Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
SOCD028.
Course Title (CB02)
Sociology of Gender
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Application of sociological perspectives to an understanding of gender. Focuses on the social construction of gender and on gender as an organizing principle of social life. Includes investigation of masculinities, femininities and trans identities, gender socialization, gender inequality, how gender is shaped by race, class, nation and sexuality, and the family, media, education, economics, politics and religion as gendered institutions, from a cross-cultural and global perspective.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is a major preparation requirement in the discipline of Sociology for at least one CSU or UC. This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC. This course also fulfills a requirement for the AA Degree for Transfer in Sociology. This course provides a focus on gender, which allows students to see how a sociological perspective on gender differs from everyday understandings. This course is cross-listed.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
Yes
Foothill Course ID
SOC F028.

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
SOCISociologyApprovedC-ID SOCI 140

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

(Not open to students with credit in the cross-listed course(s).)

(Also listed as WMST D028.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

In-class essays

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Reading
    1. Assigned readings from texts and other sources
    2. Suggested supplemental readings
  2. Writing
    1. Critical essay questions as part of exams or other writing assignments
    2. A major research paper involving original research, analysis of data, use of sociological research and theories, and application of relevant sociological concepts
  3. Oral Communication
    1. Preparation for small group discussions of assigned topics
    2. Preparation for class presentation of assigned topics

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral and written assignments on designated topics, that incorporate understanding and analysis of the assigned readings evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of course objectives
  2. Tests and one comprehensive final exam including objective, short-answer and essay questions evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of course objectives
  3. Participation in and contribution toward classroom discussions and topic debates evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of course objectives
  4. Research paper and writing projects that include both original research and analysis of data as well as synthesis of course readings and supplemental readings evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of course objectives

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Baca Zinn, M., P. Hondagneu-Sotelo, M.A. Messner, & A.M. Denissen. 2015. Gender Through the Prism of Difference. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Bornstein, Kate. 2013. My New Gender Workbook. New York, NY: Routledge.
Iantaffi, A. & M-J Barker. 2018. How to Understand Your Gender: A Practical Guide. 6th edition. London, UK: Jessica Kingsly Publisher.
Connell, R.W. & R. Pearse. 2014. Gender in World Perspective. 6th edition. New York, NY: Polity.
Wade, L. & M.M. Ferree. 2018. Gender: Ideas, Interactions, Institutions, 2nd ed. New York. W.W. Norton.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Andersen, M.L. & P.H. Collins. 2015. Race, Class and Gender: An Anthology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Beneria, L. & G. Berik. 2015. Gender, Development and Globalization. New York, NY: Routledge.
Blackwood, E. & S.E. Wieringa. 1999. Female Desires: Same-sex relations and Transgender Practices across Cultures. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
Brettell, C.B. & C.F. Sargent. 2017. Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Cohen, T.F. 2001. Men and Masculinity: A Text Reader. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Collins P.H. 2008. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment. New York, NY: Routledge.
Coltrane, S. 2008. Gender and Families. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge.
Disch, E. 2008. Reconstructing Gender: A Multicultural Anthology. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
De La Torre, A. & B.M. Pesquera. 1993. Building with our Hands: New Directions in Chicana Studies. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Hedke, L. & P. O'Connor. 2004. Oppression, Privilege and Resistance: Theoretical Readings on Racism, Sexism and Heterosexism. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Hoffert, S.D. 2003. A History of Gender in America: Essays, Documents and Articles. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Johnson, A.G. 2005. The Gender Knot: Unraveling Our Patriarchal Legacy. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
Kelly, R.M. 2001. Gender, Globalization and Democratization. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Kimmel, M.S. 2016. The Gendered Society, 6th ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Kimmel, M.S. 2011. Manhood in America: A Cultural History. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Kimmel, M.S. & A. Aronson. 2016. The Gendered Society Reader, 6th ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Kramer, L. & A. Beutal. 2014. The Sociology of Gender: A Brief Introduction. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Lorber, J. 2011. Gender Inequality: Feminist Theories and Politics. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury.
Madoo Lengermann, P. & J. Niebrugge-Brantley. 1998. The Women Founders: Sociology and Social Theory, 1830-1930. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Messner, M. & R.W. Connell. 2007. Out of Play: Critical Essays on Gender and Sport. Stonybrook, NY: SUNY Press.
Ore, T.E. 2018. The Social Construction of Difference and Inequality: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Reeser, T. 2010. Masculinities in Theory. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell.
Smith, D.E. 1996. The Conceptual Practices of Power: A Feminist Sociology of Knowledge. Boston, MA: Northeastern University Press.
Spade, J.Z. & C.G. Valentine. 2016. The Kaleidoscope of Gender: Prisms, Patterns, and Possibilities. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Wharton, A.S. 2011. The Sociology of Gender: An Introduction to Theory and Research. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Examine the historical development of the sociology of gender as a relatively new Western academic discipline, while taking into account and comparing major contributions by people of color within the U.S. as well as sociologists in non-Western societies
  • Evaluate the sociological approach to the study of gender as it compares to individualistic as well as biologically determinist approaches
  • Investigate the varieties of masculinities, femininities and transgender identities in different contexts
  • Analyze how gender structures social life and the life chances of men, women and non-binary people
  • Examine how race, class, sexuality and nation influence gender and gender inequality
  • Apply the concept of gendered institutions to the family, education, work, media, economics, government and religion
  • Evaluate the relationship between gender and social change, including macro social processes and social movements

