METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE

E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR GENDER AND SOCIETY – General Education for College Students
Course Name Gender and Society
Course Credit 3 units
Course Description 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 baby’s birth is – “is it a boy or a girl?” We take for granted that we are born as female and male,
and that these “natural” physical differences translate into other social differences we often perceive between men and
women. Gender, however, is far from "natural." Sociologists recognize that individuals are situated in specific social and
historical environments that shape our experience and the ways we interpret and think about our lives. Thinking about men
and women from a sociological perspective means that we 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 examine how gender is
deeply embedded in society's basic political, economic, and ideological institutions. 

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 material. I will push you to be systematic and empirical, not just
anecdotal and stereotypical. Your role is to be an active participant, seeking knowledge and insight with an open and
questioning mind, interacting with course materials, and sharing your thoughts, feelings, and questions as we go.

This course is divided into three sections. We begin by learning some of the key ideas in social constructionist theory and
sociological thinking about gender and how it differs from biological essentialism and oversimplified theories of sex role
socialization. Most of the course themes will be introduced in this first section. In the second section, we will examine the
interactional production of gender and gender inequality – how gender gets into our heads, bodies, and wallets. In the final
section, we will explore how gender is a social institution with a focus on what I believe is THE central gender issue for your
generation: how to combine work and family life in ways that do not reproduce gender inequalities.

Contact Hours/Week 3 hours/week

Prerequisite
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

Course Objectives This will be an exciting and interesting class, but not an easy class. There is a good deal of material to read, and a good
amount of work you'll need to do to process these ideas and learn what you can from them. By the time the semester ends, it
is my hope that you will:
1. Know some of the main sociological theories and concepts in the study of gender.
2. Know some of the main trends in gender inequality.
3. Recognize the ways in which ‘masculinity' and ‘femininity' are socially defined, negotiated, enforced, & resisted.
4. Understand how major social institutions, such as families and workplaces, can sustain dominant gender norms but
also offer opportunities resistance, negotiation, and change.
5. Appreciate how these gendered processes affect our daily lives and shape our experiences.
6. Complete analysis of a variety of social phenomena through a "gender lens.”
7. Think critically about gender and society, and communicate your ideas in a clear and thoughtful manner.
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

COURSE OUTLINE AND TIMEFRAME

COURSE CONTENT/SUBJECT MATTER

Week 1 Chapter 1: Introduction

Week 2 Chapter 2: Ideas

Week 3 Chapter 3:Bodies

Week 4 Chapter 4: Performances

Week 5 Chapter 5: Intersections

Week 6 Chapter 6: Inequality: Men and Masculinities

Week 7 Chapter 7: Inequality: Women and Femininities

Week 8 Chapter 8: Institutions

Week 9 Chapter 9: Change

Week 10 Chapter 10: Sexualities

 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

Week 11 Chapter 11: Families

Week 12 Chapter 12: Work

Week 13 Chapter 13: Politics

Course Objective Summative Assessment Task Details

I. Introduction: Sociology Looks at  In this course, students will not simply read
Gender  Critical Thinking Assignment other scholar’s ideas, theories, and
a. Know some of the main sociological observations about gender, they will also
theories and concepts in the study of produce their own insights about how
gender. gender is performed, produced, structured
b. Know some of the main trends in gender and what it means to be a gendered.
inequality.  Class Participation/Engagement  To participate effectively and
constructively, students 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 issues contribute to the
process of learning.
 Reading Quizzes  The quiz will either be a few multiple
choice questions or a short answer question
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

that asks them to identify the key themes in

the readings.
II. Introduction: Sociology Looks at  Critical Thinking Assignment  In this course, students will not simply read
Gender other scholar’s ideas, theories, and
c. Know some of the main sociological observations about gender, they will also
theories and concepts in the study of produce their own insights about how
gender. gender is performed, produced, structured
d. Know some of the main trends in gender and what it means to be a gendered.
inequality.
 Class Participation/Engagement  To participate effectively and
constructively, students 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 issues contribute to the
process of learning.

 Reading Quizzes  The quiz will either be a few multiple

I. Gendered Institutions: Perpetuating
or Changing Gender Relations?
a. Appreciate how these gendered processes
affect our daily lives and shape our
 Critical Thinking Assignment
choice questions or a short answer question
that asks them to identify the key themes in
the readings.
 In this course, students will not simply read
other scholar’s ideas, theories, and
observations about gender, they will also
produce their own insights about how
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

experiences. gender is performed, produced, structured

b. Complete analysis of a variety of social
phenomena through a "gender lens.”
c. Think critically about gender and society,
and communicate your ideas in a clear and
thoughtful manner.
 Class Participation/Engagement
and what it means to be a gendered.
 To participate effectively and
constructively, students 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 issues contribute to the
process of learning.

