Women's Studies - Winter 1999

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[WMST-159-01][WMST-194L-01]

Women's Studies 159: Public Women/Private Choices

Instructor: M. Downes Baskin

Course Description:

Examines how public women, particularily in politics and the media, make
decisions/create images which define our private lives. Compares the ways
women of the l950s, l970s and l990s balance professional ambitions and
personal priorities. Emphasizes and contrasts the goals, strategies and role
models adopted by each generation: analyzes how these choices frame the
parameters of both career and personal life choices. Critiques the
expectations and the self esteem of each generation through analysis of
specific legislation, the imagery used in the media, the impact of First
Ladies and Senate Leaders and high profile TV personalities. We will make use
of oral histories, case studies and flim clips which clarify women's role in
each age cohort. Projections into 21st century.

Reading Requirements:
From Bookstore: Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique and Kathleen
Jamieson, Beyond the Double Bind: Women and Leadership.

From Reader (available at Copy Center)--selected chapters from the following:
Simone De Beauvir, The Second Sex/ Gail Sheehy, Passages/
Betty Friedan,The Second Stage/ Robin Lakeoff, Language and Women's Place/
Carolyn Hielbrun, The Life of Gloria Steinem/
Cokie Roberts, We Are Our Mothers' Daughters/
Mary Catherine Bateson, With a Daughter's Eye.

Excerpts in class from documentaries on Eleanor Roosevelt/ Jackie Kennedy/
Hillary Clinton

Basis of Evaluation:
Active participation is expected at each meeting. Students will be asked to:
facilitate small group meetings, present an oral history, and write a 20-25
page research paper.

Women's Studies 194L: Politics of Sexual Rights and Sexual Identity in the Third World

Time: Wednesdays, 2-5
Location: Cowell 216.

This seminar focuses on issues related to the politics of sexual identity and sexual rights in the third world. It will explore ways in which sexual identity is articulated and defined; at state attempts to control and legislate sexual identity and behavior; and at the emergence of movements for gay and lesbian rights in third world countries. It will conclude by discussing attempts at inserting sexual rights into the agenda of international human rights laws.

In addition to articles in a course reader, readings will include Edward Cameron and Mark Gevisser, eds. DEFIANT DESIRE: GAY AND LESBIAN LIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA, Giti Thandani, SAKHIYANI:LESBIAN DESIRE IN ANCIENT AND MODERN INDIA, Anchee Min, RED AZELEA, and Marvin Leiner,SEXUAL POLITICS IN CUBA.

In addition to being a reading- and discussion-intensive course, this seminar is also about doing original research, and each student will be expected to write a paper of 15-20 pages on a topic of choice related to the course. Part of most class sessions will be devoted to specific issues involved in researching and writing such a paper.

Revised 7/28/04.