Dr. Rachela Permenter Fall 1995, Slippery Rock University
Texts:
Diverse Voices of Women. Susan Frank Ballentine & Jessica Barksdale
Inclán. Mayfield, 1995.
School Girls. Peggy Orenstein. Doubleday, 1994.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR CLASS ON THE DAY THEY ARE LISTED. THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE MAY BE MODIFIED AS THE COURSE PROCEEDS:
Aug. 30. Introduction to Course. What is the field of Women's Studies? What is feminism and its history? Photocopied material: (1) Kesselman & McNair, "How We See Feminism"; (2) Adrienne Rich, "Claiming an Education"; (3) Alice Walker, "Womanism"; (4) Rutenberg, "Learning Women's Studies"; (5) Ferreira, "Finding My Latina Identity Through Women's Studies"; (6) Marge Piercy, "A Work of Artifice"
Sept. 6. Feminism: Some History . Photocopied material: (7) Mary
Wollstonecraft, from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; (8) Sojourner
Truth, "Ain't I a Woman?"; (9) "Dear Editor" from "The Discontented Wife";
(10) Indigo Girls, "Virginia Woolf"; Diverse Voices: Virginia
Woolf, from A Room of One's Own, pp. 222-26; Molly Ivins, "Texas Women:
True Grit and All the Rest," pp. 73-75; Chitra Divakaruni, "Woman with Kite,"
pp. 139-40.
DUE: FORMAL READER RESPONSE #1
Sept. 13. Changing Positions. Photocopied material: (11) Harris-Gray, "Coming of Age"; (12) "Declaration of Sentiments" from The Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention 1848; (13) Devlin, "The Shame of Silence"; Diverse Voices: Betty Friedan, "A New Life Plan for Women," pp. 204-206; Chira, "Women Say Goodbye to Life of June Cleever," pp. 227-28; Lindbergh, "Argonauta," pp. 213-14. DUE: DATES OF INFORMAL RESPONSES & PRESENTATIONS
Sept. 20. Learning Sexism. Photocopied material: (14) Charlotte Perkins Gilman, "The Yellow Wallpaper"; (15) Katz, "You're a Doctor?"; (16) Henley & Freeman, "The Sexual Politics of Interpersonal Behavior"; Diverse Voices: Randall, "Empty Bowl," pp. 61-62; Kolbenschlag, "Sleeping Beauty at Seventeen," pp. 162-65; Ascher, "The Habit of Loving," pp.166-67; Shaevitz, "The Superwoman Syndrome," pp. 168-70
Sept. 27. Learning Sexism. Orenstein, School Girls.
Oct. 4. Learning Sexism. Orenstein, School Girls.
Film: Raise the Red Lantern.
Oct. 11. Women and Loving. Photocopied materials: (17) Burns, "Cat"; Diverse Voices: Tavris, "The Feminizing of Love,: pp. 243-50; Bloom, "Love is Not a Pie," pp. 290-98; Schutt, "To Have & To Hold," pp. 311-12; Toni Cade Bambara, "My Man Bovanne," pp. 319-22; Kolbenschlag, "Exit the Frog Prince," pp. 231-36; Inglehart, "Womanspirit: A Guide to Women's Wisdom," pp. 404-407
Oct. 18. Women Living with Men: Equality at Home. Photocopied material: (18) Schulman, "A Marriage Agreement"; (19) Mainardi, "The Politics of Housework"; Diverse Voices: Tillie Olsen, "I Stand Here Ironing," pp. 41-45; Du Plessix Gray, "The Women's Century," pp. 188-93
Oct. 25. Women at Work. Photocopied material: (20) Margaret Fuller, from "Women in the Nineteenth Century," (21) Jordan, "Don't You Talk About My Mama"; Diverse Voices: Alice Walker, "In Search of Our Mother's Gardens," excerpts (p. 338, col. 1 of 339, 342-43); Sidel, "The New American Dreamers," pp. 4-12; Kenyon, "A Pink-Collar Worker's Blues," pp. 36-37; Machan, "Hazel Tells LaVerne," pp. 237-38
MIDTERM DUE in professor's mailbox (312 Spotts) by 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 26
Nov. 1. Women at Work. Photocopied material: (22) Brownmiller & Alexander, "From Carmita Wood to Anita Hill"; (23) Harrison, "A Woman in Residence"; Diverse Voices: Easton, "Feminism Wears a New Suit," pp. 21-27: Marge Piercy, "The Secretary Chant"
Nov. 8. Domestic Violence. Photocopied material: (24) Martin, "A
Letter from a Battered Wife"; (25) Yamada, "The Club"; (26) Anderson, "Violence
in the Family"; (27) Zambrano, "Social and Cultural Reasons for Abuse";
Diverse Voices: Susan Browne, "The Chair," "Death by Brute Force,"
pp. 327-30; Maria Bruno, "The Feeder," pp. 130-36
Film: The Joy Luck Club
Nov. 15. Acquaintance Rape. Photocopied material: (28) Robin
Warshaw, "The Reality of Acquaintance Rape"; (29) Glendenning, "Hey, Hey,
Annamae"
Women's Bodies: Ornamental. Photocopied material: (30) Thompson,
"Reclaiming Our Bodies: When the Personal is Political"; (31) Chapkis,
"Changing Landscapes"; (32) Siebecker, excerpts from "Women's Oppression and
the Obsession with Thinness"; (33) Marquardt, "Time to Eat," (34) Lucille
Clifton, "Homage to My Hips"; Diverse Voices: Gloria Steinem,
"Judging the Beauty Judges," pp. 98-104
Nov. 22. No Class - Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 29. Women as Mothers. Photocopied material: (35) Hubbard,
excerpts from "Using Pregnancy to Control Women"; Diverse Voices:
Bernard, "The Mother Role," pp. 331-37; Susan Browne, "By the River," pp.
