POL 446: WOMEN AND POLITICS IN THE U.S.

Description and Objectives: This course explores the political significance of gender in the United States. Criticisms of American feminism, from the perspectives of opponents on both the right and the left, will be discussed. Other assigned texts analyze the influence of gender in late twentieth century American politics. Through reading, discussion and writing, students will assess differences and similarities in the behavior of male and female voters and legislators. Women and Politics offers an understanding of citizenship, public law, political participationand public policy that incorporates the variable of gender, which will allow political science students to enrich their understanding of the American political process and political culture. For women's studies students, the course supplements their knowledge of feminist theory and also offers a foundation in politics and government, an area of studyindispensable to a complete understanding of both the exclusion and the empowerment of American women.
 

The following required texts are available in the bookstore.

 Burrell, Barbara C. A Woman's Place is in the House: Campaigning for Congress in the Feminist Era (University of Michigan Press, 1996).
Kenney, Sally.  For Whose Protection
Okin, Susan. Justice, Gender and the Family. New York: Basic Books, 1989.
Thomas, Sue. How Women Legislate. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Wekesser, Carol, ed. Feminism: Opposing Viewpoints (Greenhaven: 1994).
Report on the Status of Women in Kentucky
 
 

Course Requirements:
1) Attendance: The course is designed as a discussion and requires the active participation of well prepared students. As such, regular attendance is vital tothe success of the class. Legitimate excuses for absences will be accepted, but should be cleared with the instructor at the first possible opportunity.

2) Class participation: Students will be divided into groups, which will be responsible for preparing discussion questions and facilitating class discussions on Wednesdays. A new group will facilitate each week. Group members should prepare a written list of discussion questions, to be submitted to the instructor on the Monday of the assigned week. The participation grade will be assigned as follows:

 a)quality of the group's discussion leadership : 10% of each student's course grade  b)individual contribution to discussion on other days: 10% of each student's course  grade

3) Two in-class examinations. 20% each

4) One 8-10 page paper, 20%

5) One take home final examination. 20%
 

I will also set up a course page for the class, which will contain an electronic syllabus, links to web-based readings and links to academic and political resources.

All examinations are open-book, open note. Lucid, well-organized writing is essential to effective communication and will be considered in evaluating written work.

All assignments, including discussion questions, must be typewritten.

Policies, Procedures, Admonitions and Advice:

1. Attendance Policy: The course is designed as a conference and the success of that format depends upon the presence of well-prepared conferees.  Students who neglect to attend class demonstrate contempt for their classmates, the instructor and themselves.  This will not be tolerated.  More than eight unexcused absences (approximately 25%) will result in automatic failure of the course.  Because I regard failure to fulfill responsibilities to one’s group as a particularly egregious dereliction of duty, each unexcused absence on a day when your group is “on” will count as two absences.  For the purposes of this course, “excused absences” include verifiable medical or family emergencies, university approved activities (accompanied by a university excuse), documentable illness (yours or your child’s) and other unforeseen circumstances that the instructor deems to be reasonable excuses for an absence.

2. Preparation: Students who have not read the assigned texts are not welcome in class.

3. Make-up Examinations: Students who have an excused absence on the day of an in-class examination will be permitted to take a make-up exam, to be scheduled by agreement of the student and instructor.  The make-up exam will differ from the exam given to the class at the scheduled examination time.  Take-home make-up examinations will be held to a higher standard of quality.

4. Late Papers: A five-point per day penalty will be imposed on late papers.  The take-home final may not be submitted after the deadline, except in emergencies (as defined by the instructor).  If it is necessary for a student to submit a final exam after the deadline, the student may receive an Incomplete so that the submission of other students’ grades will not be delayed.

5. Plagiarism: Academic dishonesty will result in automatic failure of the course.  Should you have doubts as to what constitutes plagiarism, please consult the instructor.

6. Use of Books and Notes during Examinations: All examinations are open-book, open-note.  “Cliff Notes” or anything in the same genre shall darken neither your door nor that of the classroom. Ever.
 
 

                                                      Tentative Schedule
 

August 20: Introduction, review of syllabus and requirements

Part I: Understanding the Evolution and Goals of Feminist Theory

August 22: Defining Feminism (reading on web page)
August 24: The Status of Women in the United States (History and Background)
August 27: Wollstonecraft ( Chapter 4, web page)
August 29: Wollstonecraft (Chapter 8, Chapter 9, web page). Group 1
August 31: Declaration of Sentiments (web page)
September 3: Holiday
Sept. 5:  Okin, Chs. 1-2. Group 2.
Sept. 7: Okin, 3,5.
Sept. 10: Okin, 6-7.
Sept. 12:Okin, 8.
Sept. 14: First in class examination.

Part II: Gender and the Political Process
Sept. 17: Opposing Viewpoints, pp. 16-26.
Sept. 19: Burrell, Chapters 1-3. Group 3.
Sept. 21: Burrell, 4-6.
Sept. 24: Burrell, 7-9.
Sept. 26: Thomas, Introduction and Chapter 1. Group 4.
Sept. 28: Thomas, 2-3.
October 1: Thomas, 4-5.
Oct. 3: Thomas, 6-7. Group 5.
Oct. 5: Giddings, handout.
Oct. 8: Holiday

Part III: Feminism and Jurisprudence
Oct. 10: Privacy and Contraception: Griswold v.Connecticut (web page). Group 1.
Oct. 12:  Roe v. Wade, Casey v. Planned Parenthood (web page).Drop deadline
Oct. 15: "Road Closed: Evaluating the Judicial Bypass Option of the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act, " handout.
Oct. 17: Thomson, handout. Group 2.
Oct. 19: Second in class examination.
Oct. 22: Equal Protection and Title VII.  No new reading.
Oct. 24 Dothard v. Rawlinson, web page.  Group 3.
Oct. 26: UAW v. Johnson Controls, web page.
Oct. 29: Kenney, pp. 11-58.
Oct 31: Kenney, pp. 59-75. Group 4.
November 2:  Paper Work Day.
Nov. 5: Kenney, pp. 139-184.
Nov. 7: Kenney, pp. 279-314. Group 5.
Nov. 9: Domestic Violence (guest speaker).
Nov. 12: Paper Due.  Class will meet, no new reading.

Part IV: Policies and Issues
Nov. 14:  Pay Equity and Comparable Worth (web page).Reading for November 14, 2001.  Pay Equity Fact Sheets (read all of the sheets linked to the page). Current legislation (read one -page summary).  Calculator  -- use your projected level of education, your age at that time and your anticipated salary.  Summary of data, from AFL-CIO.
Nov. 16:  Report on the Status of Women in Kentucky.
Nov. 19: Report on the Status of Women in Kentucky, continued
Nov. 21-23: Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 26:  Solutions for Kentucky
Nov. 28: Feminist Perspectives on Pornography (web page).  Andrea Dworkin.  Harvard Law Review article on anti-pornography statutes. Pro-porn feminism
Nov. 30:  The relationship between pornography and rape (web page)
December 3: Issues -- from Opposing Viewpoints
December 5: Issues, from Opposing Viewpoints
December 7: Review, distribution of take-home final exam.