American University School of Public Affairs Department of Government. Office: Ward 215 GOVT Fall 2002

Transcription

1 American University School of Public Affairs Department of Government Professor Maryann Barakso Women and Politics Office: Ward 215 GOVT Fall 2002 x6239 (10-4 pm, Tues, Wed, Fri) Wed, 11:20-2:00 pm (10-4 pm, M-F) Office Hours: W, 2-5 and T, F, 3:30-5 Course Description Although it might seem that women s involvement in politics is a contemporary phenomenon, in fact women s activism and women s issues are evident throughout the historical and political development of the United States. We will trace American politics from the time of abolition, asking how women s issues are reflected in the politics of each era under consideration. We will describe women s social, political and economic status over time and explore how women sought to gain policy concessions and access to political institutions. Women in the political party system will be a particular focus of the course. However, much of the women s political activity has and still does take place in interest group and social movement organizations rather than within the formal party system, so these groups will also be important in our discussions. We end by addressing a set of important contemporary issues involving motherhood and the political economy. I hope you will stop by my office hours to introduce yourself. I strongly encourage you to ask questions in class, via Blackboard, and during office hours. I normally return within 24 hours of receipt (M -F, 10-4). While this syllabus is our guiding document, you should expect changes, substitutions, and amendments. Required Readings Books on Order The following are on order at the AU Bookstore. Many of these are available used or at a discount. Try <half.com>, <amazon.com>, or <barnesandnoble.com>. I will also place several on regular reserve at the AU library. Jo Freeman, A Room at a Time: How Women Entered Party Politics Vicki Crawford, et al. Eds., Women in the Civil Rights Movement: Trailblazers and Torchbearers, Susan Ware, Beyond Suffrage: Women in the New Deal Rebecca E. Klatch, Women of the New Right Susan M. Hartmann, From Margin to Mainstream: American Women and Politics Since 1960 Christina Wolbrecht, The Politics of Women s Rights: Parties, Positions, and Change Janet A. Flammang, Women s Political Voice: How Women are Transforming the Practice and Study of Politics Required Readings on e-reserve: Mimi Abramovitz, Learning from the History of Poor and Working-Class Women s Activism, in R. Albellda and A. Withorn, eds. Lost Ground: Welfare Reform, Poverty and Beyond, 2002, pp Marianne Hirsch, Feminism at the Maternal Divide: A Diary in Jetter, et al. Alexis Jetter, Annelise, Orleck, Diana Taylor, Overview: The Uneasy Relationship Between Motherhood and Feminism, in their edited volume, The Politics of Motherhood: Activist Voices from Left to Right, pp Denise Urias Levy and Sonya Michel, More Can be Less: Child Care and Welfare Reform in the United States, in Sonya Michel and Rianne Mahon, Child Care Policy at the Crossroads: Gender and Welfare State Restructuring. Gwendolyn Mink, Valuing Women s Work, in From Poverty to Punishment: How Welfare Reform Punishes the Poor, 2002, pp Carole Pateman, Women and Consent, pp in Pateman s The Disorder of Women: Democracy, Feminism and Political Theory. Jacqueline Payne, Marriage and Family Formation in Welfare Reform, in Sanford F. Schram, Ed., Proceedings of the Action/Research Conference on Welfare Reform: Where Have We Been, Where are We Going? pp

2 Frances Fox Piven and Richard A. Cloward, Women and the State: Ideology, Power, and the Welfare State, in The Breaking of the American Socia l Compact, 1997, pp Robert Rector, Using Welfare Reform to Strengthen Marriage, American Experiment Quarterly, summer, 2001, pp Sara Ruddick, Rethinking Maternal Politics, in Jetter, et al. Kira Sanbonmatsu, Political Parties and the Recruitment of Women to State Legislatures, Journal of Politics, Vol. 64, Issue 3, August Verta Taylor, Social Movement Continuity: The Women's Movement in Abeyance, American Sociological Review, Vol. 54, No. 5, October 1989 Historical Documents Kathie Sarachild, "Consciousness-Raising: A Radical Weapon," in Feminist Revolution, New York: Random House, c1978, pp Michele Wallace, "On the National Black Feminist Organization" in Feminist Revolution. New York: Random House, c1978. pp Shulamith Firestone, THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE U.S.: A NEW VIEW Women and the Radical Movement "Female Liberation: A Joint Statement by Six Female Liberation Groups in Chapel Hill and Durham, N.C." Maxine Williams, "Why Women's Liberation Is Important to Black Women," and Pamela Newman, "Take a Good Look at Our Problems" in Williams and Newman, Black Women's Liberation. NY: Pathfinder Press, Both found at: Requirements and Grading A. Grades are determined this way: Participation 20% Discussion Leader 15% Reading Journal 1 15% Reading Journal 2 15% Reading Journal 3 15% Paper (20 pgs) 20% Topic/Question 2 Sources 3 Paper 15 Bonus available for evidence of growth, commitment, progress over time. At my discretion. Will not apply to one dramatic effort at the end of the semester or on one project. 5 points All course policies are laid out in detail on our Blackboard site. Please keep in mind that except in cases of calculation error, grades are final and cannot be changed. Late assignments will lose 1/2 grade per day that they are late see Blackboard for details. Make-up exams are not given without valid documentation. Participation checks cannot be made up. No extra credit is available. Please familiarize yourself with American University s Academic Integrity Code. B. Participation 1. The most important course requirement is that readings must be completed before class. Your final participation grade is determined by your written answers to questions ( reading responses ) before and/or after class. These comprise an approximately 2-paragraph response to a question I will pose on the readings due that day. The point is to demonstrate your familiarity with and consideration of the reading. Don t arrive late these participation checks end promptly. Occasionally I will also ask for a brief response to class discussion during the last five minutes of class. Come prepared. 2

