SOC 120: Introduction to Women’s Studies

Dr. Sandra Galta, she/her/hers, sgalta@tacomacc.edu

Online, Course number 8232, Course section 01HY

Fall 2020, September 21^st-December 10^th, 2020

Professor Information

• Name: Dr. Sandra Galta
• Email: sgalta@tacomacc.edu
• Cell Phone/Google Voice: 510-244-4021
• Student Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays via Zoom

Student Hours

Student Hours are also known as, "Office Hours" and are times instructors are available for students. Please feel free to contact me during these hours with any questions, ideas, or to just chat about sociology or your course work. For this online course, I have preschedule two hours a week for online office hours, where I will be on a video conference call waiting for students. This is called Zoom, where the link is below, and I will also send out the link.

• How to Join a Zoom Meeting

• Topic: Student/Office Hours
  Time: Sep 21, 2020 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
  Every week on Mon, Tue, until Oct 27, 2020, 12 occurrence(s)
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  Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
  Weekly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJAvfu6hpzMuH9WX2IbHFFbhRzzavsLD-sQQ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCsrDItE92dtByGRowIAIr4KPPxmFxbgvpqpE3MAQh1RAH-BPhYM6RsPPyd
• Join Zoom Meeting
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• Meeting ID: 942 9799 8451
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Welcome Message

Welcome! I am your professor, Dr. Sandra Galta. I hope all of you are staying healthy and happy. I know our society and societal norms have changed and are constantly changing, but we continue to be flexible and learn. I hope all of us have found strength in that. I am excited to guide you in your sociological journey in SOC 120: Introduction to Women’s Studies. TCC is a great place to learn and I’m looking forward to learning with you. I’m here to help you succeed. If you feel worried about your learning and/or performance in this course, please talk to me. I am happy to listen and strategize solutions that will improve your learning and performance.

Communication Policy

In all communication, please refer to me as Professor or Dr. Galta. I will check my Canvas messages, email, and cell phone regularly. You can message, email, or text/call me at any time, but you may not receive a response outside regular business hours. Generally, emails/texts/calls received before 5:30 p.m. will receive a response before 6 p.m., and emails/texts/calls received after 5:30 p.m. will receive a response on the following business day. Business days are Monday–Friday, except for holidays. If I do not answer, please leave a complete message (full name, class enrolled, phone number, reason for call), and I will return your call when I am free. You may wish to do a follow up email or arrange in advance via email to speak with me.

 

Please set Canvas so that it sends you a notification when I make a comment on your work. To do this, go to Canvas>Account>Notifications>Course Activities>Submission Comments. Click on the check mark for immediate notification to your home email or text, depending on what you prefer. You may also want to take a look at the other possible notifications and see what you would like to receive.

General Class Information

Catalog Description

Introduction to the study of women, feminism, and theories of oppression and privilege, particularly with respect to gender, sexuality, race, class, and sexual orientation. Topics include systems of oppression, gender socialization, sexuality, violence, and social institutions such as family, health care, media, religion, legal systems, work and labor, and education. (Multicultural Course)

Course Description

Introduction to women’s studies strives to understand the multiple ways that gender impacts all of our lives. Gender is one of the most fundamental distinctions that pattern social life. This course looks at micro-interactions and gender socialization as well as how it has impacted us institutionally in the gendered social systems. It also focuses on different aspects of gender inequality. This class takes an intersectional approach, meaning that we will be talking about the numerous ways that various interconnected social systems such as gender, race, class, sexuality, (dis)ability, etc., shape and affect our lives both in the U.S. and abroad.

Students will come away from this course with an understanding of how gender as a multilevel system cannot be understood by focusing solely on individuals. Finally, students will learn about and come to understand how gender through its impact on identities, social relations, and institutions is intricately intertwined with social processes.

Course Modality

This is an online course. We will not meet together in person or online, except for one-on-one meetings and drop-in hours. You will complete online modules from start to finish that have learning content. You can expect to view pages with learning content, complete assignments, participate in discussions, take quizzes, and complete a cumulative final assignment.

Guiding Principles

This is an online course, where students take initiative in their education. Please study the syllabus and understand the course instructions and requirements. Make sure to budget your time and schedule your study. Procrastination will not work in this course.

