Special Topics in Political Science (390-0-22)
Topic
Political Sociology
Instructors
Ann Shola Orloff
847/491-3719
1808 Chicago Ave. Rm. 201
Meeting Info
555 Clark B01: Tues, Thurs 5:00PM - 6:20PM
Overview of class
Special Topics in Political Science - Political Sociology: Focus on Gender
This class is co-listed with GNDR_ST 331-0-21 and SOCIOL 309-0-20
This class will investigate how gender shapes politics and policy, and how these in turn shape gender, in the United States and other countries, situated in global context. Gender is conceptualized as a set of relations, identities and cultural schema, always constituted with other dimensions of power, difference and inequality (e.g., race, class, sexuality, religion, citizenship status). We will analyze the gendered character of citizenship, political participation and representation, social rights and economic rights. We aim to understand gendered politics and policy from both "top down" and "bottom up" perspectives. What do states do, via institutions of political participation and representation, citizenship rights and policies, to shape gender relations? How do gender relations influence the nature of policy and citizenship? How has feminism emerged as a radical challenge to the androcentrism and restricted character of the democratic public sphere? And how has anti-feminism come to be a significant dimension of politics? We expand on conventional conceptions of political participation and citizenship rights to include the grassroots democratic activism that gave birth to modern women's movements. We explore how women's political efforts have given rise to the creation of alternative visions of democracy, social provision and economic participation, as well as reshaping formal politics and policies. And, finally, we will take advantage of the fact that we are in the middle of an election to examine some of the gendered aspects of the political landscape in the contemporary United States.
The course readings feature different types of materials - original documents, scholarly books and articles, a textbook, policy reports, popular non-fiction work on aspects of gender, policy, politics and society. These are supplemented by films and online resources.
Evaluation Method
Take-home exams or, for interested students, a research paper, one lead blog and weekly blog entries, class participation
Class Materials (Required)
Students read a wide range of articles, essays and book excerpts, all of which will be available online.