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Sociology 109

Gender through Film

Spring 2010

Dr. Idee Winfield

88 Wentworth St., Rm 301

953-4899

e-mail: winfieldi@cofc.edu

Office hours: M, W 11-12, and by appointment

There is difference and there is power. And who holds

the power decides the meaning of difference.June Jordan, Technical Difficulties

If the world were a logical place, men would ride side

saddle. Rita Mae Brown

Welcome to Gender through Film! Gender is a central feature of social life yet we often take it for granted

because it seems so "natural." Think about it, the first question people ask after a babys birth is is it a boy or

a girl? We take for granted that we are born as female or male, and assume that these natural physical

differences translate into other differences we often see between men and women. Gender, however, is far

from "natural." Sociologists recognize that people are situated in specific social and historical environments that

structure our experiences and the ways we interpret and think about our lives. Thinking about men and women

from a sociological perspective means that we will go beyond taken for granted assumptions about sex and

gender and will critically examine the social origins of the patterns we see around us. In this course, we will use

films to examine how gender is deeply embedded in society's basic social, economic, and ideological

institutions.

The mass media are an ideological institution central in shaping and conveying the meaning of the categories of

"woman" and "man." In fact, many argue that the mass media play a key institutional role in reproducing the

"sex-gender system" within which we all live, and under whose influence we form our identities as women and

men. In this course, we will examine how popular films represent and define cultural ideas about gender. Just sothere is no confusion, this is not a course about film analysis. Rather, we use films as tools for examining

sociological perspectives on gender. Our central task is to explore how the interconnections between gendered

social institutions and gendered interpersonal interaction shape the opportunities afforded to women and men,

our behavior, and our identities.

Ours will be a joint mission: we will explore these issues and learn together. My role is to expose you to the

sociological approach to understanding gender and to guide you as we work our way through the films and the

readings. Your role is to be an active participant, to seek knowledge and insight with an open and questioning

mind, and to share your thoughts and questions as we go.

Course goals

This will be an exciting and interesting class...IF you are willing to do the work. There is a good deal of material.Some of it is short but thought provoking, and requires from you a good amount of work to process the ideas

and learn what you can from them. Other readings are longer and provide important historical background.

By the time the semester ends, it is my hope that you will:

1. Know the main sociological theories and concepts in the study of gender.

2. Recognize the ways in which masculinity and femininity are socially defined, enforced, resisted &

negotiated.

3. Understand how major social institutions such as families and workplaces can sustain dominant gender norms

but also offer opportunities for resistance, negotiation and change.

4. Appreciate how these processes affect our daily lives and shape our experiences.

5. Think critically about gender as represented in films and enacted in society and communicate your ideas in a

clear and thoughtful manner.

mailto:winfieldi@cofc.edumailto:winfieldi@cofc.edu

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Course Structure

Most class sessions will include a mini lecture, viewing a film, writing about how the film demonstrates points

from the readings, followed by structured small group discussion of the relationship between the film and the

readings. I designed our class sessions around readings we do in common. Your most important responsibility

is a careful, thoughtful reading of the assignment before we meet in class. We cannot have meaningful

discussion if you have not done the reading and I wont support uninformed discussion of the films.

Reading

All required readings for this course are on Electronic Reserve (Eres) or online. I will give you the Eres passwordthe first night of class:

Requirements: Earning Your Grade

i Class Participation 10%:

You earn your participation grade by attending class AND actively participating. To the dismay of some

students, warm ing a seat does not count as participation! To participate effectively and constructively, you

need to come to each class prepared to talk about the readings. Keep in mind that quality participation

does not mean that all comments must be brilliantly insightful; this class is intended to foster critical

thinking. Questions and incomplete thoughts about these issues contribute to the process of learning.

Sometime a simple I dont get it, is enough to get the discussion rolling.

Most days you will work in small groups for a discussion structured around a set of questions, and then we

will come back together to synthesize the responses to the questions. I will collect the group work at the

end of class. It is your responsibility to make sure I have the group response before leaving for the evening.

In addition, I will make note of constructive contributions to class discussion and group activities. You only

receive participation credit if you are present for the entire class session, turn in any preparatory

assignment during that class session, and constructively contribute to group activities. You don't receive

credit if you miss a small group activity, don't come to class on time, or leave early. No class participation

work may be made-up.

