Sociology Department

Sociology 497.4
Youth: Gender Perspectives
Spring, 2005

Dr. Cindy Stearns
Thursday, 8-11:40, Rachel Carson 20

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will examine the ways in which understandings of gender shape the experiences of children from the early years through adolescence in schools, at home, and in the community. The focus will be on the need to understand the complex interplay of gender, race, social class, sexuality and other factors in understanding children’s lives as well as the methodological issues that arise in conducting quality research on children’s lives and experiences. This course will involve community service learning, which will provide multiple opportunities to connect real life experiences working with youth to current theories and research described in the required readings. The class will be run as a seminar and students will be required to become active, engaged, and responsible learners and teachers.

SERVICE LEARNING REQUIREMENT
A central part of this course will be your work in a setting that serves youth. There is a 30 hour service learning requirement for this course. Students will work in settings that serve youth. Possibilities include classrooms in local schools, after-school programs, tutoring programs, and activist organizations. Service learning providers will present local opportunities during class on February 10th. The instructor will approve appropriate service settings. Do not seek a service setting on your own, but only in consultation with the instructor. A service learning plan (including all required signatures) will be distributed in class and must be turned in by February 24th.

REQUIRED BOOKS/READINGS
All of the books are available in the SSU bookstore. Reserve Readings are available in the library.
Bad Boys: Public Schools in the Making of Black Masculinity, Ann Arnett Ferguson, University of Michigan Press, 2000
Women without Class: Girls, Race and Identity, Julie Bettie. Berkeley:UC Press. 2003.
SchoolGirls, Peggy Orenstein, Anchor Books, 1994
RR: WGS 325 Youth: Gender Perspectives Reader.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS:
The requirements for this course are designed to create a climate of engaged and actively participating learners and teachers. You will be working in the community, working in the classroom, and making connections between the two spheres. You will be required to think critically, develop your analytic skills, read and evaluate original research, and write extensively. Students will have significant responsibility for the learning process of this course. Course requirements are summarized below. See the syllabus for complete details.