 

All assignments will be given and completed in a 7-day week period beginning each Monday morning and ending each Sunday evening. This is a self-paced course, where I have deadlines that are strongly suggested. Yet, it is possible to turn in assignments after the due dates. All the modules build on each other. Therefore, students must complete one before moving on to the next topic. This includes reading assignments, writing projects, video recordings, and discussion topics. Discussion boards need class participation, so make sure to stay on top of those because it is a team effort.

Prerequisites

ENGL/ 095 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent

Textbook

Good news: your textbook for this class is available for free online! The linked are embedded below.

 

Various articles/handouts provided by the instructor. All course materials are provided free as files on the class page in Canvas.

 

Materials in this course were reused and/or adapted from: 

“Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies” by University of Massachusetts, 2017. CC BY Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

“Intro to Women’s Studies” by College of the Canyons, 2017. CC BY Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

“Global Women’s Issues: Women in the World Today” by University of Victoria, 2012. CC BY Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

 

Technology Required

To successfully complete this course, you will need access to the internet and an electronic device (such as a tablet, iPad, laptop, desktop computer, etc.) to complete the online portion of coursework. Although you can use cell phones and the Canvas mobile app, I highly recommend that you use a larger device to access material, especially when taking the tests.

 

Canvas is best accessed via the Chrome web browser. If you run into issues accessing Canvas, please contact the Information Commons by emailing support@tacomacc.edu. For information on how to use Canvas, please visit the Knowledge Base.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes are what you will know by the end of the course if you complete the assignments and participate in class discussions. These learning outcomes align with the Specialization Learning Outcomes for a specialization in psychology. However, this class aligns with many specializations and can help you work towards your degree, even if it’s not in psychology. To learn more about specializations at TCC and their corresponding learning outcomes, visit the College Catalog.

Program Learning Outcomes

The Social Sciences Program at Tacoma Community College has identified seven program learning outcomes (PLOs) that form the foundation of our educational emphasis: 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of some major empirical findings of the social sciences.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of some of the concepts, theories, and methods used within the social sciences to understand human behavior/events.
3. Objectively identify some social variables that have shaped one's own point of view.
4. Engage with or accurately represent a point of view that is different from one's own.
5. Apply concepts and tools from the social sciences to explain or analyze a social phenomenon, process, event, conflict, or issue.
6. Evaluate the quality/credibility of information from various kinds of sources (academic, journalistic, popular media).
7. Present social science information according to appropriate academic standards.

Course Learning Outcomes

I have designed the class intentionally to meet these learning outcomes. If at any point during the quarter you think you are not on track to meet these learning outcomes, please talk to me so I can help.

 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Deconstruct how the personal is political within feminism and identify the contributions of feminism to women’s existing rights.
2. Define feminism, sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, heterosexism, genderism, ageism, ableism, misogyny, androcentrism, patriarchy, oppression, prejudice, privilege, and entitlements; and institutional power, religious oppression, internalized oppression, horizontal hostility, and other relevant terms.
3. Identify and evaluate information on feminism and women’s issues in print, electronic and broadcast media.
4. Demonstrate an awareness of the diversity of identities among women, particularly by race, class, sexuality, age and ability, and recognize one’s own place within that diversity.
5. Examine oppression and privilege from a feminist theoretical perspective, identifying institutional, ideological, and individual components that maintain or challenge systems of privilege and inequality in contemporary U.S. society.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural pluralism and its relationship to the social construction of gender, sexuality, race, and class in contemporary society.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural intersections between gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, sexual orientation, and ability and the effects of these intersections on the identity and social status of women.
8. Discuss systems of gender stratification within the U.S. and the global world and critically analyze the ideologies that support them.

Professor and Student Expectations

Chosen Names and Pronouns

Everyone has the right to be addressed by the name and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity. Class rosters don't list gender or pronouns, so you may be asked to indicate the pronouns you use so that I don't make assumptions based on your name and/or appearance/self-presentation. However, you are not obligated to share your pronouns. If you use a chosen name, please let me know. Chosen names and pronouns are to be respected at all times in the online classroom. Mistakes in addressing one another may happen, so I encourage an environment of seriousness and openness to correction and learning.

