Women, Gender and Society Soc/WMST 308

Survey 1) You meet a couple and find that the children have the woman’s last name, not the man’s. What goes on for you? 2) You walk into class and see a female professor at the podium? What do you expect? 3. Equality. What is it?

Knowledge 1. Knowledge is political. -- powerful people who convince others that their interpretation of reality is fact. –What is considered knowledge changes over time and across cultures. –For example – Sun went around the earth. How was this political? –Give examples of present day knowledge that’s political. »Global Warming. Sex Education

Knowledge 2. Knowledge is political in what is taught. But knowledge is also political in what is absent. –Think about what subjects are taught in school. What is absent? 3.Women’s studies classes are political. So are other classes.

Opposite? 1) Define what the word “opposite” means on a piece of paper. 2) Give some examples 3) Justify how those examples are “opposites using the definition you provided. 4) Can you now apply that same definition of “opposite” to men and women? Justify.

What is Sex/Gender 1) Definitions "Butler argues that gender, race, sexuality, etc., are the products of a "ritualized repetition" of normative understandings constructed through relations of power through which individuals are compelled to recognize themselves and performs their identities." from Luann Duesterberg ) What does it mean to be: Masculine Feminine?

What is Sex/Gender 1) Gender as a dichotomy ?– Men and women are not opposites. Evidence. But, it’s important for us to see them that way. Why? 2) Gender as androcentric – We tend to value male characteristics more than females. 3. Male as norm -- Men are perceived as the yardstick by which we compare women. Evidence.

Women and Men: Different/ Same What does it mean to say that men and women are different? What does it means to say that men and women are the same? Inequality/Equality and Problems with Opportunity

3 Themes of Class 1) Learn the difference between morality and analysis Define the terms Morality – value laden judgement about good/bad, right/wrong. Analysis – Questioning why something exists –Go over survey

3 Themes of Class 2) Understand how gender and our knowledge of it is socially constructed.

3 Themes of Class 3) Understand Contradictions in our thinking –For example: We believe in equality --- except for gays/lesbians –We believe that women deserve equal opportunity, except we only feel comfortable with women nurturing.