Gender and Society (216-0-20)
Instructors
Christine Marie Percheski
1812 Chicago Avenue, Rm. 208
Professor Christine Percheski (PhD, Princeton University) is an associate professor in Sociology and a faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research. Professor Percheski is enthusiastic about teaching courses on families, demography, gender, health, and research methods. Her research considers how changes in women and men¿s employment and family life have affected social and economic inequalities in the United States and other industrialized countries.
Julia Andrea Behrman
Julia Behrman is a sociologist whose work explores how and why the institution of the family is changing around the world. She is particularly interested in the implications of family change for the perpetuation of disadvantage both between and within families. Her work focuses on several key questions including: How are families changing around the world with respect to marriage and family formation, fertility, employment and power dynamics in the household? What are the drivers of global family change (with focus on educational expansion, employment, immigration, and natural disaster and climatic shocks)? What are the consequences of global family change for power dynamics within the family?
Meeting Info
Harris Hall 107: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Gender structures our daily lives in fundamental ways, yet we are often unaware of its effects. For example, why do we associate blue with boys and pink with girls? Why do most administrative forms only have two categories (i.e. Male and Female)? Why do male doctors, on average, have higher incomes than female doctors? The course introduces students to the sociological analysis of gender as a central component of social organization and social inequality in the US context. We start by reviewing key sociological concepts that are important to the study of gender. Next, we explore the causes and consequences of gender inequalities in important social institutions such as the family, the education system, and the labor market. We conclude by considering gender inequality in an international comparative context to understand crosscutting similarities and differences between the US and both high- and low-income contexts. This allows us to explore the role social norms and policies play in perpetuating and/or mitigating gender inequalities.
Class Materials (Required)
All materials for this class will be made available on Canvas. No purchase necessary.
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area