 | WOMEN'S STUDIES: COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
53-100. Women in Canadian Society
An introduction to Women's Studies of an interdisciplinary nature, designed to illustrate and account for the position of women in Canadian society. Possible areas of enquiry include health, law, politics, history, women and work, representation of women in literature, Canadian women artists and musicians.
53-106. Women and Religion
A comparative, feminist-critical exploration of the status of women and women's religious experience in selected examples of traditional (e.g., Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) and non-traditional (e.g., Goddess religions, Wicca, Feminism) religions, ancient and modern. (Can be taken for either Social Science or Arts credit.)
53-120. Gal Pals: Women and Friendship Over Time
This course examines women's friendships across a wide sweep of time and place. Through discussion, reading, and films we will explore topics such as the meaning of friendship for women, how women's friendships have been portrayed in literature and film, the link between friendship and social activism for women, and the political meanings of women's friendship in cultures resistant to woman-centred consciousness.
53-200. History of Women's Movements in North America
An exploration of the collective action of women in the past and present in North America. Areas of study may include women's involvement with the temperance, civil rights, suffrage, trade union, environmental, reproductive rights, and women's liberation movements. (Also offered as History 43-251.)
53-201. Women and Diversity
Examines the intersection of gender with other oppressions experienced by groups such as women of colour, older women, disabled women, working-class women, and lesbians. The perspective taken is the critical analysis of gender offered by feminism(s). (Also offered as Sociology 48-251.)
53-215. Religion and Sexuality
The role of religion in shaping, positively and negatively, the understanding of sexuality and sexual roles. The impact of current re-evaluations of bodiliness and feminine-masculine stereotyping on societal views of marriage, premarital sex, homosexuality, etc. (Can be taken for either Social Science or Arts credit.)
53-220. Biology of Sex and Gender
Human reproductive "strategies" are investigated within a framework of evolutionary biology. Attributes of sex and gender are explored as continuous variables resulting from physiological, endochrinological, and phylogenetic factors, along with environmental and cultural influences on sex and gender. Problems of gender chauvinism and biological determinism are discussed. (Prerequisite: OAC Biology, or any university-level Biology course, or consent of the instructor.) (Can be taken for either Social Science or Science credit.)
53-225. Feminist Theology
An introduction to the various dimensions of feminist theology. These include: post-Christian feminism; feminist hermeneutics; liberation theology; and the stories, both fiction and non-fiction, of women's lives. Students are encouraged to study the material in relation to their own lives and values. (Can be taken for either Social Science or Arts credit.)
53-230. Gender and Moral Choice
This course examines how gender affects personal and public definitions of moral problems and their resolution. Issues such as reproductive choices, childrearing, poverty, and war will be used to explore these ideas. (Can be taken for either Social Science or Arts credit.)
53-240. Helpmates, Harlots, Deliverers, and Disciples: Women and the Bible
A feminist-critical examination of selected passages from the Hebrew bible (Tanak/Old Testament), the Apocrypha, and/or the New Testament, focusing on gender ideology and the depiction of the legal, social, and religious status of women in ancient Israel, early Judaism, and/or early Christianity. The course will also explore the ways in which biblical gender ideology continues to shape attitudes toward women in contemporary societies. (Can be taken for either Social Science or Arts credit.)
53-250. Women, Movement and Performance
This course explores how women come to know themselves and others through their bodies, gender and racial stereotypes, body image and body language, women's use of space, the gendered construction of sport, and movement as a cultural message. (Prerequisite: one Women’s Studies course.)
53-260. Women in the Global Economy
This course introduces students to gender-sensitive analysis of the role of women in the global economy. Course materials cover the place of women in the international division of labour, the role of women in export-oriented industries in the "Third World," and women as "homeworkers" in the First and Third World. Students will utilize relevant empirical material to develop critical thinking and an understanding of gender inequalities in the "development process." (Prerequisites: at least Semester 3 standing.)
