Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice

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SOC 110 - Sociology of the Sexes

This course provides an introduction to the analysis and understanding of how men’s and women’s lives are different and how they intersect with each other.  The course focuses on the social construction of gender and the impact of gender on experiences in a variety of social contexts and institutions throughout the life course, including cross-cultural comparisons of gender expectations.  An overriding objective is to help students better assess and analyze the effects of gender throughout history and in their everyday lives.

Class sessions are a mixture of lectures, discussions, group exercises, guest speakers, and films designed to engage the students in the learning process.   Each session helps students to critically evaluate the effects of gender discussed in their readings and experienced in their everyday lives.  The evaluation tools used for this course extend this critical evaluation.  Although the specific evaluation methods vary by sections, all sections use some form of reaction papers, book reviews, and/or journals.  Because the social construction of gender is intertwined with family, work, religion, education, government, and all interpersonal interaction, the course overlaps with courses in each of these areas.

This course meets a General Education requirement in Social and Behavioral Sciences.  It can be used as a lower-level sociology course in the Sociology BA major and the Sociology minor.  It can also be used as a supporting course in the Women's Studies major and minor.  The Sociology Department at University Park offers three sections per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer) with 80 seats per offering.