Political Sociology (309-0-20)
Topic
Gender & Politics
Instructors
Ann Shola Orloff
847/491-3719
1808 Chicago Ave. Rm. 201
Ann Shola Orloff is Professor of Sociology and Political Science; Board of Lady Managers of the Colombian Exposition Chair. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and an A.B. from Harvard University. Orloff’s research and publications focus on states, gendered social policies and feminist politics in the rich capitalist democracies; social theory; and historical, comparative and global social science. Orloff is the co-editor of Remaking Modernity: Politics, History and Sociology and is now working on a manuscript, Farewell to Maternalism, Toward a Gender-Open Future? Transformations in Gender, Employment and Social Policies in the US and Sweden. She has served as Director of Gender Studies Program and Chair of the Sociology Department. She is past President of the Social Science History Association and the International Sociological Association Research Committee 19 (Poverty, Social Welfare and Social Policy).
Meeting Info
Parkes Hall 223: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
"Gender & Politics"
This class will investigate how gender shapes politics and policy, and how these in turn shape gender, primarily in the United States. I aim also to provide comparative and 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. We examine some of the gendered aspects of the political landscape in the contemporary United States, with class input on which issues to explore.
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.
This course is cross-listed with GNDR_ST 331-0-22.
Learning Objectives
"By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Explain how gender influences politics in the US historically and in the present, and apply course concepts to current events and issues regarding gender and politics.
Compare how gender interacts with other forms of difference and inequality in the US polity, and interrogate how multiple social statuses intersect with gender in shaping inequality and power in the U.S.
Critique how the US polity and state are organized along gendered lines, and deconstruct theoretical perspectives examining the relationships between gender and the US polity.
Demonstrate how public policies and political processes shape gendered relations, and question the gendered character of citizenship, political participation and representation, social rights and economic right.
Reflect on course materials through weekly blog postings, debate and present course materials during class discussions, and develop original critiques regarding course materials addressing the relationships among gender, inequality, and politics for several written assignments."
Teaching Method
Lecture and discussion
Evaluation Method
Exams and/or a research paper, one lead blog and weekly blog entries, class participation
Class Materials (Required)
All materials for this course will be made available on Canvas - no purchase necessary.
Students read a wide range of articles, essays and book excerpts, all of which will be available online. All articles and book excerpts will be available on the Canvas website. We will also be using three books, which can be purchased or accessed as e-books on reserve at NU Libraries.
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area