International Perspectives on Women Syllabus

Women's Studies 300: INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON WOMEN

Spring 2000

Professor Geraldine Forbes

SUNY-Oswego

MW: 4-5:20 pm

Course Objectives:

Since 1975, the United Nation's designated International Women's Year; women's status, issues, and role in economic development have played at part in discussions of world affairs. By the 1990s almost all world conferences -- on population, the environment, war and refugees -- have included a discussion of the impact of changes on women and women's roles. At the end of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, conference delegates accepted a Platform for Action, a blueprint for women's advancement around the world. In the same year, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations turned their attention to human rights abuses against women. In recent elections in different parts of the world, women have gained more political seats than they have ever held. Worldwide women are making significant gains in literacy and non-traditional fields of work. Nevertheless, women all over the world continues to face discrimination. In some cases this discrimination prevents them from attending school, obtaining salaried jobs, or taking part in public life; in other settings, it reduces their chances for survival.

This course has been designed to examine the critical issues raised at Beijing and in other international conferences; increase knowledge of macro-data on women's economic, social and political position in the world; promote awareness of the role of global interdependence

(specifically: world trade, militarization, ecological forces and "world culture") on women's lives; encourage understanding of women's issues as expressed through women's own writings; and encourage the awareness and respect for cultural diversity necessary to appreciate literature written by women from the geographical regions studied. Through a study of women's issues in different regions of the world we will reach a greater understanding of women in the USA today.

Required Books:

1. Joni Seager,, Women in the World Atlas [Atlas]

2. Debbie Taylor, My Children, My Gold: A Journey to the World of Seven Single Mothers [MCMG]

3. WST 300 Reader [WST-R]

4. WST 300 Website [Web]

5. A novel or autobiography (each student will select one from the list)

Course Requirements:

1. Map Quizzes (given weekly in class) (10 x10) = 100

2. Worksheets - from Seager 4 x 20 = 80

3. Four " Letters from the Field" (see details) = 400

3. Essay on novel or autobiography = 100

5. Class participation = 20

Course Schedule

1. Jan 24 Introduction to the Course:

2. Jan 26 A Gendered Perspective on Global Issues

{Read: Atlas, 13-17; WST-R: Women on the Verge of 2000, Women in today's World, the Fourth World Conference of Women, If We Could Shrink the World; Web; MCMG: Introduction}

3. Jan 31 North America:

"Women: Their Status and Diversity"

{Read: Atlas, 50-51, 86-87; WST-R: the United States, Area woman, Women of color in Corporate Management, A Rice Sandwich; Web}

Map Quiz -Canada & USA - Map 1, p. 11

4. Feb 2 North America:

"Issue: Violence Against Women"

{Read: Atlas, 26-27, 43, 56-57; WST-R: Violence Against Women, Rape Statistics in the USA, Crime Rates Are Down, Hot Head Paisan, Web}

5. Feb 7 Southern Africa:

"The History and Status of Women in Southern Africa"

{Read: Atlas, 44-45, 46-47; WST-R: South Africa, Map of South Africa Homelands, Women's Charter, Mama Africa, Web}

Map Quiz - S. Africa - Map 2, p. 50

6. Feb 9 Southern Africa:

"Rebuilding South Africa after Apartheid"

{Read: Atlas, 74-75, 84-85; WST-R: Women's Education, Education Under Apartheid, Web}

7.Feb 14 Sub-Saharan Africa:

"Status and Work: Mothers as Providers"

{Read: Atlas, 62-63, 76-77; WST-R:Nigeria, African Woman's Day, Ghana: An Enterprising Woman, Bulldozed, Fruits of Their Labor, MCMG: Lydia, Web}

Map Quiz - Africa - Map 3, p. 74

8.Feb 16 Africa:

"The Issue of Female Genital Mutilation"

{Read: Atlas, 52-53; WST-R: Female Genital Mutilation, Hands Off!; Web}

9. Feb 21 China:

"The Chinese Revolution and the Status of Women"

{Read: Atlas, 66-67; WST-R30. Chinese Characters, China Holding Up Half the Sky; MCMG, Hua; Web}

Map Quiz - China - Map 4, p. 94

10. Feb 23 China:

"The One-Child Policy"

{Read: Atlas, 34-35, 36-37; WST-R: Family Planning, China's One Child Policy, Chinese Are Happily Breaking the 'One Child Rule,' Divorce Rate Increases, Web}

11. Feb 28 Japan

"Status of Women in Japan: Issues of Work"

{Read: Atlas, 60-61, 70-71; WST-R: Japan, Traditional Japan, Working Women in Japan, Japan's Comics for Secretaries, Web}

Map Quiz - Japan - Map 5, p. 129

12. Mar 1 Korea

"Women's Rights are Human Rights: Redress for 'Comfort Women'"

{Read: WST-R, A Human Rights Issues: Japanese Use of Korean Women as "sexual slaves" in WWII, Web}

13. Mar 6 Southeast Asia

"The Global Factory"

{Read: Atlas, 64-65; WST-R:Philippines, Making Women's Labor Cheap, Nike's Nemesis, Web}

