WMST-111 Introduction to Women's Studies: Women, Gender, and Society

An interdisciplinary study of the construction of gender and its intersection with race and class in the United States and around the world to create an oppressive and unethical gender system. Based primarily in sociology and the humanities, this course also draws on ethical theories in examining the impact of gender on society and on individual women and men, as well as women’s responses to a repressive gender system.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL-121

Hours Weekly

3

Course Objectives

1. 1. Examine sexist gender socialization as it exists cross-culturally and its role in sexual assault and
   other forms of violence against women; analyze its unethical aspects and describe and analyze
   feminist alternatives to this traditional socialization.
2. 2. Describe the effects of sexism, racism, homophobia/heterosexism – separately and combined --
   in the workplace; analyze the roles of educational and job discrimination as well as sexual
   harassment, both overt and covert, in the continued economic inequality of women.
3. 3. Analyze the historical dynamics of political and economic power as they affect women; analyze
   the humanistic values that inspire feminism’s pursuit of equality and how these values shape
   strategies for challenging unequal and unethical structures; asses how these values resonate
   with one’s personal core values.
4. 4. Use critical thinking skills to evaluate opposing arguments on controversial issues in sex and
   gender, as the leader of a small group discussion and in a research project; evaluate the ethical
   dimensions of these issues.

Course Objectives

1. 1. Examine sexist gender socialization as it exists cross-culturally and its role in sexual assault and
   other forms of violence against women; analyze its unethical aspects and describe and analyze
   feminist alternatives to this traditional socialization.
2. 2. Describe the effects of sexism, racism, homophobia/heterosexism – separately and combined --
   in the workplace; analyze the roles of educational and job discrimination as well as sexual
   harassment, both overt and covert, in the continued economic inequality of women.
3. 3. Analyze the historical dynamics of political and economic power as they affect women; analyze
   the humanistic values that inspire feminism’s pursuit of equality and how these values shape
   strategies for challenging unequal and unethical structures; asses how these values resonate
   with one’s personal core values.
4. 4. Use critical thinking skills to evaluate opposing arguments on controversial issues in sex and
   gender, as the leader of a small group discussion and in a research project; evaluate the ethical
   dimensions of these issues.