Syllabus for the Course: Racism and Sexism

Penn State University

African&African American Studies/Sociology/Women's Studies 103
RACISM AND SEXISM
TTh 1:00-2:15 109 Sackett
Spring 1998

Mike Johnson                              Elisha Nixon
415 Oswald Tower                  122 Grange Building
865-1937, mpj@psu.edu               865-1773, ejn1@psu.edu
Office Hours: 4:00-5:00 TTh         Office Hours: 9:00-11:00 W

"...talking about gender without talking about race and class--or talking about race without considering class and gender--is simply another way of obscuring reality instead of coming to terms with it." (Rothenberg, 1988: p.1).

So, we're going to try to do a course that centers on the interplay of race, class, and gender in American society today. The readings we have chosen range from personal accounts of experiences of racism and sexism to academic analyses of the dynamics of oppression. The class sessions we have designed involve a variety of teaching and learning styles, but focus heavily on careful class discussions of readings and their connections with our personal experiences. The grading system is designed to encourage thoughtful & integrative reading, serious participation in class discussions, and willingness to take chances. We want you to challenge each other, to challenge us, and to challenge yourselves. We want to leave this course knowing more about racism and sexism, more about each other, and more about ourselves.

COURSE CONTENT

I. Introduction to the course
	A. The empowering classroom
	B. Issues of diversity

II. Defining racism and sexism

III. Race & gender in the larger social structure
	A. General
	B. The economy
	C. The law
	D. Social structure and the individual

IV. Race & gender in the culture--socialization issues
	A. Gender socialization--learning male and female
	B. Racial socialization--learning black and white

V. Race & gender in interpersonal encounters
	A. Stereotypes
	B. Relationship development
	C. Interpersonal violence

VI. Tactics for change

READINGS AND CLASS SESSIONS

The papers on the readings are due at the beginning of class the day the reading is to be discussed. Remember, you are reading to get the MAIN POINTS, and the papers are graded Pass/Add.

The readings may be found in three places:

Rothenberg: Paula S. Rothenberg (ed.), Race, Class, and Gender in the United States : An Integrated Study (Fourth Edition). New York : St. Martin 's Press, 1998. Available at the bookstores.

Packet: Packet of readings for African & African American Studies/Sociology/Women's Studies 103. Available from Procopy at The Student Bookstore, 330 E. College Ave.

Electronic Reserve: A few readings are available on the Web. Go to Penn State=s Homepage, click on AAcademics and Research,@ click on AOn-line Course Materials,@ click on AUniversity Libraries Electronic Reserve System,@ click on ASOC 103,@ click on the reading, click on print.

I. Introduction to the Course: Feminist pedagogy
A. The empowering classroom

	Th 1/15 Packet
		Susan Stanford Friedman, "Authority in the feminist classroom: A contradiction in terms?" AND Margo Culley, "Anger and authority in the Introductory Women's Studies classroom." Pp. 203-217 in Margo Culley and Catherine Portuges (eds.), Gendered Subjects: The Dynamics of Feminist Teaching. Boston : Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985.

B. Issues of diversity

	T 1/20 Packet
		Mary Helen Washington, "How racial differences helped us discover our common ground." Ms. Magazine (September, 1981): 60-62,76. AND Elizabeth V. Spelman, "Combating the marginalization of black women in the classroom." Women's Studies Quarterly, 10 (#2, Summer 1982): 15-16.

II. Defining racism and sexism

	Th 1/22 Pp. 130-144 in Rothenberg.
	Paula S. Rothenberg, "Racism, sexism, and class difference." AND U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, "The Problem: Discrimination."

	T 1/27 Pp. 73-80, 146-154 in Rothenberg.
	Jean Baker Miller, "Domination and subordination." AND Marilyn Frye, "Oppression." AND Jenny Yamato, "Racism: Something about the subject makes it hard to name."

	Th 1/29 Pp. 154-164, 497-503 in Rothenberg AND class questionnaire summaries.
	Rita Chaudhry Sethi, "Smells like racism." AND Peggy Reeves Sanday, "Pulling train." AND Read the class questionnaire summaries and bring them with you.

	T 2/3 Packet
	Peggy McIntosh, "White privilege and male privilege." Pp. 70-81 in Margaret L. Anderson and Patricia Hill Collins (eds.), Race, Class and Gender. Belmont , CA : Wadsworth , 1992.

III. Race & gender in the larger social structure
A. General

	Th 2/5 Pp. 13-22 in Rothenberg.
		Michael Omi and Harold Winant, "Racial formations."

	T 2/10 Pp. 475-489 in Rothenberg.
		William Chafe, "Sex and race: The analogy of social control."

B. The economy

	Th 2/12 Pp. 188-214 in Rothenberg.
		Paula Rothenberg, "The economics of race, class, and gender in the United States ." AND Holly Sklar, "Imagine a country." AND Gregory Mantsios, "Class in America : Myths and realities."

