The course will involve a number of instructional methods, such as the following:
- lectures
- small group discussions
- demonstrations
- presentations
- video content
How Gender Shapes Our Lives
Doing gender.
Gender as a binary.
Constructionism and essentialism.
Intersectionality and ethnocentrism.
The Lenses of Gender
Androcentrism, gender polarization, biological essentialism.
Gender psychology and the negotiation of power.
The impact of stereotypes and socio-cultural norms in gender psychology.
Gender, The Body, and Psychology
Gender representations within language, media, and psychology.
Intersexuality, transsexuality, gender bending, and gender blending.
Sexualities.
The psychology of eating.
Gendering athleticism.
Violence on gender, racialized, and sexualized bodies.
Imprisoned bodies.
Gendered psychology in the workplace and economy.
Gender and Development
Socialization forces in gender formation.
Psychological theories of gender identity.
Gender in childhood and adolescence.
Gender in aging.
Gender differences in cognition and relationships across the lifespan.
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
- Describe how gender shapes our lives individually, interpersonally, and culturally.
- Describe the socialization processes of gender.
- Describe interactions of race, class, culture, sexuality, and gender.
- Describe the role of verbal and non-verbal cues in gender-related differences.
- Describe how language and social institutions frame the way people speak and think.
- Describe biological and social influences on gender.
- Describe the social context of aging and gender.
- Describe childhood and adolescent development of gender identity.
- Describe the gendered construction of love, relationships, and sexuality.
- Critically assess the politics of the workplace and the role of the media in relation to gender issues.
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%
Research Essay 15%
Total 100%
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:
Textbook(s) such as the following, the list to be updated periodically:
Brannon, L. (2008). Gender: psychological perspectives (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Nelson, A. (2010). Gender in Canada (4th ed.). Don Mills, Canada: Pearson Education Canada.
Unger, R., & Crawford, M. (2004). Women and gender: A feminist psychology (4th ed.). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill.
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)