PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN

PSYC425, Fall 2009

12:30- 1:45 TR

Robinson 317

Texts:  Required

Matlin, M.W. (2008).  The psychology of women (6^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson

           Wadsworth.   (One copy on reserve in Stevenson Library)

Brumberg, J.J., (1997). The body project: An intimate history of American girls. New York:

           Vintage.

·         Additional readings may be assigned.  Most will be provided as handouts or put on reserve in the library.

Course Objectives:  One purpose of this course is to explore some major psychological issues that concern women.  These issues include, but are not limited to gender discrimination, social and biological determinants of behavior, gender stereotypes, sexuality, health issues and violence against women.

     Another purpose is to introduce students to the scientific study of gender behavior and roles.   You are encouraged to think critically about psychological research and theory in regards to gender.  This includes becoming knowledgeable about how science is conducted and about the current information available from research.  Critically thinking also involves thoughtful, questioning evaluation of science.

    A goal of this course is to help you acquire more informed perspectives on women's traditional and contemporary roles in society.  The text and readings provide feminist perspectives, but you are not expected to accept these perspectives without question.  Rather you are encouraged to think critically about them and to ultimately draw your own conclusions.  

Class Format:  The format of the class includes lectures, class discussions, small group discussion, and videos, as time permits.  Participation by all students is strongly encouraged to make the class interesting and informative for everyone.

Class Preparation and Attendance:  Maximum benefit from lecture and discussion will be gained if students read the assigned material before the class meets.  Regular class attendance is also strongly urged.  You are responsible for all material missed if you are absent from class.

Cheating:  Acts of academic dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in a failing grade.  The following is borrowed from material provided by Jan Yoder:

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged borrowing of information, wording, organization, or ideas.  Whether the original source is public (e.g., a newspaper or journal article) or private (e.g., a classmate's paper), you need to indicate your indebtedness in any of the above areas.  Where you repeat the exact language of your sources, you must treat the borrowed material as a quotation and place it within quotation marks.  However, by merely changing a few words or the word order or by paraphrasing (restating in your own words), you do not avoid plagiarism.  In all cases, you should cite your sources.  There is nothing wrong in acknowledging an intellectually debt to someone.  Your reader is only concerned that you have something new to say about the material which you have used, that it contributed in some way to the development of your ideas in your writing.  To assemble material without developing in any way is a waste of your time and the reader's.  The danger of plagiarism is not the pain of discovery, for which the penalty is sure, the delusion of accomplishment where has been none. 

If you are not familiar with a recognized format, e.g. APA, for citing sources, I will be happy to provide you with information.

Student Support Services:  Students with disabilities are encouraged to discuss requests for reasonable accommodations with the professor at the beginning of the semester.  In order for accommodations to be provided, your disability must be verified with Reynol Junco, Director, Disability Services, 104 Russell Hall, 484-2926.

Writing Center: The Writing Center is located in Raub 409.  The writing center can assist in developing, planning, organizing, revising and editing any writing assignment.  Check the Writing Center website for hours http://www.lhup.edu/writingcenter/index.htm

Requirements:

1.      Exams - 200 points 

2.      Discussion questions – Body Project book- 10 points

3.      Two demonstration exercises from text – 20 points (1st due by oct. 8, 2^nd by  Dec. 10)

4.      Body Project paper - 50 points  (Oct.. 22)

5.   Rethinking romance paper - 50 points (Dec. 3) (plot summary due Nov 12)

6.   Optional: Journal and other extra credit - 15 points

Exams (up to 200 points):

     There will be 4 (50-point) exams during the semester.  Exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay.  Tests will cover concepts presented in the text, readings, lectures, and films.  Whether or not questions from Brumberg’s book are covered on the exam  will depend on the instructor’s judgment regarding adequate class attendance and quality of discussion by students.

Makeup Policy:  Attendance for exams is required; however, if a student's absence is unavoidable, a makeup exam will be given. For absences that are foreseeable, e.g., sports contest, the student must contact the instructor BEFORE the exam.  In case of an emergency, the student should contact the instructor as soon as possible.  The sooner the instructor is contacted, the better.   The student must present a verifiable excuse for his or her absence. (e.g., a written note from a doctor’s office). The instructor is the final judge of what constitutes an acceptable excuse.  It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor about a possible make-up exam. Makeup exams may be more difficult than regularly scheduled exams.

