Current Event Update: Supreme Court Ruling on Hobby Lobby

Please read the following story from the New York Times regarding the Supreme Court decision involving Hobby Lobby and access to birth control.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/us/hobby-lobby-case-supreme-court-contraception.html?_r=0

What is your reaction to this recent move? How does it make you feel?

Systems of Privilege and Inequity

This Week: 

Systems of Privilege and Inequity

Learning Gender

Read: Chapters 2, 3

View: Video 2

Write: (2) Blog Entries

Exam: Take the Quiz on Blackboard 

Note: The Quiz is available now and will be available until 5 p.m. on July 4. 

Chapter 2 Systems of Privilege

The key concepts in Chapter 2 include difference, mythical norm, normalization, hierarchy, stratification, target group, privilege, entitlement, ranking, racism, sexism, classism.  Other items presented include compulsory heterosexuality, prejudice, homophobia, hate crimes, sexual terrorism, societal institutions, ideologies, stereotypes, bootstrap myth, internalization, horizontal hostility, hate crimes, misogyny and  sexual terrorism.  As you contemplate this chapter, you may ask yourself, “What does it mean to say that humans are marked by difference? In what kinds of ways are women different from each other?” 

Chapter 3: Learning Gender

The key concepts in Chapter 3 include sex, gender, intersex, sissy, tomboy, femininity, masculinity, gender assignment, gender identity, gender expression, gender performance, biology, culture, gender socialization, intersectionality, androgyny, transgender, genderqueer, cisgender, transsexuals, double bind, superwoman, gender ranking and stratification and systems of inequality and privilege. You should emerge from this chapter with an understanding of the distinction between sex and gender. Further, your studies will allow you to understand the concepts of gender assignment, gender identity, and gender expression.    

For your reference, I have attached a link to the Transgender Law and Policy Institute.

http://www.transgenderlaw.org/

Blog Entries Due this Week: 

July 2:             Systems of privilege question 

What are three specific ways that societal institutions support systems of privilege and inequality and provide examples.

July 4:             Gender question

What are the contemporary norms associated with femininity and masculinity? Provide examples of the various institutions that maintain these norms.  

Blog Overview and First Question

BLOG OVERVIEW: You are required to answer each blog question with a 250-word answer and then respond to at least one other participants point of view to fulfill the assignment. The Blog is located at http://clemsonws.blogspot.com/ You received should have received an invitation to participate if you supplied me with a preferred email. 

June 27:            Introductory Blog Entry

Introduce yourself, your major and your objectives for taking the class   

Welcome to Women's Studies 301

Welcome!
For the first week (June 25-June 27), please read Chapter 1 of your textbook, view the introductory video (Video #1) and write your introductory blog entry.