Syllabus
I. Week One, April 3-7
Monday, 10-noon: Introduction to program. Discussion of projects and research groups Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning: Take this time to read Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique, and write a 4-6 paragraph explanation of something (or a few things) you found relevant or not relevant to today’s discussion of marriage and gender roles, explaining why.
Tuesday, noon-3: Seminar on Friedan, The Feminine Mystique. Turn in essay on Friedan.
Friday, 10-1: Seminar on Intimate Matters, pp. 1-53 and Social Origins of Private Life, pp. 73-102, and 142-53 (handout. 1-2 page paper due: What are the main points these authors make about the distinctive nature of colonial family life and how it changed following the American Revolution?
II. Week Two, April 10-14
Monday, 10-noon: Lecture on the rise of the domestic middle-class family, the industrial working-class family, and the doctrine of separate spheres – S.C.
Monday, 1-3: Seminar on Intimate Matters, pp. 55-138 and Bailey, From Front Porch to Back Seat, pp. 1-24.
Tuesday: Class starts at 1:00 pm – Workshop on doing oral history by Liza Rognas. Summary due of Monday’s reading: What were the main features of middle-class gender and courting norms at the end of the 19th century?
Friday, 10-1: Seminar on Girl of the Limberlost
III. Week Three, April 17-21
Monday, 10-noon: Lecture on gender roles, sex, and marriage from the 1920s to 1940s – S.C.
Monday, 1-3: Seminar on Intimate Matters, pp. 224-274 and Front Porch to Back Seat, pp. 25-143
Tuesday, 10-3: Films of the 1930s and 1940s
Friday, 10-1: Seminar on To Have and to Hold, pp. 1-139
IV. Week Four, April 24-28
Monday, 10-noon: Lecture on the 1950s – S.C.
Monday, 1-3: Seminar on To Have and to Hold, pp. 141-229
Tuesday, 10-3: Films of the 1950s (Date etiquette; GE film; Salt of the Earth; Rebel Without a Cause)
Wednesday or Thursday: Interview a woman family member or acquaintance 40 years old or older who had read or heard of Betty Friedan. Have her recall her reaction at the time and then discuss what she now thinks.
Friday, 10-1: Seminar on Betty Friedan (the entire book) and Intimate Matters, pp. 275-310
Bring your typed-up interview results to class.
V. Week Five, May 1-5
Monday, 10-noon: Kinsey documentary
Monday, 1-3: Seminar on Sex in the Heartland, pp. 1-135; Intimate Matters, pp. 310-343
Tuesday: Class starts at 1 pm. You have the morning to finish a report on the progress of your research project or oral history. Turn the report in at 1pm. We will then watch the movie version of Kinsey
Friday, 10-1: Seminar on Sex in the Heartland, pp. 136-218. Essay due: Discuss what you see as the most important changes in male female relations, courtship, and marriage between 1900 and the mid-1960s. Be sure to use specific examples, dates and other supporting detail drawn from the full range of assigned readings. If you can find anything from the films to illustrate your points, all the better.
VI. Week Six, May 8-13
Monday, 10-noon: Lecture on the 1970s and 1980s – S.C.
Monday 1-3: Seminar on Brave New Families, pp. 1-174
Monday 5pm: Potluck at the Organic Farm House.
Tuesday, 10-noon: “Born Again, Life in a Fundamentalist Baptist Church” (PBS 1987)
Tuesday, 1-3: Writing Workshop on revision. Papers returned for revision and expansion. Write Stephanie a note explaining how you plan to handle the questions and criticisms she made of your paper.
Wednesday or Thursday: Write Stephanie a note explaining how you plan to handle the qestions and criticisms she made of your paper. This is due Friday.
Friday, 10-1: Seminar on Brave New Families, pp. 177-271
VII. Week Seven, May 15-19
Monday, 10-noon: Seminar on Gender Vertigo, pp. 1-71, instead of lecture period
No afternoon seminar. Work on paper revision, expanding your topic so that you take it into the 1970s and 80's, using material from Stacey and Risman.
Tuesday 10-noon: Workshop on causes and correlations – S.C.
Tuesday 1-3: Workshop on public presentations and public speaking – S.C.
Friday: Seminar on Gender Vertigo, pp. 72-161
VIII. Week Eight, May 22-26
Monday and Tuesday: Student Presentations, schedule and place TBA. Turn in written versions of oral history or research projects by the end of class on Tuesday.
Friday, 10-1: Seminar on Edin, Promises I Can Keep. Brief summary of Edin book due.
IX. Week Nine, May 30-June 2
Monday, May 29 – Campus Holiday
Tuesday, 10-noon: Seminar on Chauncy, Why Marriage?
Tuesday, 1-3: study session for final exam
Friday, 10-1: Final Exam
X. Week Ten, June 5-9
Monday, 10-noon: Movies
Monday, 1-3: Seminar on Scott Coltrane, Family Man (excepts on reserve in the library)
Tuesday: Final Essay due (3-6 type written pages): How do you explain the origins and impact of Friedan’s book, and what is its relevance or irrelevance to contemporary issues about love work, marriage, and personal identity?
Friday: Seminar on masculinity handout. Brief summary response (1-3 pages) due on week's readings on masculinity. Turn in rough draft of self evaluation.
XI. Evaluation Week, June 12-16
Do not schedule yourself to leave campus before Thursday, June 15
