University of Toronto Mississauga

Fall 2015

SOC 275: Sociology of Gender

INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
CLASS HOURS & LOCATION:

Professor Hae Yeon Choo

Department of Sociology, Room 3219
Davis Building
Mondays 1pm-3pm (and December 1, Tuesday), DV 2105F

OFFICE HOURS:
EMAIL:

Mondays 3:20pm-4:50pm, or by appointment

hy.choo@utoronto.ca
(best way to reach mesee email policy below)
COURSE WEBSITE:
Access via UofT portal: http://portal.utoronto.ca
Teaching Assistants: Catherine ManChuen Cheng (mc.cheng@utoronto.ca)
Bahar Hashemi (bahar.hashemi@mail.utoronto.ca)
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND STRUCTURE
This course explores the social construction of sex and gender and the intersection of gender
with other structures of inequality such as race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality. We will critically
examine the idea that sex and gender are fixed biological realities and discuss what sociologists
of gender have contributed to our understanding of gender as a major organizing aspect of
society. Course readings focus on sociological approach to gender and the empirical
applications of these theories and concepts to show how gender relations are shaped by social
institutions such as the family, education, and work.
Each class will consist of a lecture component in which the readings are placed in a larger
framework. In addition, we will do small group exercises and in-class discussions of the course
material. This will allow you to better work through challenging concepts and theories, and to
apply these theories to your own experiences. Come prepared to participate and to share your
thoughts and questions with the rest of the class.
PRE-REQUISITE: SOC100H5/101Y5
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, students will be able:
to critically read, analyze and write about gender relations with a sociological lens
to analyze the intersection of gender with other axes of inequality such as race, ethnicity,
class, and sexuality
to apply course material to real world and daily life examples of local and global gender
issues
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to attend class, take good notes, read assigned course material before
class, and prepare for and participate in classroom discussions. Students are also expected to

weekly visit the blackboard course website and check updates from the professor and follow
discussions. Also, you are expected to be respectful of fellow classmates in discussions and
lectures, curious and open-minded about others and ones own perspectives, and cultivate an
environment for mutual growth through collaboration and dialogue.
EMAIL POLICY: I will respond to your email within two business days (48 hours, except
weekends and holidays). Your use of an official U of T address is required. Please include your
full name, student number, and the course code. And read the syllabus carefully before asking a
general question about the course.
REQUIRED READINGS AND FILMS
The primary textbook for the course is The Gendered Society: Canadian Edition, authored by
Michael S. Kimmel and Jacqueline Holler, published by Oxford University in 2011. This book is
available at the UTM bookstore.
* Note: This is NOT the same book as The Gendered Society Reader. Nor is it the same book as
Kimmels The Gendered Society (which is the American edition).
In addition,
Links to all other reading materials are posted on Blackboard (noted below, BB)
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES
There will be a number of assignments that address different aspects of the course objectives:
1. An in-class term test I (Nov 2, covering material covered in weeks 1-6)
2. An in-class term test II (Dec 1, covering material covered in weeks 8-11)
3. Reading Response I (Choose between Sept 21 or October 5 week 2 or 4)
4. Reading Response II (Choose between Oct 19 and Nov 9: week 5 or 8)
5. Reading Response III (Choose between Nov 16 and Nov 23: Week 9 or 10)
6. In-Class Group Exercise I: (Sept 28, Week 3)
7. In-Class Group Exercise II: (Oct 5, Week 4)
8. In-Class Group Exercise III: (Nov 23, Week 10)
TOTAL

35%
25%
11%
11%
11%
2%
2%
3%
100%

Detailed guidelines for the Reading Response will be posted on Blackboard.

For the submission of Reading Response, upload a Word file (not PDF) of each RR to
Blackboard (do not cut and paste) by the due date and time (NOT by email). It also must
be submitted to turnitin.com by the same time. NO HARD COPIES are required.
NOTE: Make sure to begin upload sufficiently before 1pm in case of technical
difficulties. RRs handed in any time after 1pm will be marked late.