Map Quiz -Southeast Asia - Map 6, p. 161

14. Mar 8 Southeast Asia: Thailand

"Trafficking in Women and Children"

{Read: Atlas, 54-55; WST-R: A New Colonialism, Touring Thailand's Sex Industry, Putting the Heat on Sex Tourism, Letter from Amy in Thailand, Web}

15. Mar 13 South Asia:

"History, Culture and the Women's Movement"

{Read: Atlas, 22-23; WST-R. India, Traditional Sayings, MCMG: Jomuna, Web}

Map Quiz - India - Map 7, p. 192

16. Mar 15 South Asia:

"The Status of Women in the Family

{Read: Atlas, 32-33, 38-39; WST-R: Marriage and Family, Women and Structural Violence in India, SEWA's Founder: Ela Bhatt, Web}

*Spring Recess Mar 20-24

17.Mar 27 The Middle East and North Africa:

"The Status of Women in Islam"

{Read: Atlas:92-93; WST-R: Egypt, The Status of Women in Islam, Egypt: the End of FGM?, MCMG: Amal; Web}

Map Quiz - Middle East & Egypt - Map 8, p. 216

18. Mar 29 The Middle East

"Honor and Veiling: Culture, Identity and Politics"

{Read: Atlas, 28-29; WST-R: Liberation by the Veil, Commodifying Honor in Female Society, Where the Music Has Died, Letter from Afghanistan, Web}

19. Apr 3 Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States

"Restructuring After Communism"

{Read: Atlas, 40-41, 80-81; WST-R: Map of Russia and CIS, Russia, A Hotline Movement Grows in Russia, Traffickers' New Cargo: Naïve Slavic Women, Web}

Map Quiz - Russia and Eastern Europe - Map 9, p. 244

20. Apr 5 Eastern Europe: the Breakup of Yugoslavia

"Rape in Bosnia"

{Read: Atlas, 56-57; WST-R Map of the Former Yugoslavia, War in Bosnia, Turning Rape into Pornography, Romania: Mariana Cetiner, Web}

21. Apr 10 Western Europe:

"Status of Women in Europe"

{Read: Atlas, 60-61; WST-R: Chart on women in Europe, Sweden, Women's Health; MCMG:Meg; Web}

Map Quiz - Western Europe - Map 10, p. 280

22. Apr 12 Western Europe:

"Liberty, Equality and Maternity: The Benefits of the Welfare State"

{Read: Atlas, 24-25, 68-69; WST-R: France, European Social Welfare, Lesbianism, What you should know about lesbian; Web}

23.Apr 17 South America: Argentina

"Confronting the Redemptive Paradigm: Mothers of the Plaza"

{Read: Atlas, 20-21; WST-R: Argentina, Where Are Our Children, Web}

Map Quiz - South America - Map 11, p. 321

24. Apr 24 South America: Brazil

"Women's Lives"

{Read: Atlas 84-85; WST-R: Brazil, A Letter from Ecuador; MCMG: Maria; Web}

25. Apr 26 Mexico and Central America:

"Status of Women in Mexico & Central America: Women's Organizations"

{Read: Atlas, 46-47; WST-R: Mexico,Highlight: documentary, Nobel Laureate, Nobel Winner's Autobiography, Menchu Admits Inaccuracies, Guatemala; Web}

Map Quiz - Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean - Map 12, p. 345

26. May 1 The Caribbean

"Weaving the Future: Women Organize for Social Change"

{Read: Atlas, 78-79; WST-R: Women's Employment, From Tourism to Typing, Are my hands clean? Web}

27. May 3 Think Globally, Act Locally

"How do women make a difference? "

{Read: Atlas, 48-49, 90-91,WST-R: Women in the House; Web}

Requirements:

1. MAP QUIZZES (12 quizzes will be given, you must do 10) The maps are in the Reader, dates are indicated on the syllabus.

2. WORKSHEETS - Worksheets with questions drawn from Seager's Atlas will be handed out.

3. FOUR " LETTERS FROM THE FIELD"

For the purposes of this assignment you must imagine you are a student intern (a professional and highly prestigious position) in one of the countries within each geographical grouping indicated. Part of your duty as an intern is to write to your supervisor in New York. There are somewhat different requirements for each assignment. For each "placement" select the country where you want to do your "internship" and then write to your supervisor answering each of the 4 questions. Make a serious effort to integrate the four topics.

Length: 1000-1200words, double spaced, 12 pt, New York or Helvetica Font, 1" margins, black or blue ink.

References: MLA or APA. You must use at least 4 sources for each "letter."

#1. Due Feb 9. Geographical grouping: North America (Canada, USA)

1) Summarize the global picture of Violence Against Women?

2) Report on Violence Against Women in the country where you are an intern? Explain and give details.

3) What is being done to combat violence against women in this country?

4) What recommendation would you make to the UN? In other words, is there anything the world outside your country of internship could do to help solve the problems you have identified?

#2. Due Mar 1. Geographical grouping: any country in Sub-Saharan Africa or China

1) What is the global picture of Education, Reproductive Health, OR Family Planning for women?