CSLOs

  • Develop a sociological imagination, which is the ability to evaluate the effects of cultural, structural, historical, geographical, institutional and stratification processes on groups and individuals, including one's own experiences.

  • Distinguish the sociological perspective from other sciences, including its methods, theories and empathetic standpoint.

Outline

  1. Examine the historical development of the sociology of gender as a relatively new Western academic discipline, while taking into account and comparing major contributions by people of color within the U.S. as well as sociologists in non-Western societies
    1. The history of ancient and modern academic and popular conceptions of gender
    2. Feminist critiques of the sociological canon
    3. Critiques by women of color of the sociology of gender
    4. Critiques by lesbian and bisexual women of the sociology of gender
    5. Critiques by Third World scholars of the sociology of gender
    6. The rise of men's studies and masculinity studies
    7. Critiques of the sociology of gender by transgender and other non-binary people
  2. Evaluate the sociological approach to the study of gender as it compares to individualistic as well as biologically determinist approaches
    1. The distinction between the concepts of sex and gender
    2. Biologically determinist models of gender
    3. The social construction of gender
    4. Cross-cultural and cross-historical variation in gender
    5. Gender socialization
  3. Investigate the varieties of masculinities, femininities and transgender identities in different contexts
    1. Doing gender
    2. Hegemonic masculinity and emphasized femininity
    3. Transgender and other non-binary identities
  4. Analyze how gender structures social life and the life chances of men, women and non-binary people
    1. Patriarchy
    2. Social structure
    3. Gender division of labor
    4. Occupational segregation
    5. Separate spheres and the public/private split
    6. Gendered violence
    7. Heterosexism, heteronormativity and sexualities
  5. Examine how race, class, sexuality and nation influence gender and gender inequality
    1. The theoretical tradition of intersectionality
    2. Empirical research on the intersections of race, class, sexuality and nation
  6. Apply the concept of gendered institutions to the family, education, work, media, economics, government and religion
    1. Traditional and contemporary views of the relationship between gender and these institutions
    2. Work/family conflicts, the second shift, ideologies about motherhood and fatherhood
    3. The wage gap, sexual harassment, tokenism and the glass ceiling
    4. Control over the media, beauty myths, and images of masculinity
    5. Dual labor markets and occupational segregation
    6. Politics and militarism
    7. Religious leadership, imagery and movements
  7. Evaluate the relationship between gender and social change, including macro social processes and social movements
    1. Colonialism, postcoloniality, and neo-colonialism and their effects on local gender relations
    2. Industrialism and its effect on gender relations
    3. Postmodernism and post-industrialism and its effect on gender relations
    4. The gendering of social movements
    5. Social movements to promote or resist changes in gender relations, including feminisms, gay/lesbian/transgender movements, Christian fundamentalism, Islamic movements, and men's movements
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