In-Class Group Exercises: Throughout the term there will be three in-class group exercises.
For the group exercise, students should come to class prepared, after completing the task
that is given one week earlier (linking the reading with real worlddetailed instructions
will be given).

Students missing group exercises and who provide documentation of a universityapproved reason (see course policies, below) will be allowed to complete an alternative
assignment. Students in these circumstances must visit the instructor in office hours or
after class, where they will be provided with details about the makeup assignment once
they have had their documentation verified.

COURSE OUTLINE
Date
1

Sept 14

Sept 21

Sept 28

Oct 5

Topic
Course
Introduction

Sociological
Approach to
Gender: An
Overview
Social
Construction
of Gender
Gender and
Family

Oct 12

Readings, Films, and Events

Assignm
ent

Read syllabus & Thinking about Gender

Audre Lorde. The Transformation of Silence into Language
and Action. In Sister outsider: Essays and speeches (1977): 8184. (BB)
Chapter 1. Introduction: Human Beings, An Engendered
Species
Anne Fausto-Sterling. The Five Sexes: Why Male and
Female are not Enough The Sciences (1993): 20-24.(BB)
Chapter 5. The Social Construction of Gender Relations:
Sociological and Feminist Perspectives
Chapter 6. The Gendered Family: Gender at the Heart of
the Home
Amy Schalet. Sex, Love, and Autonomy in the Teenage
Sleepover Contexts 9.3 (2010): 16-21. (BB)

Group
Exercise
1

Group
Exercise 2

Thanksgiving: no class

Oct 19

Oct 26

Nov 2

Nov 9

Gender and
Education

Chapter 8. Separate and Unequal: The Gendered World of

Work
Choo, Hae Yeon. In the Shadow of Working Men
(Chapter in a forthcoming book, Decentering
Citizenship: Gender, Labor, and Migrant Rights in
South Korea. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
(BB)
TERM TEST I: Multiple Choice, Short Answer, and Long
Answer
Chapter 7. The Gendered Classroom: Formal Education
and the Hidden Curriculum

Nov 16

10

Nov 23

Gender and
Media
Gender and
Sexuality

Chapter 9. The Gendered Media: Difference and

Domination Glamourized
Chapter 10. Gendered Intimacies: Communication,
Friendship, Love, and Sex

Gender and
Work
Gender,
Labor and
Migration

Group
Exercise 3

Elizabeth A. Armstrong, Laura Hamilton and Paula

England. Is Hooking Up Bad for Young Women? Contexts
9.3 (2010): 22-27. (BB)

Date

Topic

11

Nov 30

Gender and
Embodiment

12

Dec 1

Readings, Films, and Events

Assignm
ent

Chapter 11. The Gendered Body: Prescriptions and

Inscriptions
TERM TEST II: Multiple Choice, Short Answer, and Long
Answer

Every attempt will be made to follow this schedule, but it is subject to change at the discretion of
the professor.

Procedures and Rules

1. Missed tests and assignments
Accommodation provision: In general, for missed tests or assignments we follow UTM
policy about accommodation for the following three reasons:
Illness, or
Religious observances (i.e., holy days), or
o http://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/publicationsandpolicies/guidelin
es/religiousobservances.htm
Other unplanned circumstances entirely beyond the students control (e.g., a court
subpoena for which you have no option except to show up, a funeral).
Reasons such as too much work, technology failure, weddings, or not adding the class
in time, are not compelling reasons. For assignments, you are expected to plan ahead.
Documentation: In all cases, appropriate supporting documentation is required (e.g.,
Verification of Student Injury or Illness form available at:
http://www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca) a death certificate, an accident report). You
must also declare your absence on ROSI.
1a. Missed tests
Students who miss a term test will be assigned a mark of zero for that test unless they satisfy
the following conditions:
Students who miss a test for reasons beyond their control (e.g. illness or an
accident) may request that the Department grant them special consideration. You
must present your case to the DEPARTMENT (not the instructor) by completing
an
online
Special
Consideration
Request
form
at:
https://utmapp.utm.utoronto.ca/SpecialRequest.

