WMST 2100.003
Women and Society:
An Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM
ENV 120
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
-Audre Lorde
The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.
-Gloria Steinem
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead
Instructor: Kristin Alder
Email:
Office: GAB 462
Office Hours: Fridays 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, or by appointment
Graduate Assistant: Inge Groen
Email:
Office: GAB 462
Office Hours: TBD
Course Description: This course is an introduction to critical thinking about the construction of gender and the ways in which sex, gender, race, class, and sexuality merge and manifest themselves in social, cultural, and political contexts. We will also examine the way these "borders" intersect with systems of privilege and systems of oppression to create the context of women's experiences. Hence, perspectives of a diverse group of writers, researchers, and activists will be presented. Topics for study include gender and socialization, women's health, body image, women and family, violence against women, women and the workplace, and visions for social change. The broad range and diversity of material covered is intended to strengthen your skills of critical observation, thinking, and analysis.
Course Goals: This course will focus on the following goals:
1. To describe the broad diversity of women's experiences.
2. To explore the concept of "gender" as a social construction
3. To introduce philosophical frameworks for a variety of feminist scholarship
4. To provide opportunities for students to develop skills in critical thinking, observation, analysis, communication, and self-awareness
Course Requirements:
Text: Women's Voices, Feminist Visions, 6th ed., by Susan Shaw and Janet Lee (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014).
Additional items will be assigned and made available to students on Blackboard.
Classroom Policies
Regular and punctual attendance is required for all Women's Studies courses. Eight absences will result in a failing grade (F) for the course. Excused absences will be given for university-authorized activities only. University policy requires that you provide your instructor with an official notification card issued by the university to explain your absence and to submit any makeup work while you were involved in university-authorized activities. All other absences will be considered unexcused. (For example, illness (even with a doctor's note,) is not excused. A death in the family is not excused.) Use your seven "free" absences judiciously.
All students with three or fewer absences at the end of the semester will be given 10 bonus points. In addition, attendance may play a role in decisions about final grades should they be borderline.
If you are absent, please do not contact me to see what you missed. (And please do not contact me to tell me you will be missing class.) I advise each of you to find within the first two weeks of class at least one study partner you trust who can gather handouts and/or take notes for you. In addition to this you should know that all class materials will be posted to Blackboard in a folder entitled, “Class Materials.”
Punctuality is extremely important. Please be on time. Habitual tardiness or leaving class early may result in the accrual of absences. If you do arrive late or leave early, please be respectful of your classmates. Sleeping during class will accrue you an absence for the day.
Please refrain from packing up until class has ended. It is distracting to students and instructors.
Please receive permission from me before bringing any visitors to class.
While laptop computers, and other electronic devices, are allowed for accessing reading materials during participation exercises, they will not be allowed during lecture and large group discussions. I know laptop computers facilitate note-taking, but they also impede discussion and can be distracting as well. Turn your cell phones off when you come in the classroom and put them away where they cannot be seen by me or you. (This does not mean your lap.) People using these devices in class will be dismissed and counted absent.
Class meetings will include a mixture of lectures, films, discussions, and other activities. Students are expected to read assignments prior to the class period, to listen to class presentations, and to participate meaningfully in discussions. We will be discussing very controversial and personal subjects and it is highly likely that your own system of beliefs will be challenged from time to time. You are under no obligation to agree with authors, other students, or the instructor. Rather, your obligation is to be respectful and to demonstrate comprehension and thoughtful consideration of perspectives you may not share. Critical thinking, a willingness to explore ideas, and respect for others are essential.
Also, expressing one's thoughts, ideas and opinions can be intimidating. As I've mentioned above, the topics themselves may at times make it hard for all of us to join discussions. One of my goals as your instructor is to create an environment where we can all not only meet our potential as communicators, but improve our abilities as well. Because of this, class participation is VERY important for the success of the class as a whole. Remember that what is important is not the quantity of your participation but the quality. Please ensure that all remarks thoughtfully engage the material.
Private conversations in class will not be tolerated.
Food and beverages are allowed in the classroom as long as they do not become the focus of your attention or distract those around you. Please dispose of your trash properly.
Email: This is my preferred method of communication. Please do not email me via Blackboard. Utilize the address posted on the first page of the syllabus.
