Course Syllabus

Feminism: Understanding gender inequality

Chula Vista Learning Community Charter High School
Tuesdays, 12:10 pm 1:20 pm
Instructor: Lydia Burgos
Email: lydia.burgos@cvesd.org
Course Description
In this course we will examine and explore multitude of important attitudes and
institutions that affect the lives of women within the U.S. and globally. Because
gender is inflected by and experienced through a variety of forces and
conditions, this course will consider the ways that race, class, ethnicity, and
sexuality inform womens struggles for understanding, self-determination and
power in a world dominated by patriarchal privilege. The course will include
exploration into gender construction and roles; gender and difference;
intimacy; sexuality; health; self-concept; the psychology of oppression and
resistance; family; education; and economic life. We will read a variety of
perspectives that will address these issues and practice critical thinking to
allow you to develop your own learnings, opinions and skillsand voicein
understanding, speaking and writing about womens issues.

Required Textbook
Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, Bell Hooks, paperback edition
(2000)
The book will be provided to you at your first class. If you would like to
purchase your book online or elsewhere, please make sure that you have the
correct edition.
Course Objectives
The course seeks to teach the basic framework of feminist thinking through
reading multiple perspectives, thinking critically about social oppressions and
privileges, and discussing these matters with one another with respect,
courtesy, and professionalism. Understanding the institutions that control
social power at large reveals how power operates in the private and public
spheres of our daily lives. Many of the topics covered in this class may cause
disagreement and debate within personal readings of the materials and class
discussions. Despite these difficulties, all matters will be handled, without
exception, with respect.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand systemic oppression in the context of race, class, gender
and sexuality.
2. Create a comprehensive knowledge of gendered societal and cultural
gendered norms.
3. Understand how power and privilege operate in U.S. society.
4. Gain the critical thinking skills to discuss and write about issues in
a thoughtful and well articulated manner.

5. Inspire a critical consciousness that becomes a part of your everyday

life.

Grading Scale
The assignment of letter grades is as follows:
B+ = 87-89% C+ = 77-79% D+ = 67F = < 60%
69%
A = 94-100% B = 84-86% C = 74-76% D = 64-66%
A- = 90-93%

B- = 80-83% C- = 70-73%

D- = 60-63%

Grade Breakdown
Readings
Class Assignments
Exams

15%
15%
20%

Reflective Journal

20%

Participation

30%

Total
100%
LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. If you have any concerns, please
check with me PRIOR to the due date of any assignments or exams in question.
Emergencies and illness will be taken into consideration for possible extensions,
but will not guarantee an extension without discussing the matter with me
ahead of time. If you have any concerns, ask me as soon as possible via email
or after/before class as time permits.

Classroom Behavior
Come to class with your course textbook and notes, readings completed, and
be prepared to discuss them. Expect that we will cover a wide range of topics
and will not always agree on which interpretations are best. Despite differences
of personal opinion, we will rely on scholarly analysis and respectful debate
based on the course materials.

Course Policies:
Class begins at 12:10 pm. Habitual tardiness or early departure will
lower your participation grade.
Please silence and completely put away cell phones off when class begins.

 Due to the personal and sometimes controversial topics in this class, it is

necessary that we all keep an open mind and engage with each other in
a respectful, courteous way.
Racist, sexist, homophobic, and overall offensive language and dialogue
does not contribute to creating the safe space (a space that is open and
accepting, challenging, and does not tolerate harassment or
discrimination) necessary for this class to flourish. Such comments will be
addressed and discussed in class should they arise.
Grades on class assignments will be posted on Jupiter Grades as the
semester progresses. If you have concerns about your grade, please
make an appointment to see me. Waiting until the end of the semester is
neither desirable nor effective.
Please do not pack up before 1:25. I respect your time and will actively
manage class to ensure you are not kept passed our scheduled time.
**Some topics and readings covered in this class may be emotionally
intense. Please look ahead over the readings in the course schedule. If
you have any questions or concerns about UPCOMING material, please
discuss any matters with instructor before that class session.
Additionally, please be aware that some topics may cause emotional
stress for
classmates.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any way. It is always better to include too many
references than not enough. It is your responsibility to understand what
plagiarism is, and to avoid all variations of plagiarism.
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. You are plagiarizing or cheating
if you:
For written work, copy anything from a book, article or website and add or
paste it into your
paper without using quotation marks and/or without providing the
full reference for the quotation, including page number
For written work, summarize / paraphrase in your own words ideas you got
from a book, article, or the web without providing the full reference for the
source.
For an oral presentation, copy anything from a book, article, or website
and present it orally as if it were your own words. You must summarize and
paraphrase in your own words, and bring a list of references in case the
professor asks to see it
Use visuals or graphs you got from a book, article, or website
without providing the full reference for the picture or table
Purchase or otherwise obtain a paper and turn it in as your own work
Copy off of a classmate