Original supporting documentation (e.g. medical certificate, accident report) is to

be brought to Joanna Trochanowski, Undergraduate Assistant in the Sociology
Department, 3208A (Vestibule), Davis Building or submitted in the drop-box
located outside the Sociology office.
Medical certificates MUST include the statement This student was unable to
write the test on the date(s) for medical reasons. Documentation MUST show
that the physician was consulted within ONE day of the test. A statement merely
confirming a report of illness made by the student is NOT acceptable.
Deadlines
You have up to one (1) week from the date of the missed test to submit your
request and supporting documentation. (Late requests will NOT be considered
without a letter of explanation as to why the request is late.)

Nature of accommodation: The accommodation for a missed test in this course is: a make-up
test. If your request is APPROVED and a make-up test is required, you will write the make-up
test on the designated date selected by the department. (the location notification is sent to those
whose requests are approved)

Make-up test dates:

October 29, 2015, 5pm
December 3, 2015, 10am

If a student has a conflict with another class, or two tests to make-up, they may take the
second make-up during the second time slot of the same date.
In the extraordinary and unlikely event you miss both the test and the departments
make-up test scheduled for that semester, for a reason beyond your control, you will take
the next make-up test scheduled by the department. For Winter term courses, the next
make-up will be in the summer.

1b. Late assignments

You are expected to complete assignments on time.
An assignment is considered late if it is not submitted by the due date on the syllabus. In
order not to be considered late, assignments must be submitted to the instructor via the
Blackboard by the beginning of class (1pm, Monday). Assignments must also be submitted
to turnitin.com by the same time.

Late assignments should be submitted to the instructor via the Blackboard (as well as
turnitin.com), not the department office staff or other instructors, and not by email.
You are expected to keep a back-up copy of your assignment in case it is lost.
Documentation:
The University of Toronto Medical Certificate must state that you were ill on the due date of
the assignment for a one day extension. For a longer extension you must prove that you
were sick during a longer period or prove an exceptional, unforeseen circumstance.
Late assignments for reasons that are within your control will be penalized 10% marks for
the first 24 hours (1:01pm Monday-1:00pm Tuesday), then 5% each following day (cut-off
point: 1:01pm each day). Assignments that are more than 7 days late will not be accepted
unless they are accompanied by valid documentation of circumstances beyond students
control.
The penalty will run from the day the assignment was due until the day it is submitted
electronically via the Blackboard.
The penalty period does include weekends and holidays.

2. Multiple tests on same day

The department will accommodate students writing tests scheduled in more than two
Sociology courses on the same day, provided the student contacts the department about this
issue one week in advance of the test date.
The student will be permitted to write the last test of the day at the next scheduled
departmental make-up date.

3. Grade appeals. The instructor and the teaching assistant take the marking of assignments
very seriously, and will work diligently to be fair, consistent, and accurate. Nonetheless,
mistakes and oversights occasionally happen. If you believe that to be the case, you must adhere
to the following rules:
If it is a mathematical error simply alert the instructor of the error.
In the case of more substantive appeals, you must:
1. Wait at least 24 hours after receiving your mark.
2. Carefully re-read your assignment, all assignment guidelines and marking
schemes and the graders comments.
3. You have up to one month from the date of return of the item to inquire about
the mark beyond the course instructor. In order to meet this deadline, you must
inquire about the mark with your instructor no longer than 15 days after
receiving your mark. If you are not satisfied with the instructors re-evaluation,
you may appeal to the Associate Chair, if the term work is worth at least 20% of
the course mark. If your work is remarked, you must accept the resulting mark.
If you wish to appeal:
A. You must submit to the instructor a written explanation of why you think
your mark should be altered. Please note statements such as I need a higher
grade to apply to X are not compelling. Also, please note that upon re-grade
your mark may go down, stay the same, or go up.
B. Attach to your written explanation your original assignment, including all
of the original comments. Submit a hard copy of the package to the instructor
during office hours or in class.
C. You will receive a response via email or in person about your re-grade.
4. Classroom etiquette
Students are expected to arrive at class on time. Laptops should be used for notes only. Other
uses (e.g., emailing, web surfing) will result in the students being required to turn off the
laptop.
Videotaping and recording lectures is forbidden without written permission from the
instructor.
5.
Academic integrity
Copying, plagiarizing, falsifying medical certificates, or other forms of academic misconduct
will not be tolerated. Any student caught engaging in such activities will be referred to the
Deans office for adjudication and punishment. Any student abetting or otherwise assisting
in such misconduct will also be subject to academic penalties.
We expect students to cite sources in all written work and presentations. See this link for
department citation formats and tips for how to use sources well
http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/sociology/resources/resources-students
By enrolling in this course, students agree to abide by the universitys rules regarding
academic conduct, as outlined in the Calendar.

