University of California, Los Angeles

WOMEN'S STUDIES DEPARTMENT:

WS 185 GENDER AND EDUCATION

SPRING 2012
MONDAYS 12:00PM 2:50PM LAKRETZ 101

Instructor:
Yamissette M. Westerband, M.A., M.S.W. Email: yamiwest@ucla.edu Office: Rolfe 1120L
Office Hours: Mondays, 3:00PM-3:50PM

Course Overview and Objectives:

In this course, we will examine feminist analyses and critiques of social institutions, with a
focus on educational institutions. As a class, we will:
Examine how social identities influence educational experiences, with an emphasis on how racial
and gender dynamics impact educational trajectories.
Challenge and discuss concepts such as meritocracy, objectivity, racial microagressions, cultural
capital, and cultural deficit models.
Discuss pedagogical theories and practices.
Engage in discussions regarding the role of culture in education.

Course Requirements:
Class Participation: 20%
Self Reflection Paper: 35%
Group Presentations: 10%
In-Class Final Exam: 35%
COURSE WEBSITE Access through my.ucla.edu. All required readings will be available on the
course website.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

Attendance and Participation Active participation in this course is very important. Therefore, you are
expected to attend all class meetings and come to class prepared to engage with the material. Attendance
and participation will count for 20% of the final grade. Please be on time to class. Please be respectful of
the classroom environment. Thus, the use of ipods, texting, etc, and the reading of newspapers are
prohibited in class. Students are allowed one unexcused absence, any additional absences must be
accompanied by supporting documentation (doctors note, etc).

A Note About Class Participation Some of the materials discussed in this course may be controversial in
nature. You may find yourself feeling moved, challenged or even uncomfortable with some of the material.
I encourage open class dialogue regarding course text. However, I ask that we all do so respectfully. This
means that while we can agree to disagree with our colleagues, we do so without attacking each other
personally. I also ask that we connect all comments and personal examples back to course materials and
illustrate how it is relevant to the course themes.

Group Presentations In each class meeting, a group of students will be responsible for presenting 1 of
the readings for that week to the other members of the course. Students will be assigned to groups during
the first week. Group members will meet and decide on the sort of presentation they think will be most
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effective, and then make their presentation jointly. The 15 minute group presentations will count for 10%
of the grade. I encourage you to be creative in your presentations, utilize media and interactive tools. Please
arrive early to set up your presentation if you will be utilizing media equipment and e-mail me a short
description 1 day before class describing how you will be presenting.

Self-Reflection Papers The self-reflection paper will be an opportunity for you to engage in a discussion
of how you personally interact with the readings. In a 5 page paper, discuss if you are you surprised,
challenged, or disturbed by the material you have read. Do you agree or disagree? What have you learned
thus far? Do you identify with any of the material? Be sure to cite at least 2 sources from our readings to
discuss in your reflection. Please use 1 margins, 12-point Times New Roman font. Please be sure to
include page numbers. This paper will be due in class MAY 14. Please submit paper copies, no
electronic versions please.

Final Exam There will be a cumulative in-class final exam on the last day of class. It will consist of
several short answers, several short essay questions, and one long essay question. The final exam will count
towards 35% of the total grade for the course. Please bring 2 bluebooks to class for the exam and do not
write on them.

A Note on Late Papers/Assignments:

Unless a written excuse for tardiness supported by a doctors note is provided, grades on late papers will be
reduced one notch for each day late. For example, if you write an A+ paper but hand it in one day late, it
will receive an A; two days late, an A-

COURSE SCHEDULE

Monday, April 2: Course Introduction

Introductory Discussion and Group Exercises

To Read For Week 2:

Monday, April 9: Foundations
Readings:
Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Chapter 2
Margaret Montoya, Mascaras, Trenzas y Grenas
Angela Valenzuela, Excerpts from Subtractive Schooling: U.S. Mexican Youth and The Politics of
Caring.

To Read For Week 3:

Monday, April 16: Early Educational Experiences and Influences
Readings:
Claude Steele, Stereotype Threat
Chavez, Undocumented Student Access
Solorzano, Effective Schools Framework

To Read For Week 4:

Monday, April 23: Community College
Readings:
Rivas, Transfer Rates for Latina/o Community College Students
Trillo, Somewhere Between Wall Street and El Barrio
Herideen, Community College Realities
To Read For Week 5:
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Monday, April 30: Undergraduate Experiences
Readings:
Haleman, Single Mothers in Higher Education
Quimby Predictors Well Being Nontraditional Students
Yosso, Smith, Ceja, Solorzano, Racial Microagressions

To Read For Week 6:

Monday, May 7: Undergraduates Continued
Readings:
Yosso, Undergraduate Stages of Passage
Bernal and Villalpando, An Apartheid of Knowledge
Bonilla-Silva, I Didnt Get That Job Because of A Black Man

To Read For Week 7:

Monday, May 14: Academic Climate
Readings:
Turner, Guests In Someone Elses House
Yosso, Its Exhausting Being Mexican American!

SELF-REFLECTION PAPER DUE TODAY AT BEGINNING OF CLASS

To Read For Week 8:

Monday, May 21: The Academy
Readings:
Espinoza, Good Daughter Dilemma
Elenes, Classroom Pedagogy
Cruz, Struggling With the Labels That Mark My Ethnic Identity

Week 9:
Monday, May 28: HOLIDAY

To Read For Week 10:

Monday, June 4: Sexuality and Educational Experiences
Readings:
Quinn, You Make Me Erect: Queer Girls of Color
Kosciw, Greytak, Diaz, Factors Contributing Hostile School for LGBT
McCready, Understanding Marginalization Gay Black Males

In-Class Final Exam: Monday, June 11, 12-2:50PM

Please Bring 2 blue-books and pen to class and please do not write your name on them