53-300. The Meaning of Feminist Inquiry
An exploration of diverse feminist theories supporting women's studies scholarship within the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and the relationship between feminist theories and practices. By deconstructing traditional narratives, students examine questions of identity, objectivity,and evidence. (Prerequisites: two of 53-200, 53-201, or 53-310, or consent of the instructor.)
53-301. Frameworks for Feminist Research
An exploration of the diverse approaches to feminist research in a variety of fields. Students will examine the core questions and approaches that various disciplines bring to the study of women. (Prerequisites: two of 53-200, 53-201, or 53-310, or consent of the instructor.)
53-310. Women and the Law
This course examines the relationship between gender inequality and the legal system. Topics include abortion, marriage, divorce, custody, equal pay, sexual harassment, rape, pornography, and prostitution. Students are introduced to basic legal research tools, such as statutes, regulations, cases, and legal literature. (Prerequisites: two Women's Studies courses.)
53-320. Women, Power, and Environments
This course focuses on environmental issues as they affect women across cultures. It provides a feminist critical analysis of the power relations in modern societies that cause environmental degradation and examines the theories, policies, and institutions that contribute to unsustainable practices. Emphasis is placed on the women-nature debate within various environmental social movements and the historical role women have played as activists. (Also offered as Planning 50-320.) (Prerequisite: at least Semester 3 standing.)
53-340. Women and War
This course examines war through women's eyes, including home fronts during wartime in both combat and non-combat zones, women in combat, the effects of various military tactics and strategies on women, war crimes against women, women refugees, women's activism on war-related issues, and media coverage of women and war. (Prerequisite: two Women’s Studies courses and at least semester 4 standing.)
53-347. Family Violence
Examines all aspects of violence in the family. The primary focus is generalist social work practice family intervention in cases of abusive violence and societal provision for sheltered separation and family reconstitution or dissolution. (Open to senior students. Social Work majors will be given registration priority.) (Also offered as 47-347.)
53-350. Special Topics
The content will vary to reflect student need and faculty expertise and may be offered as a cross-listed course with other programs. (Prerequisite: at least semester 4 standing.)
53-360. Women at Work
This course examines women's work experiences in the workplace and in the household from a critical perspective. Topics include the division of labour by sex, the value of women's labour, sexual harassment, and women's union participation. (Prerequisite: 71-140 or 53-100 and semester 4 or above standing.) (Also offered as 71-347.)
53-370. Mothering and Motherhood
This course examines Western society's ideas of motherhood, in particular, the social construction of "good" and "bad" mothers, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Differences associated with class, race, ethnicity, and sexual preference will be considered. (Prerequisite: three Women’s Studies courses and at least semester 4 standing.) (Also offered as Social Work 47-370.)
53-380. Feminist Literary Dimensions of the Hebrew Bible
A feminist exploration of the Hebrew Bible as a literary text. Using the work of major feminist biblical scholars, the course will explore rhetorical strategies, characterization, narrative voice, themes, motifs and other literary dimensions of the Hebrew Bible to see how they contribute to the production of gender ideologies in the text. Feminist strategies for rereading, exposing and deconstructing male-authored images of women and femaleness in biblical texts will be examined. (Prerequisite: 53-240.) (Can be taken for either Social Science or Arts credit.)
53-400. Seminar/Practicum
The course involves the study of a problem or theory related to women or gender which will result in a practicum report or thesis. Students will select individual topics of interest and will be supervised and assisted by a faculty member. (Open only to Semester 7 and Semester 8 students.) (Prerequisites: 53-300 and 53-301.)
53-458. Women's Issues and Social Work
Examines gender issues, social processes and policies which construct women's realities. The course will critique issues such as: poverty, equality, unemployment and welfare, child-care, reproductive rights, mental health, physical health and domestic violence. (Open to senior students. Social Work majors will be given registration priority.) (Also offered as 47-458.) |