Professor Expectations

As your professor, we will work to create an atmosphere that will encourage and support your mastery of course concepts. As such, objectives for which I will strive to meet include to:

• Get to know you and what your goals are for this class.
• Meet with you individually at least one time during the quarter.
• Maintain a safe and supportive learning environment.
• Administer fair and equitable policies and procedures to all students.
• Provide a schedule of activities that is clear and communicate changes via a Canvas Announcement.
• Grade assignments, quizzes, etc. within one week after the stated due date.
• Answer email and Canvas Messages within one business day.
• Provide feedback and comments that are thorough and meaningful.
• Be available for you during my student hours and by appointment and inform you of any changes to my drop-in/office hours via a Canvas Announcement.
• Equip you with general knowledge and skills in sociology to apply in many career paths.

Student Expectations

As a student in this course, you will work with me and your classmates to create an atmosphere that will encourage and support your mastery of course concepts. As such, objectives for which you will strive to meet include to:

• Login to class: This class meets online and that means our participation in social learning activities is critical in order for us to make meaning of the content together. You are expected to login to the course at least three times per week and complete assigned activities by the posted deadlines.
• Engage in class: Logging in to class is the first step – engaging in class discussions and assignments is the next step. Ask relevant questions. Take notes. Work cooperatively with other students. Reach out for help.
• Respect others: Behave with respect toward each other including other students and your professor. Refrain from profane language or inappropriate/unrelated remarks. A lack of respect for diversity regarding religion, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, age, gender, gender identification, ability, religion, sexual orientation, and political beliefs will not be tolerated.
• Communicate with me: Keep me updated of any circumstances that will not allow you to complete your work on time. I am here to help you learn and can be flexible if something unexpected comes up in your life.
• Self-Advocacy: Seek out resources you need to be successful. There are many resources available to help you succeed at TCC, for example the Writing and Tutoring Center, Access Services, and Counseling. Use the Student Resources Canvas page to access these resources and more.

If there is a concern with your behavior during this quarter, we will use the Student Code of Conduct to frame our discussion. For more information on TCC policies related to student behavior, please refer to the TCC Student Code of Conduct.

Recommended Study Habits

You can expect to devote an average of 15 hours of time to this class per week (readings and preparation, as well as substantive assignments and participation exercises). Each week, read the chapter sections that correspond to that unit, which will be linked in the modules. Formulate questions about the content that you cannot answer on your own. Use the discussions, your groups, or me to help you answer those questions and deepen your understanding of the content.

 

While Internet courses allow a lot of flexibility, they also require a lot of self-discipline. Each week there are required reading and writing assignments with weekly deadlines. I strongly suggest that you plan on putting aside a set time of 2 to 3 hours each day to work on the course. This is the best way to keep up and do well in the course. Please manage your time well and commit sufficient hours to the reading and completion of assignments, otherwise, you will find this a very frustrating experience and it will be difficult for you to do well.

 

I have tried to ensure that the workload is evenly distributed throughout the class, but if you find you have less than the normal amount of work one week, I suggest meeting with a classmate, accessing eTutoring resources from the Writing and Tutoring Center, and reviewing your notes to review the concepts. Students who do well in this class are able to connect concepts to other classes and to their personal experiences. The more time you spend building connections with the class material to other areas of your life, the better!

Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-racism, and Student Code of Conduct

Diversity

TCC welcomes people all across the wide scope of races, colors, nationalities, ethnicities, sexual identities and orientations, genders, religions, political affiliations, physical abilities, economic backgrounds, professional histories, marital and parental statuses, and generations. Like our campus, I value the diversity in our classroom because it enriches our learning environment and deepens our understanding of others. Additionally, I hold an expectation my students will eventually cultivate a similar appreciation for such diversity. (Adapted from Professor Cho and Professor Reed)

Inclusion

We will work together to create an environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and is offered a platform to contribute to our space. To this end, every student: 1) has the right to be called by the name they wish and to have their name pronounced correctly; 2) has the right to be referred to by the pronouns that they share; 3) has the right to express their opinion without fear they are speaking for an entire identity group; and 4) has the right to respectfully identify any barriers to their inclusion in the course without fear of being punished by the professor. (Adapted from Professor Cho and Professor Reed)

Anti-racist

The Department of Sociology unequivocally rejects white supremacy, racism and other forms of hate and bias. No matter the name or label, white supremacist, anti-Semitic and racist thought and action are antithetical to our values. We will work to dismantle racism and discrimination on campus, in our communities and in society as part of our shared efforts to elevate humanity. (Adapted from University of Nevada, Reno)