375-76
Strength, Friends, & Solitude. (36) Susan Griffin, "I Like to Think
of Harriet Tubman"; (37) Linda Hogan, "Friday Night"; (38) excerpts from
Elizabeth Cady Stanton's letters;
Dec. 6 Strength, Friends, & Solitude. Photocopied materials: (39) Paulette Childress White, "A Tree Alone"; (40) Washington, "Working at Single Bliss"; (41) Adrienne Rich, "Song"; (42) Naomi Littlebear, "Like a Mountain"; Diverse Voices: Susan Faludi, "Blame it on Feminism," pp. 28-33
Dec. 13. DUE: FINAL EXAM. Regular discussion & presentations.
BASIS FOR GRADES
Final grades for this course will be assessed by your percentage of points. Scale:
92-100% = A
81-91% = B
70-80% = C
60-69% = D
0-59% = F
Formal Reader Responses (6 @ 50) . . . . . 300 pts.
Informal Reader Responses (4 @ 25) . . . . . 100 pts.
Informal Presentation . . . . . 50 pts.
Midterm Exam (Take-Home) . . . . . 100 pts.
Final Exam (Take-Home) . . . . . 100 pts.
TOTAL: 650
FORMAL READER RESPONSES
WP printed. MLA or APA format. Choose any 6 nights' reading.
Heading: Name
Reader Response #1 or 2, etc.
Women's Studies 115
Dr. Permenter
Date
Your reflections about the material read and the issues involved. You will be graded on length (i.e., if you reach the required length of approximately 400 words), your degree of involvement with the material, your demonstration of some critical analysis with direct reference to the text (which differentiates a reader response from a personal diary), and your inclusion of comments on all the reading assigned. Consistency and organization are not factors for grading these responses (but please remember that they will be crucial factors on your take-home exams). Points will be deducted if you haven't used a spell-check and proper MLA or APA format. Much of your gut reaction and unabashed opinion is welcomed as long as you show evidence of careful reading. Concentrate on one or two of the pieces read, but write at least two sentences on each piece assigned. After R#1, you may choose any five classes to turn these in, but they are due on the night of class discussion of the material.
INFORMAL READER RESPONSES
Organized contribution to discussion. Volunteer to begin class discussion
after trying out your comments with small group. Turn in notecard with your
main points summarized to earn credit. Head each card with your name, WS115,
Informal Response #, and the date. Schedule your nights for these responses on
Sept. 13.
INFORMAL PRESENTATIONS
Group-organized presentation linked closely to the week's reading. Add some
outside material or creative interpretation (guest speaker, panel, debate,
video, music, poem, dramatic reading, etc.). Turn in (individually) a notecard
with a brief summary of presentation to earn credit. Head card with your name,
WS115, Informal Presentation, and the date. Schedule the night for your
presentation on Sept. 13.
FORMAL RESPONSES & TAKE-HOME EXAMS
All papers must be computer printed and in MLA or APA format. For each
day a paper is late, 10% of points will be deducted.
ABSENCE
Attendance is required. For each unexcused absence above one, 75 points
will be deducted from your final grade. (Absences beyond one will be
excused only if documentation from a dean or medical doctor is provided.)
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work which is not the
product of your own study and efforts, you will receive a grade of F for that
work and perhaps for the course.
ASSISTANCE
You are strongly encouraged to visit me during my office hours or by
appointment to discuss the course material or to seek assistance with your work.
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Last updated on November 26