Given this is an Express II course, and each class is one week of the semester, you receive a one grade

letter penalty if you miss more than 3 classes (regardless of the reason). Someone who m isses 25% of the

semester cannot truly accomplish the goals of the course.

i In-Class Written Assignments 20%

At the end of each film I will ask you to write short answers to several questions about how the film

demonstrates key points from the readings. These writing assignments are meant to ensure you have done

the reading and are prepared for a meaningful discussion of the readings in relation to the film. I strongly

recommend that you take notes or outline the readings so that you come to class having identified the

key themes and points in the readings for that class. Dont focus on small details and lose sight of the

forest. You may not make-up in-class writing assignments. If you did not do the reading, save us both the

aggravation and just write DDR on your assignment.

i Examinations 70%

There will be one in-class examination worth 30% of your final grade and one take-home exam worth 40% of

your final grade. The in-class exam will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay. Thetake-home will be a comparative analysis of two films based on application of the material in your readings.

Please note the dates for the exams and arrange your schedule accordingly. I do not accept late take-home

exams.

If you have a medically excused absence (see Course Policies, below) for the in-class exam, you will take the

makeup on reading day.

If you are entitled to testing accommodation, please bring me your letter the class after Spring Break. You

must bring me your exam scheduling form one week before the exam, otherwise I cannot guarantee your

accommodation.

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Grading:

My philosophy on grades is this: They are yours to earn, not mine to give. Therefore, decide now what grade

you want to receive and earn it!

A=90-100% A-=89% B+=88% B=80-87% B-=79% C+=78% C=70-77% C=69% D=60-68 F=

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Follow common rules of respect.

Any and all electronic devices, including iPods, PDAs, and especially cell phones, must

be turned off during class. Turn your cell phone COMPLETELY OFF as soon as you enter the classroom. Do not

leave it on vibrate and do not pull it out during class to text message or check messages. Otherwise I get free

phone calls for the next 24 hours on your phone :-)!

Do not sleep, chit-chat, or engage in any other kind of disruptive behavior in the classroom. These behaviors

are not only rude to me, the professor, but are distracting to those around you. And, please keep in mind you

may think you are in an anonymous sea of 40 people, but I can still see and hear you and your neighbors

definitely can too. Also, you are not invisible -- so don't walk in front of m e or over top of your classmates

when class is in session (I get really pissed off when that happens). If for some reason you must leave class

early, be sure to sit near the door. If you arrive late (DONT), quietly slip in the back of the room.

Speak loudly when participating in class discussion so that everyone in the class can hear you. If you are at the

front of the room, turn and talk to your colleagues. When others are talking, please listen quietly. Show

courtesy toward other students even if you disagree with them.

If you use a computer to take notes, make sure that is all you do. No web surfing or e-mailing. If I see you

doing anything other than taking notes for this class, you will no longer be allowed to bring computer

equipment to class.

Most importantly, we treat each other with respect at all times during this course. Sociology can challenge

many of things that we take for granted and thus can make us uncomfortable at times. Thats good because

intellectual discussion is the heart and soul of higher education. As we discuss these ideas in class, it is

important to remember this and be respectful of the views of others. This does not mean that you have to

agree with everything that is being said, it simply means that little is achieved by being aggressive and hostile

with others, particularly those who disagree with you. Also remember that my job is to always bring you back

to the sociological perspective on an issue.

Makeup Exams and Late assignments

I do not accept late out of class assignments or missed in-class assignments for any reason (well, unless you are

in emergency surgery and unde r general anesthesia). The due dates are listed on the schedule and you have

plenty of notice. Do not tempt the computer Gremlins by waiting to the last minute to write or print your

exam; that's just courting disaster. You are responsible no matter what technological problems arise.

There is one makeup day, April 27 for anyone who misses an exam AND has an excused absence verifiedth

through the office of the Dean of Students. I do not verify your absence and you do not have to bring me your

excuse. Rather you should take your note from a physician or health services to the Deans office at 67 Glebe

for verification. If you have a death in the family, take a note from the funeral home to the Deans office. The

Deans office will send me a notification of whether you have provided a documented absence. Unverified self-

reported absences are not eligible for a make-up exam . If you are a student-athlete on a CofC team, make sure

I have your travel schedule and see m e about m aking arrangements for your absences.

Cheating is NOT a good thing.

It should go without saying, but anyone caught violating the honor code will receive an F on the assignment

and have to go before the Honor Board. Folks, it's just not worth it. Cheating includes using someone elses

work or not completing an individual assignment on your own.

An extension of this is group assignments. It is cheating to claim the work of others as your own. That means

that when you have a group assignment, your name only goes on the assignment when you actually make an

equitable contribution (equitable does not mean exactly the same, but it does mean that each member of

the group has made a contribution in balance with everyone else in the group). I will ask each member of the

group to assess everyones contribution to the assignment and adjust your grades accordingly.