2) Report on some aspect of Education, Reproductive Health, OR Family Planning in country of internship. Explain and give details.

3) What is being done to ameliorate the situation?

4) What recommendation would you make to the UN? In other words, is there anything the world outside your country of internship could do to help solve the problems you have identified?

#3. Due Mar 29. Geographical grouping: East Asia: (Japan, Korea); S.E.Asia (Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand); South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh), Middle East

1) What is the global picture of Marriage and Divorce OR Work for women?

2) Report on some aspect of Marriage and Divorce OR Work for women in the country of internship. Explain and give details.

3) What is being done to ameliorate the situation identified above?

4) What recommendation would you make to the UN? In other words, is there anything the world outside your country of internship could do to help solve the problems you have identified?

#4. Due May 3. Geographical grouping: Russia, E. Europe, W. Europe, S. America, Central America, Caribbean

1) What is the global picture of Health, Politics OR the Impact of War for women?

2) Report on some aspect of Health, Politics OR the Impact of War for women in the country of internship. Explain and give details.

3) What is being done to ameliorate the situation identified above?

4) What recommendation would you make to the UN? In other words, is there anything the world outside your country of internship could do to help solve the problems you have identified?

4. ESSAY ON NOVEL OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

To give you an opportunity to learn more about the personal lives of women from other countries, below is a series of books on women's lives written by women from these regions. Each of you must choose one book -either a novel or an autobiography - from one region of the world. You will write an essay on the book you choose. Select one book from the following list; due date is listed.

North America: S.L. & R. Morales, GETTING HOME ALIVE; Saphire, PUSH

Southern Africa: Miriam Makeba, MAKEBA: MY STORY; Bessie Head, MARU

East, Central and West Africa:

Kim Marie Vaz, THE WOMAN WITH THE ARTISTIC BRUSH: A LIFE HISTORY OF YORUBA BATIK ARTIST NIKE DAVIES

Fausziya Kassindja,Layli Miller Bashir,et al. DO THEY HEAR WHEN YOU CRY

Buchi Emecheta, THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD

East Asia - China:

Rae Yang, SPIDER EATERS

Yuan Tseng Cheng, THE DRAGON'S VILLAGE

East Asia - Japan, Taiwan, Korea:

Sawako Ariyoshi, THE TWILIGHT YEARS

Banana Yoshimoto, KITCHEN

Southeast Asia:

Maria Rosa Henson, COMFORT WOMAN: A FILIPINA'S STORY OF PROSTITUTION AND SLAVERY UNDER THE JAPANESE MILITARY

Le Ly Hayslip, WHEN HEAVEN AND EARTH CHANGED PLACES

South Asia:

Shudha Mazumdar, MEMOIRS OF AN INDIAN WOMAN

Arundhati Roy, GOD OF SMALL THINGS

Middle East:

Mernissi, Fatima, DREAMS OF TRESPASS: TALES OF A HAREM GIRLHOOD

Nawal El Saadawi, WOMAN AT POINT ZERO

Eastern Europe and Russia:

Erzsebet Galgoczi, ANOTHER LOVE

Western Europe:

Gerd Brantenberg, EGALIA'S DAUGHTERS

South America:

Barrios de Chungara Domitila, LET ME SPEAK: TESTIMONY OF DOMITILA; A WOMAN OF THE BOLIVIAN MINES

Central America/Mexico:

Rigoberto Menchu, I, RIGOBERTO MENCHU: AN INDIAN WOMAN IN GUATEMALA

Laura Esquivel, LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE

How to write the book essay

Length: 1000-1200words, double spaced, 12 pt, New York or Helvetica Font, 1" margins, black or blue ink.

References: MLA or APA.

You must answer the following questions in your analysis of the book you read:

1. Full bibliographic reference: author, title, translator, editor, publisher, place of publication, date of publication.

2. A summary of the book: This must be very clear and include whether it's a novel or autobiography, the time period and country, the plot, main characters and themes.

3. Analysis of the main woman/women in the book to include answers to the questions:

a. How was the woman/women in the book affected/ influenced by economic, social, and political forces? (to answer this question you need to reflect on social and economic class and political environment)

b. How was the "ideal woman" defined in this book? (you may need to read between the lines)

c. Did the main character in the book you read live up to societal expectations for the ideal woman? (why or why not? How did she regard the "ideal"?)

d. What did the main character in the book you read value most?

e. Did the main character in the book you read accomplish what she wanted? Was she successful? 4. Present a conclusion that integrates the key points of your analysis and describes the impact of this book on you.

A note about expectations:

I expect you to attend all classes and come to class with the readings done. However, I am aware of how many obligations you have - in other classes, at work, and to your families. If you find it difficult to do the readings for a class or complete an assignment, please talk with me about it.

A note about cheating and plagiarism:

There is a College Policy on cheating and plagiarism (see the student handbook). In the past I have talked with students who told me they did not know that copying word-for-word from a text was plagiarism. It is. Please make certain you understand what constitutes plagiarism. I consider plagiarism a serious problem and unfortunately, catch at lot of students engaged in it.