South Puget Sound Community College

Syllabus
Course: Diverse Sexualities & Culture
Department: Anthropology & Sociology
Course Number: 275
Credits: 5

Syllabus Information: It is important that you understand the syllabus has

been agreed upon by ALL of the professors that will be teaching this course.
If you have subject matter questions is it appropriate to address them
towards the professor who taught the specific subject, if you have seminar,
exam or general questions it is appropriate to address the team-lead, Patrick
Chapman. Please note that we reserve the right the make the corrections
and/or changes to the syllabus as we deem necessary due to the pace and
the special circumstances of the classroom. If you have concern with any of
these issues it is important that you discuss them with the lead instructor as
soon as they arise.

Course Description:
This course takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying diverse
sexualities, specifically homosexuality and transgender. The course content
will examine the anthropological, sociological and psychological approaches
to diverse sexualities, particularly concerning their historical, causational,
cross-cultural and institutional aspects. Additional topics include empirical
data, the arts, social movements, religion and linguistics.
Prerequisite: Engl&101 recommended

Quarter/Year: Winter 2010

Days: Tuesday & Thursday
Section: I
Time: 1:15 – 3:30 pm

Lead Professor: Patrick Chapman

Office Location: 22-226
Office Hours: 11:00-11:50 am
Phone Number: 596-5476
e-mail: pchapman@spscc.ctc.edu
Website: http://pchapman.spscc.edu
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Additional Professors:
Kathryn Clancy 20-304 596-5266
e-mail: kclancy@spscc.ctc.edu
office hours: MTWF 1:00-2:00 pm

Nicole DiGerlando
e-mail: ndigerlando@spscc.ctc.edu
Please e-mail to set up an appointment

Erica Dixon 20-208 596-5578

e-mail: edixon@spscc.ctc.edu
office hours: MW 9:00-9:50 am and at noon solely by appointment

David Hyde 20-305 596-5284

e-mail: dhyde@spscc.ctc.edu
office hours: 10:00-10:50 am

Debbie Teed 22-234 596-5451

e-mail: dteed@spscc.ctc.edu
office hours: by appointment

Materials Required:
Patrick M. Chapman (2008). “Thou Shalt Not Love”: What Evangelicals Really
Say to Gays, Haiduk Press.

Matt Kailey (2006). Just Add Hormones: An Insider’s Guide to the Transsexual
Experience, Beacon Press.

There will also be additional readings provided by the professors.

COURSE FEATURES/POLICIES:
Academic Honesty: All work is to represent own efforts rather than to be
copied from another. Cheating will result in an F grade for the class. For the
academic honesty policy, refer to the Code of Student Rights and
Responsibilities found on the college’s website.

Financial Aid: Students receiving financial aid should ALWAYS check with
Financial aid prior to withdrawing, signing an incomplete contract, changing
to an audit, or receiving an F or V grade in a class.”
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Class Participation/Attendance: Attendance is not taken but failure to
attend class negatively impacts your grade.

Missed Exams and/or Assignments:

Late assignments will receive at most ½ credit. To prevent viruses from
infecting my computer, I will not open e-mail attachments - no
exceptions! Tests are take-home. Tests turned in within one week after
they are due will receive at most ½ credit. Not test will be accepted after
that time. No late finals are accepted.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND EXPECTATIONS

Evaluation:
Reading questions 50 points (10 each, 17.5% of the total grade)
Seminars 75 points (25 each, 26.3% of the total grade)
Reflections 30 points (10 each, 10.5% of the total grade)
Tests 80 points (40 each, 28.1% of the total grade)
Final 50 points (15.5%)

Listserv: For this class a special “email listserv” has been created.
The purpose of this listserv is to provide you with an additional means
of discussing class topics and issues, and to allow us to easily
disseminate readings, articles and announcements. You are not
required to read or respond to all listserv posts. Occasionally, one will
be required or important, and we will specifically indicate when that is
the case. Generally you may browse the posts for the topics that
interest you and delete those that do not.

Feel free to respond to posts (by pressing reply) or email your own
articles, thoughts, or questions to
diverse_sexualities_pm@yahoogroups.com. Always include
your name with your posts. All posts should be respectful, well
thought-out, and regarding issues related to the class topics.
We will monitor the listserv.

What you need to do for the listserv:

1. During the first week of class you need to provide us with an e-mail
address so that we can sign you up. If you do not already have one
you can acquire a free account from yahoo (www.yahoo.com).
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2. Check your email regularly to see list postings and announcements

If you have any difficulty signing up for the listserv or are not
regularly receiving listserv posts, see Dr Patrick Chapman
immediately.

Readings: For designated chapters from Chapman’s book answer the

assigned study question in the back of the book in 1-2 pages
(minimum one complete page), typed and double-spaced. For full
credit your answer should thoughtfully reflect upon the reading
material, lectures, and discussions.