 Reading Quizzes  The quiz will either be a few multiple

choice questions or a short answer question
that asks them to identify the key themes in
the readings.
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

Desired Learning Course Textbook/References Teaching and

Outcomes Content/Subject Learning Activities Assessment Task Resource Time
Matter (TALs) Material Table

Introduction  Class Activity:

Getting to know
me and you Day 1
 Discussion of the
mechanics of the
course
 Overview of
course
II. Introducti Introduction:
on: Sociology Looks at
Sociology Gender  Class
Looks at Participatio  PowerPoi
Gender Ideas Wade L. & Ferree M.  Lecture n/Engageme nt 4
e. Know some  Binary and our (2019). Gender (Ideas,  Group nt by presentati Week
of the bodies Interactions, discussion actively on s
main sociologi  Gender Institutions). W.W.  Group activity participating  Additiona
cal theories ideologies Norton &Company, (Article . The class l readings
and concepts in  The binary and Inc. reading) is intended from
the study of everything else to foster other
gender. Bodies critical sources
f. Know some of  Research on Sex thinking.  Activity
the main trends Differences and Questions Materials
in gender Similarities and
inequality.  Defining incomplete
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

difference thoughts
 Similarities about issues
Between Sexes contribute to
Performances the process
 How to do of learning.
Gender
 Learning the  Reading
Rules Quizzes to
 Why we follow ensure that
the Rules students are
 How to break the prepared for
Rules a
 The No. 1 meaningful
Gender Rule discussion
of the
readings.

III. Doing Doing Gender in the

Gender in Contemporary
the American Gender
Contempo System
rary  Lecture  Class  PowerPoi
American Intersections  Group Participatio nt 5
Gender  Intersectionality Wade L. & Ferree M. discussion n/Engageme presentati Week
System  Economic Class (2019). Gender (Ideas,  Group activity nt by on s
a. Recognize the and Residence Interactions, (Article actively  Additiona
ways in which  Race Institutions). W.W. reading) participating l readings
‘masculinity'  Sexual Norton &Company, . The class from
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

and Orientation Inc. is intended other

‘femininity' are  Immigration to foster sources
socially  Ability, Age and critical  Activity
defined, Attractiveness thinking. Materials
negotiated, Inequality: Men and Questions
enforced, & Masculinities and
resisted.  The Gender of incomplete
b. Understand Cheerleading thoughts
how major  Gendered Power about issues
social  Gender for Men contribute to
institutions,  Can Masculinity the process
such as be good? of learning.
families and Inequality: Women
workplaces, and Femininities  Reading
can sustain Quizzes to
 Cheerleading
dominant ensure that
Today
gender norms students are
 Gender for
but also offer prepared for
Women
opportunities a
resistance,  The Big Picture
meaningful
negotiation, Sexualities
discussion
and change.  Sex: The Near of the
History of Now readings.
 Sex and
“Liberation”
today
 Gendered
Sexualities
 College Hookup
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

Culture

IV. Gendered Gendered Institutions:

Institution Perpetuating or
s: Changing Gender
Perpetuati Relations?
ng or  Class  PowerPoi 5
Changing Institutions  Lecture Participatio nt Week
Gender  The Wade L. & Ferree M.  Group n/Engageme presentati s
Relations? Organization of (2019). Gender (Ideas, nt by on
discussion
d. Appreciate Daily Life Interactions, actively  Additiona
how these Institutions). W.W.  Group activity
 Gendered participating l readings
gendered Institutions Norton &Company, (Article . The class from
processes  The Inc. reading) is intended other
affect our daily Institutionalizati to foster sources
lives and shape on of Gender critical  Activity
our Difference thinking. Materials
experiences.  The Questions
e. Complete Institutionalizati and
analysis of a on of Gender incomplete
variety Inequality thoughts
of social  Institutional about issues
phenomena Inertia and contribute to
through a Change the process
"gender lens.” Families of learning.
f. Think critically  Gendered
about gender Housework and  Reading
and society, Parenting Quizzes to
 METRO DUMAGUETE COLLEGE
E.J. Blanco Drive Extension, Brgy. Daro, Dumaguete City, Philippines 6200
Telephone Nos. (035) 420-9801, 420-9728 or 422-4605
Website: www.mdci.edu.ph

and  Barriers to Equal ensure that

communicate Sharing students are
your ideas in a  Going it Alone prepared for
clear and  New, Emerging a
thoughtful man and Erstwhile meaningful
ner. Family Forms discussion
Work of the
 The Changing readings.
Workplace
 Job Segregation
 Discrimination
and Preferential
Treatment
 Parenthood: The
Facts and the
Fiction
 The Changing
Workplace,
Revisited
Politics
 The State
 Special
Movements