Discussion Questions (up to 10 points)

You will be assigned one chapter from the book the Body Project for which you will develop discussion questions for the class.  Discussion questions must be e-mailed to me at least 3 1/2 days before the class is scheduled to discuss the assigned chapter (e.g., by Monday noon before a Thursday class).  As several students may be developing discussion questions for the same chapter, I will eliminate duplicate questions, may combine some question, add questions, and then e-mail the questions to all class members.  Failure to send the questions on time will result in a score of zero; otherwise a student’s score will be based on the quality (not just quantity) of the question submitted.  That is, I’d rather receive 5 good discussion questions, the 10 poor discussion questions.  Questions should represent material from the entire chapter.

Demonstrations from the Text. (up to 20 points)

     The text book has demonstrations in each chapter.  Many of these demonstrations require that you gather information from other people or from media sources. You will complete two demonstrations and write short reports about each.

     You can choose from any of the demonstrations in the text, but you must complete at least one by Oct. 8 (you can complete both before the break if you wish).  You can also do variations on a demonstration, but you must get my permission first.  You can also suggest demonstrations of your own, but again you must get my permission first.

     If you choose to do a demonstration that requires you to get information from other people, you first need to meet with me to go over ethical considerations and the possibility of combining your data with data gathered by other students.

     Write a 2 page (double spaced) report about the demonstration. Each report will be graded on a 10 point basis and should include the following:   A) The idea behind the demonstration. B)  The execution of the demonstration (i.e., what you did).  C)  What you expected to find and what you actually found. D)  Discussion of whether or not the exercise was in fact a good demonstration of the idea behind it; and any suggestions you have for improving the exercise or for variations of the exercise. E) What you learned from conducting the demonstration.

Body Project Paper (50 points): Due Thursday, Oct. 22

      In this first paper, you will reflect on your own adolescence and discuss some of the issues raised by Joan Brumberg in her book, “The body project”.  That is, you will describe and analyze your own reactions and the reactions of others to the bodily changes that occur in adolescence.  You will also discuss how culture (e.g., parents, peers, and mass media) influenced your thoughts and feelings about your body and about your self.  More details about the requirements for this paper are included at the end of the course outline. Late papers will be penalized by at 2.5-point grade reduction for each day the paper is late.  Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) count as two days. 

Rethinking Romance Paper (50 points): Due Thursday, Dec. 3 (plot summary due Nov. 12)

     For this second paper, you will read analyze the gender stereotypes in a romance novel.  The analysis of the content of the novel must be connected to research and theory from the textbooks.  More details of the paper assignment are at the end of this course outline.  I have romance novels available to loan, if you do not wish to purchase your own.    Late papers will be penalized by at 2.5-point grade reduction for each day the paper is late.  Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) count as two days.  As a way to encourage you to allow sufficient time for analysis of the novel, you are required to submit a one-page plot summary by April 8.  Failure to turn in a plot summary will result in a 5-point reduction from the final paper grade.

Journal and Extra Credit (up to 15 points) Optional

     The purpose of the journal is for you to write about your reactions and your experiences related to issues to the psychology of women.  The journal is not required.  It is a way, however, for you to reflect on the material and to earn extra points.  Each journal entry is worth 1 point, for a total of 15 points. Entries will be graded on a pass/fail basis.  Each entry must consist of at least several sentences forming a paragraph.  You may react to issues raised in text reading, class lectures and discussions, and films.  You may also include personal experiences that relate to the psychology of women.  The instructor will periodically distribute possible issues that can be addressed in your journal. You will have five opportunities to turn in journals as listed on the syllabus.  Each time you may include up to five journal entries until you reach the limit of 15 for the semester.  Journal entries must be typed.  (Occasionally, different opportunities to earn extra points will be presented.  Extra points, however, will be limited to a total of 15 points, regardless of how they are earned.)

Grading:  Grades will be based on the percentage of points earned on the four exams, the two papers, discussion questions, and two demonstration reports.  Points from journals (or other extra credit opportunities) will be added to these points before a percentage is calculated using 330 points as the base. 

Posting grades

·       Periodically I will post student grades on exams and case studies on the bulletin board outside my  office (Robinson 320B)

·       The grades will be posted using students’ LHU ID numbers.

·       If you do not want your grades posted, please let me know.

·       You can change your mind at any time during the semester about having your grades posted, but it is your responsibility to inform me of the change.

Tentative Schedule