Seminars are a part of this course. You need to be prepared in

advance and present in order to earn points for the three seminars. In
the seminars the class is divided into smaller discussion groups in
order to further facilitate understanding and application of the course
material. The seminar discussion is held without participation from the
professors. The discussion is based on reading the articles that are on
e-reserve. On seminar days you are required to have at least two
pages of notes pertaining to the article (for use during the seminar)
and at least one critical thinking question – a question that you write
based on the article and bring to the seminar for the group’s input. The
professors also assign specific questions pertaining to the article.
Students without notes can listen in, but earn a 0.

The seminar is a chance for you to discuss current issues and trends
with your peers. The goal is to become more aware of your own ideas
and values on issues, gain new perspectives from others, practice your
listening and speaking skills, and have lively discussions. You are
expected to come prepared with your notes and question, to
participate in the discussion, to stay for the entire seminar and to
evaluate and grade the group. Courteous and considerate behavior is
mandatory. After seminar you will be required to write a one page
seminar reflection on what you personally learned from the seminar.

Note: The most common mistake in the seminar is NOT staying on

topic and NOT keeping the connection to the course material.

Tests are take home and in essay format. They require you to apply the
material from lectures, readings and videos. It is best to think of it this way:
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EVERYTHING is fair game on the exam. The Final Exam is a take home
exam. It is comprehensive and qualitative in nature, requiring you to apply
what you have learned throughout the quarter. No late finals are accepted.

Grading Scale:
A 93-100%
A- 90-92%
B+ 87-89%
B 83-86%
B- 80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69%
D 63-66%
D- 60-62%
F 0-59%

Incomplete: Because of extenuating circumstances, I may consider issuing

an Incomplete. The student is eligible if the student is halfway through the
course, is earning at least a C, and is able to complete the course by working
with the instructor no later than the subsequent quarter. If you are
considering this option you must speak with me to determine if it is feasible.

Support Services Available:

Library, Writing Lab in building 22
Disability Support Services located in building 27
Diversity and Equity Center located in the Student Union Building

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE/CALENDAR/DUE DATES:

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Jan 5 Introduction Chapman Readings
Jan 7 Western civilization Chapman TSNL 1, 4
Jan 12 Social movements Hyde
Jan 14 Social movements Hyde
Jan 19 Religion & anti-gay movement Chapman TSNL 2, 5, 9
Jan 21 Seminar preparation, Dixon
Transgender movement & You
Don’t Know Dick
Jan 26 Psychology: Identity & Sem 1 Clancy &
Dixon
Jan 28 Language & identity Teed
Feb 2 Psychology: History & Current Clancy
Perspectives
Feb 4 Etiology of sexual orientations Chapman TSNL 6, 7 (209-
218)
Feb 9 Advising Day = No class
Feb 11 Nature & Sociological Chapman & TSNL 3
Perspectives Dixon
Feb 16 The Celluloid Closet Chapman
(Exam 1 due)
Feb 18 Seminar 2 & Marriage, Family & Dixon
Relationships
Feb 23 Marriage, Family & Relationships Dixon
Feb 25 Daddy & Papa Dixon
Mar 2 Film DiGerlando
Mar 4 Anthropology of homosexualities Chapman TSNL 7 (190-209),
8
Mar 9 Caribbean anth & Of Gods and Teed
Men
Mar 11 Paradise Bent & Seminar 3 Chapman & TSNL 10
Dixon
Mar 16 Film (Exam 2 due) DiGerlando
Mar 18 Middlesexes & Final group study Chapman
Mar 23 Final Exam due

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
A. Understand the multi-disciplinary perspectives of diverse sexualities,
particularly homosexuality and transgender
B. Understand the role of empirical research to the study of human
behavior as it relates to sexual orientation
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C. Identify and critique the current theories, research and findings on the
causes of sexual orientation
D. Identify how beliefs surrounding sexual orientation influence our
culture and institutions (such as religion and marriage)
E. Explain the influence of culture on understanding sexuality
F. Explain the role of power and privilege in regards to sexual orientation
G. Understand how social movements have influenced social policy
H. Examine and analyze examples of diverse sexualities in the arts

COLLEGE WIDE ABILITIES :

A. Think logically and critically

COURSE CONTENT:
A. History of homosexuality in Western culture
B. Social movements relating to homosexuality
C. The importance of language in personal and social identity
D. Causes of homosexuality from biological, psychological and
sociological perspectives
E. Queer Theory
F. The institution of marriage
G. The intersection of religion and homosexuality, with an emphasis on
Christianity
H. Cross-cultural perspectives including ones from the South Pacific, the
Americas, Africa and Asia
I. The arts, such as art, drama, film, literature and philosophy