You are expected to have read and understood the on-line document How Not to
Plagiarize (http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using-sources/how-not-to-plagiarize)
You are expected to be familiar with the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters
(www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm) and Code of Student Conduct
(http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/studentc.htm) which spell out your
rights, your duties and provide all the details on grading regulations and academic offences
at the University of Toronto.

6. Student resources
AccessAbility Centre. We take seriously our obligation to make this course as welcoming and
accessible as feasible for students with diverse needs. Students are encouraged to registrar with
the Centre (and, if appropriate, alert the instructor) as early in the term as possible. In many
instances it is easier to arrange certain accommodations with more advance notice, so we
strongly encourage you to act as quickly as possible. With that said we understand that
disabilities can change over time and will do our best to accommodate you. Students seeking
support must have an intake interview with a disability advisor to discuss their individual
needs. To schedule a registration appointment with a disability advisor, please call the Centre at
905-569-4699 or e-mail at: access.utm@utoronto.ca. See also
http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/access.
The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre offers workshops, seminars and individual
appointments to help students identify and develop their skills. It is located in Rm 390 of the
Library, online at http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc/Students/index.htm and can be reached at
(905) 828-3858.
A variety of other student resources can be found on the UTM website under Current
Students, http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/sas/. These resources include academic services,
registrar and registration services, diversity & equity, administrative services, and other
personal support services.
Equity Statement
The University of Toronto is committed to equity and respect for diversity. All members of the
learning environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. As
a course instructor, I will neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or
self-esteem of any individual in this course and wish to be alerted to any attempt to create an
intimidating or hostile environment. It is our collective responsibility to create a space that is
inclusive and welcomes discussion. Discrimination, harassment and hate speech will not be
tolerated. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns you may contact the UTM Equity
and Diversity officer at edo.utm@utoronto.ca or the University of Toronto Mississauga Students
Union Vice President Equity at vpequity@utmsu.ca.
Academic Rights

You, as a student at UTM, have the right to:

Receive a syllabus by the first day of class.
Rely upon a syllabus once a course is started. An instructor may only change marks
assignments by following the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy provision 1.3.
Refuse to use turnitin.com (you must be offered an alternative form of submission).
Have access to your instructor for consultation during a course, during reasonable
working hours, or follow up with the department chair if the instructor is unavailable.
Ask the person who marked your term work for a re-evaluation if you feel it was not
fairly graded. (See grade appeal policy above)
Receive at least one significant mark (15% for H courses, 25% for Y courses) before the
last day you can drop a course for H courses, and the last day of classes in the first week of
January for Y courses taught in the Fall/Winter terms.
Submit handwritten essays so long as they are neatly written.
Have no assignment worth 100% of your final grade.
Not have a term test not worth more than 25% in the last two weeks of class.
Retain intellectual property rights to your research.
Receive all your assignments once graded.
View your final exams. To see a final exam, you must submit an online Exam
Reproduction Request within 6 months of the exam. There is a small non-refundable fee.
Privacy of your final grades.
Arrange for representation from Downtown Legal Services (DLS), a representative from
the UTM Students Union (UTMSU), and/or other forms of support if you are charged with an
academic offence.

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