I. Description of Course and Course Objectives

This course is an introduction to the the modern history of women and gender in societies in the so-called "Third World." Objectives include learning about, understanding and being able to explain, the major issues confronting women in the Third World. The course will do this through exploring concepts and categories of analysis such as "Third World," gender, "non-Western," and "Other" within a comparative approach. Case studies of women and gender in specific Third World societies (India, Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East) will be used to make concrete and real the intellectual and abstract theories.

This is a history course so we will focus on the outlines of major historical changes and trends in global history, and the history of international relations. This includes---not merely formal state relations---but relations between societies and peoples, such as colonized and colonizer. We will examine broad, international historical processes such as colonialism, imperialism, nationalism, industrialism, urbanization and globalization; how these have contributed to the construction of gendered societies and experiences; and how these processes have had an impact on women in Third World societies. We will contextualize the position of Third World women within the world at large, making the connection between understanding the history of women and gender in Third World societies and the powerful hegemonic role of the West in this history.

The course will also analyze specific, historical dimensions of gendered society such as religion, the economy, the family, culture, national liberation, feminist and women's movements; education and women's literature, sexuality, and relations between Third World and "Western" women. We will learn how the different facets that influence gender in Third World societies have had an impact both individually and collectively on women's and men's lives; and how they have shaped their societies and politics over time.

An important central question we will address is: how has it come about that women (along with children) in Third World societies constitute the poorest, least educated, least culturally and economically valued, and least politically powerful humans on the planet? We will learn about the active agency of women in their struggles and efforts to: achieve social, economic and political justice; transform their own status as women; and turn around historical legacies of oppression. In the process, we will ask questions about and challenge, [previous] notions of women's victimhood, agency, human dignity, individualism, spirituality, and collectivity.

*Note: This is a new course for U.D. and me, the instructor. Students should expect a certain amount of fluidity in the themes and readings, as the course is a work in progress. We are all pioneers in this together, so students' flexibility will be much appreciated (and rewarded)!

II. Course Requirements and How Your Grade is Determined

Reading the assignments, class participation and discussion are crucial components of the course. You will be graded on all of these. Please note dates for assignment due dates and in-class tests or graded activities on the class schedule, which is subject to change. Check the schedule frequently. You are responsible for keeping track of the schedule and assignments.

Participation and attendance                                                                                            100 points

Participation means that you come to class prepared to discuss (or write about) the assigned readings; engage in discussion on class content (whatever format it consists of: lecture, discussion, audiovisual); raise questions and answer questions. If you never or rarely speak up, never or rarely ask questions, are never or rarely able to answer any questions, minimally participate in group activities, you will not receive a good participation grade.

Attendance: Students are expected to regularly attend class, and will get credit for class attendance. If you miss a lot of class, your participation as well as attendance grade will suffer. Warning: if you miss more than 5 classes (two and a half weeks) FOR ANY REASON, you will fail the course. If you are more than 5 minutes late, you have "missed" class.

Groups                                                                                                                                  40 points

The class will be divided into three permanent working groups early in the semester. These groups will contribute to "teaching" the class in group-led discussions and informal presentations. The groups will sometimes do different activities and read different readings. (Specific instructions for these will be provided.) Students' grades in this category will be based upon their noticeable contribution to, and participation in, the group activities and presentations overall throughout the semester---not on specific assignments.

Reading summaries                                                                                                                60 points

These consist of 3 one-page summaries of the essential facts of one of the assigned readings. Click here for details on format and content. Please note the due dates on the schedule. You may choose which readings to summarize, but obviously they will depend to a degree on what we have read according to the due dates.

Book reviews/reaction paper (2)                                                                                             200 points

You will write two short (5-page) review/reaction papers on two of the three novels we will read. Details
on the assignments will be provided.

Final Exam                                                                                                                               100 points

This will consist of a map, definitions and terms from the classwork and reading; and essay questions on classwork and readings for the semester. Further details and review links will be provided later in the semester.

Grade Points

A = 450-500
B = 400-449
C = 350-399
D = 300-349
F = 000-299
 

III. Reading Materials

We will rely heavily on library reserves. To the greatest extent possible, I will put material on e-reserve. It is the students' responsibility to keep track of the reading material.

The following are available for purchase at the bookstore:

Echewa, T. Obinkaram. I Saw the Sky Catch Fire.
Soueif, Ahdaf. The Map of Love.
Sidhwa, Bapsi. Cracking India.

IV. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ON ACADEMIC HONESTY:

*Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.

The penalty for cheating or plagiarism will be FAILURE OF THE COURSE. For definitions of cheating and plagiarism, see the Student Handbook, pages 37-39, or go to  http://www.udayton.edu/~studev/studenthandbook/index.htm and go to the section on Academic Information.