 Use technology or smuggle in documents to obtain or check information in

an exam situation

Assignments
Mandatory Weekly Readings
Each week will include around 60 minutes of pre-reading. Complete readings
by class on Tuesday. You may find it helpful to take reading notes to ensure
your preparedness for class. Readings are required and will be included in the
assignments, quizzes, and tests that determine your grades.
Reflective Journal
You are to write one entry per week to be turned in at the beginning of class. You
will apply a term/idea/concept presented in your course readings assigned for
that week and write about the ways in which you observe these issues in your life.
This assignment is meant to be an eye-opening exercise that allows each student
to apply what she or he learns in this course to the real world. You will be able to
track your personal progress with the class materials to see how concepts in
feminism come up in your life. You may draw from just about anything: Facebook
posts, Internet articles, advertisements of all kinds, personal conversations, TV
shows, movies, cartoons, comics, medical forms, wanted ads, job applications,
wedding invitations, etc.
The requirements are as follows:
Connect at least one idea/term/concept found in the week's readings to
what you observe in your daily life. Define this term drawing from the
reading in which it appears. Cite your source. You may also use lecture
material and class discussion for supplemental framework.
Explain the situation in which you experienced or observed the concept
appearing in your life. Explain either the implications or affects of the
issue. Why does it matter? How and whom does it hurt/disempower? If it is
a positive experience, how and for whom?
Explain your personal reactions. For instance, are you shocked?
Surprised? Upset? Worried? Additionally, you do not have to reflect only on
negative emotions. If you find a situation empowering and positive, and
are also able to connect it to class readings, you are more than welcome
to include this experience in your journal entry.
You are NOT allowed to repeat the same idea from the same reading across
multiple entries.

Each journal entry is to be typed (not hand-written) in 12-point font, doublespaced, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins and a MINIMUM of one full page.
Please feel free to write more than the one-page minimum if you feel
particularly inspired to do so. This is a chance to utilize class materials and
personal experience, but not an opportunity to rely on personal opinion alone.
Successful assignments will demonstrate an application of class materials to the
real world.
Here is a good example of a topic for a journal entry that I found of a picture
posted and circulated on Facebook:

Here is a mock video game box that suggests that a

woman's duty is to be in the kitchen. Several of the
Facebook comments were somewhere along the
lines of get in the kitchen and make me a
sandwich. Many users commented that the picture
was sexist, while others responded that they
needed to learn to take a joke. Here, I would
connect this picture to a reading about gender roles
and societal expectations to fulfill domestic roles.
Imagine that this picture would have read Men's
Edition if you have trouble seeing the double
standard.

Participation
You must demonstrate your engagement with the class by active attention given to
lectures, class discussions, videos, and guest speakers. If you are unable to attend
class, this means that you will not receive participation credit for that day. This
grade is determined by coming to class prepared, meaning that you have read the
mandatory readings and are ready to discuss. Disruptive or off-task behavior will
negatively affect your participation grade.

Course Schedule
FIFE = Feminism is for Everybody
AR = Article
**The course schedule is subject to change **
Date

Topic

01/12 Introduction to Course

01/19 What is Feminism?
01/26 The History of Feminist Movements
02/02 The History of Feminist Movements
02/09 Hierarchy and Oppression
02/16 Hierarchy and Oppression
02/23 The Construction of Gender
03/01 Sexual Identity
03/08 Sexuality
03/15 MIDTERM

**No journal due

04/05 The Body/Media Images

04/12 The Body/Media Images
04/19 Body Politics
04/26 Reproductive Justice and Health
05/03 Violence and Resistance
05/10 Healing and Spirituality
05/17 Feminist Activism
05/24 Feminist Activism
05/31 FINAL

**No journal due