When sending me an email, please place your course number, name and reason for emailing in the subject head.
For example:
WMST 2100.001 Taylor Smith. Question about Reading on Intersectionality.
All emails not addressed in this way will be assumed to be junk mail and deleted.
During the week, I will respond to your emails within 24 hours. Between the hours of Friday 6 PM and Monday 6 AM please give me up to 48 hours to respond to your emails. Please keep that in mind when emailing me. If, however, an emergency arises, please feel free to email me at any time. I will recognize the importance and respond as soon as I can.
Policy on Recording Class Sessions: Any recording of class sessions may only be done with the permission of the instructor and other members of the class. If permission is granted, all recording is for individual student use only and may not be distributed in any form or manner.
Grades:
Total points available in the course: 400
A=90 - 100%=400 - 358
B=80 - 89%=357 - 318
C=70 - 79%=317 - 278
D= 60 - 69%=277 - 238
F=59% and below =237 and below
All assignments should be typed in 12 point font, double-spaced, with 1" margins, and using MLA-style bibliographic notation. A list of “Good Writing Guidelines”as well as directives on MLA are posted on Blackboard for your use. I will not accept handwritten work.
All assignments are to handed in during class time when called for unless otherwise noted on the syllabus.
Participation Exercises: 100 points
There will be twelve unannounced participation exercises worth 10 points each. Examples of these exercises include small group discussions, free writes, or small group presentations of assigned readings. The exercises will both measure your comprehension and understanding of the readings, as well as allow you to further develop your intellectual relationship with the ideas examined in the materials and our class discussions. You should show up to class with all of your reading materials having completed all of your readings. If you are present and complete all the criteria of the exercise, you will receive 10 points. If you fail to meet all the criteria, you will earn 5 points. If you are not present or you fail to engage with the exercise at all, you will earn 0 points.
No makeup participation exercises will be given.
Quizzes: 50 points
There will be five unannounced quizzes worth 10 points each. Each ten to fifteen minute quiz will consist of questions primarily in the multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and/or true/false format. The quizzes will cover all material from readings, films, and lectures.
No makeup quizzes will be given without an official excuse from the University.
Midterm Essay: 50 points
Friday, March 13
You will write a personal reflection essay this semester over one of three topics to be provided. (Topics to be provided later.) While I expect the essay to be personal, it should also be well written and include cited examples from class discussion and readings. A rubric and detailed instructions will be discussed in class and posted to Blackboard.
Community Action Project: 200 points
In groups of 5 to 8, you will research, plan & implement a Community Action Project. This project is your opportunity to identify an important feminist-oriented issue on campus and work in a group on activist solutions to this project.
Your grade will be made up of the following elements:
15 points -Individual ProposalDue: Fri., Feb. 27
25 points -Group ProposalDue: Fri., March 27
10 points - Group In class Check-insDue: Fri., April 10 & Fri., April 27
50 points - Group Portfolio Due: Wed., May 6
35 points-Group PresentationDue: Mon., May 11
15 points -Project Evaluation (Individual)Due: Mon., May 11
50 points - Participation GradeBased on Indiv. Evaluation
During Week 7, we will have a Community Action Project (CAP) workshop. During this class we will discuss the project in detail, brainstorm ideas, and pick groups and projects. You will spend the rest of the semester working in groups to complete the project.
It is expected that the majority of your group work will be conducted outside of class though I will occasionally provide opportunities to plan and check in with each other.
Please note that I realize group work can sometimes be difficult. I have tried to put together a process that enables you to create democratic-based strategies for a successful process and outcome. Although it is a group project, individual grades will be assigned based on each individual member’s quality of work. Further, part of your grade will be assigned through a peer review process.
Late Work:
All assigned work is due in class in accordance with the class schedule; late work will be heavily penalized. An assignment submitted within 24 hours after its due date/class will receive a 25% deduction. An assignment submitted within 48 hours after its due date/class will receive a 50% deduction. An assignment submitted within 72 hours after its due date/class will receive a 75% deduction. Assignments submitted after that will not be accepted and will receive a zero.