	T 2/17 Pp. 215-234 in Rothenberg.
		John Cassidy, "Who killed the middle class?" AND Dirk Johnson, "Family struggles to make do after fall from middle class." AND Isabel Wilkerson, "Middle class Blacks try to grip a ladder while lending a hand." AND Diana Jean Schemo, "Persistent racial segregation mars suburbs' green dream."

	T 2/19 Pp. 234-252 in Rothenberg.
		Rita Henley Jensen, "Welfare: Exploding the stereotypes." AND Katherine S. Newman, "What scholars can tell politicians about the poor." AND National Committee on Pay Equity, "The wage gap: Myths and facts." AND Jonathan Kaufman, "How workplaces may look without affirmative action." AND Julie Amparano Lopez, Women face glass walls as well as ceilings."

	Th 2/24 Pp. 67-73, 519-528 in Rothenberg.
		Herbert Gans, "Deconstructing the underclass." AND William Ryan, "Blaming the victim."

C. The law

	Th 2/26 Pp. 370-377, 377-382, 394-399, 425-429, 434, 437-446 in Rothenberg.
		Paula Rothenberg, "How it happened: Race and gender issues in U.S. law." AND U.S. Commission on Human Rights, "Indian Tribes: A continuing quest for survival." AND "The antisuffragists: Selected papers, 1852-1887." AND "Korematsu v. United States , 1944." AND "The Equal Rights Amendment (defeated)." AND Paula L. Ettelbrick, "Confronting obstacles to lesbian and gay equality." Browse in all the other law stuff in Part VI of Rothenberg, but donfiltered=t write about it.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6: FIRST BOOK REPORT DUE.
(The reading is light for next week; good time to do a book report.)

D. Social structure and the individual

	T 3/3 Packet and Film: "Eye of the storm" (31685)
		Lois Gould, "X: A fabulous child's story." Ms. Magazine, 1, (December, 1971): 25-27.

	Th 3/5 Star Power Game
		No readings

IV. Race & Gender in the Culture--Socialization Issues
A. Gender socialization--learning male and female

	T 3/17 Packet
		Hillary Lips, "Gender role socialization: Lessons in femininity." Pp. 197-216 in Jo Freeman (ed.), Women: A Feminist Perspective. Mountain View , CA : Mayfield, 1989.

	Th 3/19 Pp. 328-333, 489-497, 503-509 in Rothenberg.
		Tommy Avicolla, "He defies you still: The memoirs of a sissy." AND Sharlene Hesse-Biber, "Ain't I thin enough yet?" AND Myra and David Sadker, "Failing at fairness: How America's schools cheat girls."

B. Racial socialization--learning black and white

	T 3/24 Pp. 23-32, 465-475 in Rothenberg.
		Richard Wright, "The ethics of living Jim Crow: An autobiographical sketch." AND Robert B. Moore, "Racism in the English language."

	Th 3/27 Packet and pp. 510-519 in Rothenberg.
		Henry Louis Gates, Jr., "TV's Black world turns--but stays unreal." The New York Times. November 12, 1989. AND Gregory Mantsios, "Media magic: Making class invisible."

V. Race & Gender in Interpersonal Encounters
A. Stereotypes

	T 3/31 Pp. 3452-458, 458-465 in Rothenberg.
		Mark Snyder, "Self-fulfilling stereotypes." AND Richard D. Mohr, "Anti-gay stereotypes."

B. Relationship development

	Th 4/2 Electronic Reserve
		Brent Staples, "The white girl problem."

	T 4/7 Electronic Reserve
		Pepper Schwartz, "Eliminating the provider role." Pp. 111-145 in Pepper Schwartz, Peer Marriage. New York : The Free Press, 1994.

FRIDAY APRIL 10: LATE DROP DEADLINE
CHECK OUT YOUR POINTS AND BE REALISTIC.

C. Interpersonal Violence

	Th 4/9 Pp. 175-187, 334-338, 356-359 in Rothenberg.
		Alex Kotlowitz, "Death of a teenager widens a racial rift between two towns." AND David Gonzalez with Gary Pierre-Pierre, "Gang rape." AND Ntozake Shange, "With no immediate cause." AND Teresa Yunker, "When street harassment gets nasty." AND June Jordan, "Requiem for the champ."

FRIDAY, APRIL 17: SECOND BOOK REPORT DUE. (No readings next week; good time to do a book report.)

VI. Tactics for Change

	T 4/14 Film: Blue Eyes.
		No readings.

	Th 4/16 Film: Blue Eyes (cont'd).
		No readings.

	T 4/21 Pp. 530-532, 549-558 in Rothenberg.
		Paula Rothenberg, "Revisioning the future." AND Ruth Sidel, "Toward a more caring society."

	Th 4/23 Pp. 559-565, 565-574 in Rothenberg.
		Cooper Thompson, "A new vision of masculinity." AND Suzanne Pharr, "Homophobia as a weapon of sexism."

	T 4/28 Pp. 579-586, 533-540 in Rothenberg.
		bell hooks, "Feminism: A transformational politic." AND Audre Lorde, "Age, race, class, and sex: Women redefining difference."

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