|
Wk |
Date |
Topics |
Readings (read by date listed) |
Assignments due |
Activities |
|
|
2
Oct |
How
do natural and social scientists develop theories about sex, gender,
and evolution? What
role does this research play in society? |
|
Introductions
and administration
KH:
What is science? What is evolution? Why “why is there sex”
is an interesting question.
LB:
What makes a man? What makes a woman?
Project
group formation |
|
|
9
Oct |
Introduction
to the theory of evolution by natural selection. Analysis of gender
and patriarchy. |
Genome
introduction
biology text
chapter on genetics, molecular biology, and evolution;
Evolution
of Sex Ch 1. An important question,
Allan Johnson
The Gender Knot. |
Seminar questions
Questions
for library research |
Seminar
Fun with chromosomes
KH: molecular
biology
Group processes
Library exercise
How to write
papers
Potluck |
|
3 |
16
Oct |
Sex
and evolution: Why is there sex? Life histories,costs and benefits.
Social construction of gender.
Gender and communication. |
Dr Tatiana;
Part III Are Men Necessary, pp. 167-234
Evolution
of Sex Ch 10 Patterns of Sexuality;
Bem Ch 1,
3, 4 on social construction of gender |
Seminar questions
Group project
outline, questions, and resources.
Homework: genetics
– Punnett squares, Hardy-Weinberg, mutations |
Seminar
KH: sex, gender,
modes of reproduction.
KH: Statistics
and “significant” differences.
LB: Gender and
communication.
Film: Tough
Guise |
|
4 |
23
Oct |
Gender
and popular culture. Darwin on sexual selection |
Evolution
of Sex Ch 11: Why are males masculine and females feminine…;
sex ratios in
India;
Julia Wood, Gendered
Lives (excerpt).
Wood
and Dindia, What’s the Difference: critique of gender research |
Seminar questions
Communication
paper due: “gender transgression” communication
experiment – biological and sociological aspects |
Seminar
Quiz on key facts
and concepts
Workshop on academic
writing/peer review
Analysis of popular
magazines and gender
Film: Still
Killing Us Softly |
|
5 |
30
Oct |
The
gender politics of evolutionary theory in late 19th and early
20th century Europe and America. |
Genome
Ch 15:Sex.
Bem
Ch 2 Biological essentialism
Blewett, Eugenics;
Kohlstedt &
Jorgensen, The Irrepressible Woman Question;
Laura Hershey,
Choosing Disability
Tavris, The
Mismeasure of Woman
|
Seminar questions
Communication
paper revision due
Evaluation
questions |
Seminar
Film: GATTACA
Group project
time.
|
|
6 |
6
Nov |
Sex and ecology. Cultural variety in gender systems |
Readings from
Gender Diversity (pp. 1-70);
reread genetics, evolution, and molecular
biology
|
Seminar questions
Group paper:
biological and social functions and implications of a particular
gender norm |
Seminar
Review
quiz; fundamental concepts of evolutionary biology and the social
construction of patriarchy
LB: cross-cultural
studies
Films: anthropology
|
|
7 |
13
Nov |
Gender
across cultures. How
has the social construction of gender and sexuality differed across
cultures? |
Dr Tatiana part two, pp. 93-165.
Optional:
Read
about inverted gender roles in wattled jacanas: short
popular article, longer
popular article, or scientific
paper. This is probably the most extreme case of sex role
reversal known in vertebrates.
Third Chimpanzee Part 2: Ch 3,4,5 on human sexuality, mate choice, and sexual
selection
Gender Diversity
(71-107). |
Seminar questions
Possible additional
assignment |
Seminar
Possible guest
speaker
Group project
time.
|
|
8 |
20
Nov |
Nature
or Nurture. Contemporary
debates about what drives human behavior |
Testosterone
and aggression,
fight
or flight vs tend and befriend.
Bem
- the last chapter
Dr
Tatiana - Part I
|
Seminar questions
Possible additional
assignment |
Seminar
Compare popular
article and scientific paper.
Group project
time.
In-class
Writing Experience™
|
|
9 |
4
Dec |
Evaluating
writings and popular representations of gender, sex, and evolution. |
No assigned readings |
Group paper
Draft self
evaluation |
Workshop: Mars
and Venus, single-sex schools, cross-sex hormones and brain functions.
Peer-review of
draft self evaluation
How to give an
oral presentation.
|
|
10 |
11
Dec |
Student
presentations. |
this class will meet in A1105
Sem II.
|
|
Sex, gender and
evolution in the future |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
