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The lives of women in this society are affected (obviously) by the way we construct and enforce gender, but also by class, by race, and by other social categories. This course will examine the social construction of gender and the effects of those other categories, particularly in terms of women’s work in the U.S. and in the world. We will analyze why women do particular kinds of work, why particular kinds of women do particular kinds of work, how work, family, and community responsibilities are managed, and how women in specific social locations construct and reconstruct their lives.

We will examine, too, the ways in which women actively seek to make changes in their work and in their community, and therefore change the very nature of woman/female as a social category across the world.

Since we have a short time only and have a lot of material to cover, faithful class attendance is required, and will count for 10% of the course grade. Material covered in class will supplement, rather than reproduce material in the books. .

There will be two examinations worth 45% each for a total of 80% of your course grade. These will include short answer and essay questions. (Dates are on the reading list.) You may use notes, including notes on readings, during the exam—so take notes on the readings!

We’ll have a free, practice exam. Prepare for this as you would any other exam. The practice exam will give you an idea, though, of what to expect on the real exams.

Barbara Ehrenreich & Arlie Russell Hochschild (eds.). 2000. Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy. New York: Henry Hold & Company.

Michael S. Kimmel & Michael A. Messner (eds.). 2004. Men’s Lives. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

(Several chapters from this text will be assigned and will also be on e-reserve on the library web page, code "soc305s".)

READINGS The issues we'll be analyzing are complex and are best understood through active discussion. So, keep up with the reading and be prepared to take part in classroom exchanges. Assignments are uneven; plan ahead!