Psychology of Women

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
PSYC 1110
Discontinued
No
Course Code
PSYC 1110
Descriptive
Psychology of Women
Department
Psychology
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
201920
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Contact Hours
Lecture 4 hours per week/semester
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Learning Activities

The course will involve a number of instructional methods, such as the following:

  • lectures
  • small group discussions
  • demonstrations
  • presentations
  • video content
Course Description
This course will study the experiences, realities, and possibilities of women’s lives. It will explore both the psychological origins and psychological effects of the female role. This will be discussed through critical analysis grounded in and sensitive to the everyday life experiences of women in industrialized societies. It will examine female diversity and development, focusing on relationships, knowledge, sexuality, health, work, and aging.
Course Content

Theories and Mechanisms of Socialization

  • The dynamics of patriarchy: The role of myth in the development and maintenance of roles.
  • Equality and power in the male/female relationship.
  • Feminist responses to sexist stereotypes.

Consciousness: Concepts of the Women’s Experience From the Infant to the Aging Adult (0-100+)

  • Female diversity and development.
  • The politics of the home and the family.
  • Women in the workplace.
  • Health issues and the aging process.
  • Female friendships.
  • A gendered biology.
  • Sexuality.
  • Violence against women.
  • Education and the making of knowledge.

Images and Visions of the Female Experience

  • Redefining the female experience within psychology.
  • Innovative changes within psychology.
  • Feminist activism within psychology.
Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

  1. Explain the major theories of the socialization of women.
  2. Describe the development and maintenance of gender roles.
  3. Describe past and current responses to sexist stereotypes.
  4. Describe the diversity of the female role within the social context, the home, family, and workplace.
  5. Describe the gender-specific issues of women’s aging.
  6. Describe health issues and concerns of women over the adult age span.
  7. Describe the impact of feminist activism on women’s psychological experience.
  8. Describe the history of psychology of women and feminist psychology.
Means of Assessment

The course evaluation will be in accordance with Douglas College and Psychology Department policies. Evaluations will be based on the course objectives. The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

 

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

 

2 midterm exams       50%
Final exam  20%
Presentation  15%
Written essay  15%
Total 100%
Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

 

Textbook(s) such as the following, the list to be updated periodically:

 

Etaugh, C.A. & Bridges, J.S. (2013). Women’s lives: A psychological exploration (3rd Ed.). Boston, MA:

       Pearson Publishing.

 

and/or

 

A course pack of prepared readings of peer-reviewed theoretical and empirical primary sources (journals selected from PsycInfo and chapters drawn from academic press)

Which Prerequisite

PSYC 3120