WS496: Women and Violence
(SDSU: Spr '97)
TTH: 9:30-10:45
Rm: AH 2112
Dr. Pat Washington
Ofc: Adams Humanities 3167
Ph: 594-6662
washing3@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours:
TTH: 2:00pm - 3:00 pm
W: 9:30am - 10:30am
Ms. Melanie Green, Teaching Assistant
Ofc.: Adams Humanities 3167
Ph.: 594-6662
Office Hours
TH: 12:30pm - 1:30 pm
Course Description: Violence against (and by) women is accomplished through
a wide range of socially institutionalized and individually perpetuated
political, social, economic, and physical events and circumstances. Furthermore,
violence against (and by) women takes place within recognizable socially
constructed race-ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, and class specificities,
as well as socio-historical contexts. Throughout the course, we will examine
how race-ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, socio-historical
constraints and shifts, and women's complicity with -- as well as resistance
against -- systems of domination and oppression are interdependent forces.
We will look at the ways in which these forces shape the way women experience
economic, social, sexual, class and gender domination and exploitation.
Information covered in this course will situate women and violence within
both national and international contexts.
Course Objectives:
- to understand how violence against and by women is accomplished through
a broad range of individual and institutional acts and practices
- to examine how race, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation,
mental and physical ability and other "social markers" impact
manifestations of violence against and by women
- to assess the effectiveness of individual and group efforts to reduce
the prevalence of violence against women (and men) . to interrogate "the
personal as political"; to understand the role of the individual in
maintaining or dismantling ongoing systems of domination and exploitation
Class Format: A mixture of lecture and electronic mail discussions and
activities, class discussion, student group presentations, guest lectures
and audiovisuals. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, ground
rules will be established for in-class discussions.
Requirements: Regular attendance, timely completion of reading assignments,
quality oral and written class participation, announced and unannounced
quizzes, group presentations, and three examinations (or one exam and paper
submission and presentation at SDSU's "Sixth Annual National Conference
on Campus Sexual Violence" to be held February 19-23). Additionally,
all students are required to subscribe to and actively participate in the
electronic mail listserv (WS496@lists.sdsu.edu) established for this course.
Examination Dates: Mar 4, Apr 15, and May 20.
Grading Policies/Procedure: Incomplete grades and make-up examinations
will be given only in exceptional cases. Missed examinations require officially
documented reasons (e.g., authorized medical excuse for day of exam). Late
completion of work may result in a grade reduction. Plus/minus grading
will be used. Final course grades will be computed on a 4.0 scale, with
percentage weights assigned as follows, for a total of 100%:
* Three exams at 25% each 75% Group Presentation 15% Class Participation
5% Quizzes 5%
*or 1 exam , plus conference paper & presentation
Required Texts:
- Birenbaum, Halina. 1996. Hope is the Last to Die: A Coming
of Age Under Nazi Terror. NY: M. E. Sharpe.
- Davies, Miranda. 1994. Women
and Violence: Realities and Responses Worldwide. London & NJ: ZED Books,
Ltd.
- Hawley, John. 1995. Sati; the Blessing and the Curse: The Burning
of Wives in India. London: Oxford Press.
- James, Joy. 1996. Resisting State
Violence: Radicalism, Gender & Race in U. S. Culture. MN: University
of Minn. Press.
- Levin, Jack and Jack McDevitt. 1993. Hate Crimes: The Rising
Tide of Bigotry and Bloodshed. NY & London: Plenum Press.
- Ritchie, Beth. 1996. Compelled to Crime: The Gender Entrapment of Battered Black
Women. NY & London: Routledge.
Additional Readings: Occasionally during the semester, the instructor may
provide students with additional short readings on selected course topics.
Students should treat supplemental readings as they would any other assigned
text -- i.e. , be prepared to discuss them in class and/or on exams.
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Women and Violence Course Syllabus
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