You should be careful not to plagiarize by claiming someone elses words as your own. If you do not know what

plagiarism is, see the link on ERes, under Writing Resources. You've now been told, so you cannot plead

ignorance.

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Communicate with your professor.

Talk to me about any problems you are having with the course. If you do not understand the material, have

questions about any assignments, or if you have problems with other students or any other issues that are

impeding your learning process, talk to me. Make an appointment to talk. Dont try to resolve this before

class or after class because there is not enough time for m e to give you my full attention.

Develop high standards for yourself.

I have high standards for all students. I expect that students will attend class regularly, be prepared for class,

contribute during class discussion, and submit carefully thought out written assignments. The best way to meet

these standards is to adopt high standards for yourself. Your job is to be a student. Be a professional at your

job. You will take the skills and attitudes you develop as a student with you when you leave school.

Employ effective study skills.

Before class, read the assigned readings. After class, review your notes and the readings. The ability to apply

the material (in exams and assignments) takes a deeper understanding than a casual reading of the text will

give you. The course material requires you to learn new ideas and ways of thinking. You need to be patient

with yourself and commit enough time to the material before you will get it. Do not be satisfied with a

surface understanding of the course material. This type of understanding does not generally translate to

excellent work in the assignments or to an ability to apply the material outside of class.

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SCHEDULE*

March 3 Welcome

Film: Raise the Red Lantern

March 8 and 10 Spring Break

March 15 Gender at three levels II: Discussion of Raise the Red Lantern

Read: Johnson: Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, A Them, or an Us.

Lorber: Night to His Day, The Social Construction of Gender

Do: Type a 2 page analysis of Raise the Red Lantern where you use specific examples

from the film to demonstrate the key points in the two readings.

Due at the beginning of class.

March 17 Mak ing Sense of Sex , Gender & Sexuality

Read: West and Zimmerman: Doing Gender

Lucal: Building Boxes and Policing Boundaries: (De)Constructing Intersexuality,

Transgender and Bisexuality.

Rogers: What the Pregnant Man Didnt Deliver

Film: The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert or Transgender America

March 22, 24 The Codes of Gender: Doing and Resisting Hegemonic Masculinity & Emphasized Femininity

22 Read: Benshoff and Griffin: Mascul inity in Classical Hol lywood Filmmaking

Connell: Hegemonic Masculinity

Kimmel: Masculinity as Homophobia

Film: Magnolia

24 Read: Benshoff and Gr iffin: Women in C lass ical Ho llywood F ilmmak ing

Benshoff and Griffin: Gender in American Film Since the 1960s

Film: The Devil Wears Prada or Legally Blonde

March 29, 31 The Kaleidescope of Gender: Femininities and Masculinities

Read: Hill Collins: Race, Class, and Gender As Categories of Analysis and Connection

Elliott: Men, Race, and Emotions, Men of Color and Masculine Productions

Pyke and Johnson: Asian American Women and Racialized Femininities, Doing

Gender across Cultural Worlds

NOTE: Class will run 45 minutes later than usual. You will get the time back the next class

Films: 10,000 Black Men Named George

Real Women Have Curves

April 5 In-Class Exam

April 7, 12 Gendered Intimacies: Bitten, Smitten, and ...

Read: Thorne: Do Girls and Boys Have Different Cultures?

Sprecher and Toro-Morn: Beliefs About Love and Romantic Relationships

Tolman et al.: Sowing the Seeds of Violence in Heterosexual Relationships

F ilms: Twilight

American Pie

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April 14, 19 Doing Gender 9-5

Read: Pierce: Rambo Litigators: Emotional Labor in a Male-Dominated Occupation

Uggen and Blackstone: Sexual Harassment as a G endered Expression of Power.

Explore: http://www.sexualharassmentsupport.org/JensonVsEvelethMines.html

F ilm: Glengarry Glenn Ross

North Country

April 21 Work and Family in the 24/7 G loba l Economy

Read: Love and Gold

TBA

Film: One Fine Day or Spanglish

April 26 Men, Women and Chain Saws : Gendered V iolence

Read: Clover: Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film

Kimmel and Mahler: Adolescent Masculinity, Homophobia, and Violence: Random

School Shootings, 19822001

SWS: Gendered Violence Fact Sheet

Film: All the Boys Love Mandy Lane or the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre

* The schedule may change. Any changes will be announced in class