Some Products Containin Phthalates (online) [added for Fall 2006: "Wild Things"] Film: To be Announced |
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class #13 weds 3/1 |
Women, Advertising and Art continued "Sex, Lies and Advertising" by Gloria Steinem This article is in the textbook, but also can be found online here Why not take a look at the website of Ms. Magazine, the feminist magazine founded by Gloria Steinem?  "Faking It: Sex, Lies and Women's Magazines" by Liza Featherstone (online) Today we will discuss the magazine paper assignment |
Assignment--go here to print out study guide for Steinem article. Assignment: Please bring a women's magazine to class (any one will do). We will do a small group activity based on women's mags. You may want to bring some little post-it stickies to use to mark pages in the magazine during the activity. Body Positive Make sure you are reading the Magazine Comparison Paper instructions (also linked on main welcome page of this site) Reminder: do not let anything happen to your magazines, or you will have big problems. Guard them with your life. |
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class #14 mon 3/6 |
Unit 3: Men and Masculinity "Masculinity as Homophobia: Fear, Shame, and Silence in the Construction of Gender Identity" by Michael Kimmel (WCS) p. 59 **Note: this article will require more sustained and serious reading efforts than some other lighter articles. Do not get bogged down in the first few pages, which contain some references you will probably be unfamiliar with. We start the film "Tough Guise" today |
Assignment: Go here for instructions on writing assignment due today |
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class #15 weds 3/8 |
Men and Masculinity continued NEW Please read and print out this Rutgers policy on academic integrity and BRING IT TO CLASS TODAY WITHOUT FAIL. We will discuss the policy in class. "The Code" from Maxim Magazine (online) Continuation of film "Tough Guise" Here is a very good study guide for "Tough Guise" (not required reading; for your convenience only) |
Website of Jackson Katz--creator of "Tough Guise" List of great links on men and masculinity Achilles Heel--a radical men's magazine National Organization for Men Against Sexism please click here to take a brief anonymous mid-semester evaluation survey of this course--thanks! |
| Spring Break! |
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class #16 mon 3/20 |
Men and Masculinity continued Continuation of film "Tough Guise" | please click here to take a brief anonymous mid-semester evaluation survey of this course--thanks! |
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class #17 weds 3/22 |
End of film "Tough Guise" We will also work in groups brainstorming about the lists of topics you bring in today. Make sure to be IN CLASS and to be there WITH a list of topics. |
Phase one of magazine paper due today This (graded)
assignment is to make a LIST of topics that you think you will want to
cover in the paper. Please click here for detailed instructions about this assignment please click here to take a brief anonymous mid-semester evaluation survey of this course if you have not yet done so |
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class #18 mon 3/27 |
We will work in groups and as a whole class on the paragraphs you will bring in today. | Assignment:
Write a paragraph that could be part of your magazine paper. Go here for instructions. Please go here to see a page with an interesting sample "skeleton" paragraph from a magazine paper. Click here to see the criteria by which the paragraph will be graded! please click here to take a brief anonymous mid-semester evaluation survey of this course if you have not yet done so |
class #19 weds 3/29 |
Unit 4: The modern U.S. Women's Movement (also known as the "second wave" of the women's movement Please note carefully the dates of articles in this unit; it is important to understand the time context of what you are reading. "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle should be Paid" by Roberta. Exact date not known, presumed from sometime in the late 1960's. "After the Death of God the Father" by Mary Daly, 1971 "The Bitch Manifesto" by Joreen. not dated--presumed from late 1960's. We begin viewing slides of ads from the late 60's and early 70's |
Assignment: make a list of 5 quotations and/or paraphrases from authors we read in class and/or films we viewed in class that you think you might like to use in your magazine paper. (Type out the quotes in their entirety and give a page reference.) Make sure to type the quote with absolute accuracy--this is good practice for when you eventually use them in your paper. You MAY choose to elide (take out) portions of the quote for your specific purposes--use brackets with 3 dots ([...]) to indicate where you elided words from a quote. It is optional to explain why you selected each quote or to explain how it relates to the magazines. This will be collected and graded. The purpose of this assignment is to get you to focus on locating and choosing outside quotes so that your paper will be as strong as possible. If you want a high grade on this assignment, you should take your time to choose quotes carefully, instead of grabbing the first ones that jump out at you. |
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class #20 mon 4/3 |
The modern U.S. Women's Movement continued "Equal Rights for Women" by Shirley Chisholm, 1971 "The Woman Identified Woman" by the Radicalesbiams, 1970 "The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm" by Anna Koedt, 1970 Great page about the 1968 feminist protest at the Miss America pageant (please read, but you do not necessarily have to print this out) Short excerpts from documentary film about Miss America will be shown in class | National Organization for Women (NOW) Feminist Majority Foundation Chart showing different types of feminism Site about the history of the Miss America pageant (this is the official site that accompanies the documentary from which we will view excerpts) Have you got your hands on a copy of the novel "The Street"? Better do so now! |
| class #21 weds 4/5 |
Peer
Review of magazine paper rough drafts in class--it is crucial to
be in class WITH a rough draft of at least six FULL pages today. |
Rough Draft of Magazine paper due today: late papers will have grade reduced. |
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class #22 mon 4/10 |
The modern U.S. Women's Movement continued "Chicanas Speak Out" 1971 "Why Women's Liberation is Important to Black Women" by Maxine Williams, 1970 and "Take a Good Look at Our Problems" by Pamela Newman (second text in document by Williams) "Fear of Feminism" by Lisa Marie Hoagland | Chicanas.com Women of Color Web |
class #23 weds 4/12 |
women and work Women's pages: Next time you read about 'what women want,' check the research -- it's likely to be flimsy (online) |
Final Draft of Magazine Paper due today. Important: you must also email me and attach your paper as a file attachment. I maintain a database of papers in order to prevent students from using previous papers by others. Unless I receive your paper via email as a file attachment, I will be unable to give your paper a final grade. |
| class #24 mon 4/17 |
no assignment--we will view a film about abortion Paradise Lost: Greed, Sex Slavery, Forced Abortions and Right-Wing Moralists (online) From Ms. Magazine Spring 2006 |
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| class #25 weds 4/19 |
Unit 5: Global Women's Issues Female Genital Mutilation -- online article from Amnesty International (you are not required to read the linked documents on this page) Crime or Custom? Violence Against Women in Pakistan (summary) from Human Rights watch Website Afghan Women Continue to Fend for Themselves (online) |
RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) South Asian Women's NETWork Global Issues Guide Counting the Cost of Gender Inequality Female Genital Cutting site Tahirih Justice Center The Global Gag Rule Rich World, Poor Women Amnesty International Women's Action Council |
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class #26 mon 4/24 |
Unit 6: What is Gender? "The Social Construction of Gender" by Judith Lorber (WCS) p. 10 film for this unit: to be announced |
Take a fun quiz on whether your brain is more male or female "regender" website |
| class #27 weds 4/26 |
What is Gender? continued New replacement article: "Men, Women and Ghosts in Science" (online) |
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| class #28 mon 5/1 |
Unit 8 : "The Street" We discuss the novel by Ann Petry. You must read the entire novel by today's class. |
quiz on the novel--counts more than just a regular reading quiz! make sure you have finished the book! |