WS 101 Introduction to Women’s Studies

Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Introduces Women’s Studies, feminism, and the concept of gender. Focuses on the lives and status of women in the U.S. society and explores how social institutions such as family, work, media, education, and health/medicine affect different groups of women. Explores issues of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation, size, and ability.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Discuss Women’s Studies as a discipline.
Identify systems of privilege and oppression that affect women’s lives.
Describe the historical development of feminism and its contemporary expression.
Describe evidence-based examples of gender inequality in the United States.
Analyze the beauty ideal in American culture.
Identify women’s issues within major U.S. social institutions.
Identify different feminist theories and methods of inquiry used in understanding women’s lives.

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior.
Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.

Cultural Literacy Outcome:

Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.

Content Outline

Introduction to Women’s Studies, Feminism, and the concept of gender
Systems of Privilege and Oppression
Gender-based Inequality
The Beauty Ideal
Sexuality, Health, and Reproduction
Women’s Lives in Social Institutions
- Family
  - Marriage
  - Motherhood
  - Paid and unpaid labor
- Work