Example: If the assignment is due in class on Monday, then any work turned in Monday 1:21 PM to Tuesday 1:20 PM will be deducted 25%. If your assignment is turned in between Tuesday 1:21 PM and Wednesday 1:20 PM, it will be deducted by 50%. If turned in between Wednesday 1:21 PM and Thursday 1:20 PM, your assignment will be deducted by 75%. From 1:21 PM Thursday forward, your work will not be accepted and you will receive a zero for the assignment.
Likewise, if due Wednesday in class: then any work turned in Wednesday 1:21 PM to Thursday 1:20 PM will be deducted 25%. If your assignment is turned in between Thursday 1:21 PM and Friday 1:20 PM, it will be deducted by 50%. If turned in between Friday 1:21 PM and Saturday 1:20 PM, your assignment will be deducted by 75%. From 1:21 PM Saturday forward, your work will not be accepted and you will receive a zero for the assignment.
Late work will only be eligible for full credit if accompanied by a university approved absence excuse.
I understand that life can get complicated. If you fail to turn in an assignment or turn in an assignment late, please refer to my extensive list of extra credit assignments to make up your points.
No emails of your work will be accepted without pre-approval. If you get into a bind, assignments can be placed in either of our mailboxes located in the Women’s Studies Department office or handed to me personally during office hours. DO NOT slide work under my office door.
If, however, you run into difficulty during the semester, please contact one of us ASAP. I am a student myself. I understand that things can get very complicated rather quickly. I am here to help you succeed in your endeavors at UNT.
Extra Credit (Up to 50 points): Extra credit points will be offered at my discretion throughout the semester. All extra credit will be offered to the class as a whole. A list of preliminary opportunities will be provided on Blackboard by the second week of class. The list will be added to throughout the semester. Additions will be announced in class and posted on Blackboard. It will be up to you personally to keep up with due dates.
University Policies:
Academic Dishonesty ( The University takes plagiarism and cheating very seriously. Plagiarized work will earn a zero for the assignment. Students will face action according to University guidelines for academic dishonesty. I reserve the right to submit any paper I suspect of plagiarism to Turnitit.com.
Academic Ethics: (http: Acts of academic dishonesty are subject to discipline at UNT. Cheating, plagiarism, and furnishing false or misleading information are acts of academic dishonesty. The definitions of these terms are clearly described in the Undergraduate Catalog ( and by the Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities.
Authorized Class Absence ( All travel by students off campus for the purpose of participation in UNT sponsored activities must be authorized by the dean of the school or college of the sponsoring department. Within three days after the absence, students must obtain authorized absence cards from the dean of students for instructors.
Absence for Religious Holidays ( A student absent due to the observance of a religious holiday may take examinations/ complete assignments scheduled for the day(s) missed within a reasonable time after the absence. Class participants should notify the instructor via email of planned absences for religious holidays.
Disability Support Services ( ODA Office in Sage Hall, Suite 167
University ODA Statement: “The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at . You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.”
Drop Information: All information regarding deadlines for dropping or withdrawing this course can be found at:
Syllabus Information: This syllabus is tentative and subject to change at any point during the semester. If there are any policy changes (i.e. grading, attendance) during the semester, a new/ revised syllabus will be issued and given to all students. A copy of this syllabus will be on file in the department office (GAB 467). However, if you lose your personal copy, please refer to the copy on Blackboard.
Writing Lab: If you have any problems with your writing, please come see me for help or use our University Writing Lab (
You will be offered 10 bonus points on any writing assignment for this class (Situate Yourself Free Write, Midterm, or Group Project Portfolio) for which you access the the Writing Lab as a resource. To receive the bonus points, please turn in three things when the assignment is due: 1) your final assignment, 2) your original work taken to the Writing Lab, and 3) written proof from your tutor at the Writing Lab that you used the resource. Note: The Writing Lab only works if you give yourself adequate time to write, schedule, and rewrite. Plan accordingly.
Interested in a Women's Studies Minor?:
Come to the Women's Studies office in the General Academic Building, Office 467, for more information or give us a call at 940-565-2098. For further information, go to
Last Words: I strongly encourage you to talk to me outside of class if you are having problems with this course, or if you have any additional questions. I consider myself an agent here to help you think and learn, and expect you to take an active role in this process as well. I can’t help you if I don’t know you need help.