Student Code of Conduct

TCC is a higher education institution committed to the intellectual and personal growth of its students as scholars and citizens and the promotion of a learning environment where these goals can be achieved safely and fairly. The community is dedicated to academic excellence, as students become involved in academic pursuits, life-long learning and personal development. Therefore, the college promotes civility, respect and integrity among all members of the community, with every student expected to exhibit high standards of behavior. (Adapted from University of Nevada, Reno)

Class Policies and Procedures

Classroom Concerns/Disputes/Final Grade Appeal Process

If you have questions or concerns about this class or me, please come to talk with me about your concerns. If I am unable to resolve your concerns, you may talk next with the Chair of the Program/Department, Dr. Andrew Cho, Building F1. His e-mail is acho@tacomacc.edu. The Chair can assist with information about additional steps, if needed. If you think that your final grade has been given in error, please see the final grade appeal process.

Academic Dishonesty

In this class, academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade (“E”) for the assignment or the quarter. Direct copying is prohibited, while incorrect citation and referencing will result in points taken off. I also reserve the right to remove any inappropriate posts on Canvas such as, but not limited to, profanity or plagiarism. In such a case, you will lose posting privileges and be given alternate assignments. As stated in the TCC Catalog, “Students are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors. Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication or other forms of academic dishonesty corrupt the learning process and threaten the educational environment for all students” (pg. 33). The complete Administrative Procedure for Academic Dishonesty is available on the TCC website.

Graded Items

Assessment Structure

The assessment structure for this course was created to assess your learning on the course learning. The assessment structure for this course was created to assess your learning on the course learning outcomes. The purpose of the weekly discussions and journal assignments align with the course learning outcomes. Each of the assignments and discussions will be presented with a TILTed framework to help us track how what we are doing helps us learn and track our achievement of the course learning outcomes. In this class, we will have the following graded items: in-class activities, online activities, group quizzes, tests, and a group project.

 

Your assignments include completing quizzes, blogs, discussion boards, and chapter checks. See below for the possible make up of your final grade:

Table 1: Point System

Categories	Number of Assignments	Points Possible
Module Reflections	10	200
Blogs	5	150
Discussion Boards	5	150
Final Project	1	150
Total		650

 

Grading

Grades will be posted to Canvas as soon as assignments are graded, usually within two business days. If you think there has been an error, see me as soon as possible to have it corrected. If you need assistance accessing your Canvas account, please ask for help at the Information Commons in Building 16 or review the Canvas module in our Canvas course. Grades will be posted to canvas as soon as assignments are graded, usually within a week. If you think there has been an error, see me during office hours to have it corrected. Final grades will be assigned using the following scale.

 

A 4.0     93%-100%                     A- 3.7   90%-92.9%

B+ 3.3   87%-89.9%                    B 3.0     83%-86.9%

B- 2.7    80%-82.9%                    C+ 2.3   77%-79.9%

C 2.0     73%-76.9%                    C- 1.7    70%-72.9%

D+ 1.3   67%-69.9%                    D 1.0     63%-66.9%

E 0.0     62.9% and below

Table 2: Grading

Graded Item Submission Guidelines

Please submit all work via Canvas. In the case where you may need more time to complete your work or something is keeping you from submitting it on time- be sure to communicate with me so that I’m aware. Late work may be submitted via canvas.

Late Work

I have blocked out times in my schedule for grading your work so that I can give you feedback while the work is still fresh in your mind. It is important to complete assignments on time. Due dates can be found on the syllabus, in the announcements, and in the weekly learning modules on Canvas. It is up to you to keep on top of when things are due, and to submit them properly. Having said that, I know things occasionally happen that prevent on-time submissions. An unfortunate event can happen to anyone; however, being consistently late indicates a larger issue. I accept late work with late penalties.

Student Resources

During this quarter, you may encounter a need that goes beyond this class that affects your academic performance. We are here to help you be successful. As a TCC student, you have access to great resources and people ready to support you. Login to Canvas and access the Student Resources course to learn about some of these excellent resources.

Access and Accommodations

Summer 2020 Access and Disability Syllabus statement:

Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), all TCC classes are exclusively offered online this quarter. TCC is committed to ensuring access for students with disabilities in the online environment. If you have already established approved disability accommodations with the Access Services office, please remember to request that your Accommodation Letter is sent to me by email (atembo@tacomacc.edu). If you have a disability or health condition and have not yet established services, please contact the Access Services office at access@tacomacc.edu or by submitting the New Student Application located on their web page.