3 2. Everyone will act as discussion leader at least once. The discussion leader prepares a critical summary of the main arguments in the book/readings that s/he will post on our Blackboard site by midnight Tuesday (no more than 500 words). S/he will present her summary in class, along with comments, questions, and other insights. The discussion leader will begin the class by summarizing the main arguments of the readings, the types of evidence presented, and his or her critical analysis of the work. In addition, the leader provides us with discussion questions. These initial presentations should take approximately 15 minutes. C. Blackboard It is your responsibility to immediately enroll in this course in Blackboard no later than September 3. Go to <my.american.edu> and login. On the left side of the screen click on Blackboard and then login. Post a hello test message on our discussion board so that I know you have accessed the site. If you have any questions or problems with this, helpdesk@american.edu or call them for assistance. You must check Blackboard frequently; at least before every class. All assignments, changes to the schedule, and guidelines will be posted there. If I have posted a handout, print it out and bring it with you to class. D. Reading Journals You will keep a journal in which you reflect on the readings. Expect to write at least two pages per week of readings. These journals will be due three times during the semester. Journals are not off the top of your head ponderings, nor are they summaries. Instead, they are your specific, thoughtful, critical considerations of and reactions to the reading. You may also bring in questions and comments raised in class discussions. E. Academic Difficulties/Other If you experience academic difficulties in this course, please do not hesitate to consult with me. In addition to the resources of the Government department, a wide range of services is available to support you in your efforts to meet the course requirements and to stay healthy. If you have difficulty speaking or reading English, please contact me immediately. If you have a disability and might require accommodations in this course, please notify me with a letter from DSS or ASC as soon as possible in the semester so that we can make arrangements to meet your needs. The Academic Support Center (x3360, MCG 243) offers study skills workshops, individual instruction, tutor referrals and services for students with learning disabilities. Writing support is available in the ASC Writing Lab or in the Writing Center, Gray Hall 206. Counseling Center (x3500, MCG 214) offers counseling and consultations regarding personal concerns, self-help information, and connections to off-campus mental health resources. Disability Support Services (x3315, MGC 206) offers technical and practical support and assistance with accommodations for students with physical or psychological disabilities. 3

4 Date Topic Due Today Wed August 28 Administration and Introduction Wed September 4 The First Wave Pateman, Women and Consent, pp (e-reserve); Freeman, pp *Reading responses begin today Wed September 11 After Suffrage Freeman, pp Wed September 18 The War Years and Beyond Ware, entire *Paper topic and question due in class Wed September 25 The Civil Rights Movement Taylor (e -reserve); In Crawford, et al. read: Crawford, Beyond the Human Self: Grassroots Activists in the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, pp.13-26; Mueller, Ella Baker and the Origins of Participatory Democracy, pp , Standley, The Role of Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement, pp ; Burks, Trailblazers: Women in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 71-84, Black, A Reluctant but Persistent Warrior: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Early Civil Rights Movement, pp Fri September 27 *Journal 1 due on Sept. 4, 11, 18 th readings by 4 pm in my office. Wed October 2 The Second Wave Hartmann, entire; original documents (see links above) *If your name begins with the letters A, B, C or D Wed October 16 Contemporary Women in Politics Wolbrecht, entire. Fri October 18 *Annotated bibliography due by 4pm in my office. Wed October 23 Contemporary Women in Politics Klatch, entire. *If your name begins with the letters E, F, G, H or I, please make an appointment this week to see me if Fri October 25 *Journal 2 due on Sept. 25, Oct 2, Oct 16 th readings by 4pm in my office. Wed November 6 Class Cancelled Wed November 13 Contemporary Women in Politics Flammang, pp ; Sanbonmatsu, Political Parties (e-reserve) *If your name begins with the letters J, K, L or M Fri November 15 *Journal 3 due on Oct. 23 and Nov. 13 th readings Wed November 20 Politics of Motherhood Jetter, et al., Overview; pp ; Hirsch, Feminism at the Maternal Divide: A Diary; pp ; Ruddick, Rethinking Maternal Politics; pp ; Levy and Michel, More Can be Less: Child Care and Welfare Reform in the United States; p (e -reserve) *If your name begins with the letters O, P, Q, R or S please make an appointment this week to see me if 4

5 Wed December 4 The Political Economy of Motherhood Abramovitz, Learning from the History of Poor and Working-Class Women s Activism, pp ; Rector, Using Welfare Reform to Strengthen Marriage, pp ; Mink, pp ;Piven and Cloward, Women and the State: Ideology, Power, and the Welfare State, pp ; Payne, Marriage and Family Formation in Welfare Reform, pp (e-reserve) *If your name begins with the letters T through Z, Mon December 9 *Paper due. Submit to front desk of the Department of Government and ask to have it time/date stamped. 5