Religious Accommodations

Students who will be absent from course activities due to reasons of faith or conscience may seek reasonable accommodations so that grades are not impacted. Such requests must be made within the first two weeks of the quarter and should follow the procedures listed in the Leave for Faith & Conscience policy webpage.

Safety

We care about the safety of our campus and community and all of us are needed in order to create a safe and secure learning environment. Please review the full list of safety resources available to you, which are listed on our TCC Ready website. Additionally, please watch this brief video to familiarize yourself with our general safety practices. Please program the Public Safety number into your cell phone (253-566-5111) or 5111 from any campus phone (If this number is inoperable due to an emergency, dial 253-495-4146) and sign up for TCC Alerts! to receive emergency notifications to your cell phone.

Basic Needs

Any student who has difficulty affording groceries, or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live - and believes this may affect their performance in this course, is urged to contact the TCC Dean of Retention and Student Success - Jennifer Fountain (jfountain@tacomacc.edu, (253) 566-5159)).  TCC has many campus and community service resources that can support student needs. Furthermore, please notify me if you are comfortable in doing so. This will enable me to provide any other resources that I may possess.

Suspended Operations

In the event of the campus closing due to inclement weather, a power outage, or another unexpected event, please check your Canvas Messages and Announcements for updates on how we will adjust our course schedule. You may be asked to watch videos in place of in-class time or complete an additional assignment to stay on schedule. In the event you are unable to access Canvas via the Portal, please use this direct link:

Tentative Class Schedule

Every attempt will be made to maintain this schedule, but schedule changes may occur during the quarter. Check Canvas for the most updated schedule.

Table 3: Class Schedule

Module	Topic	Assigned Readings	Assignments
0-1	Introductions	Review syllabus Chapter 1 & 2 from College of the Canyons (2017)	Complete “Start Here” module due 9/27 at 11:59 pm Discussion Board 1 due 9/27 at 11:59 pm Module Reflection 1 due 9/27 at 11:59 pm
2	Gender Roles Gender Inequality	Chapter 3 & 4 from College of the Canyons (2017)	Module Reflection 2 due 10/4 by 11:59 pm Blog 1 due 10/4 by 11:59 pm
3	Grounding Theoretical Frameworks and Concepts	Unit 1 from University of Massachusetts (2017)	Module Reflection 3 due 10/11 by 11:59 pm Discussion Board 2 due 10/11 by 11:59 pm
4	Challenging Binary Systems and Constructions of Difference	Unit 2 from University of Massachusetts (2017) Chapter 7 from College of the Canyons (2017)	Module Reflection 4 due 10/18 by 11:59 pm Blog 2 due 10/18 by 11:59 pm
5	Institutions, Culture, and Structures	Unit 3 from University of Massachusetts (2017)	Module Reflection 5 due 10/25 by 11:59 pm Discussion Board 3 due 10/25 by 11:59 pm
6	Women and Global Violence	Chapter 4 & 5 from University of Victoria (2012)	Module Reflection 6 due 11/1 at 11:59 pm Blog 3 due 11/1 at 11:59 pm Final Project Proposal due 11/1 at 11:59 pm
7	Women and the Media	Chapter 10 from University of Victoria (2012) Chapter 5 from College of the Canyons (2017)	Module Reflection 7 due 11/8 at 11:59 pm Discussion Board 4 due 11/8 at 11:59 pm
8	Gender and Work in the Global Economy	Unit 4 from University of Massachusetts (2017) Chapter 10 from College of the Canyons (2017)	Module Reflection 8 due 11/15 at 11:59 pm Blog 4 due 11/15 at 11:59 pm
9	Global Women’s Rights	Chapter 9 & 12 from University of Victoria (2012)	Module Reflection 9 due 11/22 at 11:59 pm Discussion Board 5 due 11/22 at 11:59 pm
10	Historical and Contemporary Feminist Social Movements	Unit 5 from University of Massachusetts (2017)	Module Reflection 10 due 12/1 at 11:59 pm Blog 5 due 12/1 at 11:59 pm
Finals Week: Final Project Presentations Due: December 7th at 11:59 pm

Syllabus Subject to Change

Please note: This syllabus is subject to change. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible using multiple means of communication. Please check Canvas for the most updated schedule and assignment list during the quarter.