Psychology 2074B-001
Psychology of Gender
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
Being born into one gender category and not another has a profound impact on how individuals are treated, what they expect of themselves, what others expect of them, and how they lead and experience their lives. We examine gender across a variety of domains from the perspective of psychological science
3 lecture hours, 0.5 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Rachel Calogero
Office and Phone Number: Room 321, Westminster Hall, x 80403
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: rcaloger@uwo.ca
Head Teaching Assistant: Jaclyn Siegel, MSc
Office: Westminster Hall 350
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Email: jsiegel3@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Samantha Withnell
Office: Westminster Hall 216
Office Hours: Friday 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Email: swithnel@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Tuesdays, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, SH-3345
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Bosson, J., Vandello, J.A, & Buckner, C.E. (2019). The Psychology of Sex and Gender. Sage
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is devoted to the investigation of psychological gender rather than biological sex. By the end of the course, students should have an understanding of the basic theories, methods, findings, and problems encountered in the psychological study of gender. We cover a range of topics related to how we study gender, how we become gendered, gender stereotypes and discrimination, sexuality and sexual orientation, gender similarities and differences, gender in work, relationships, and health, and gender-based aggression and violence. After this course, you will be able to think more critically about gender in your everyday lives.
Lecture attendance in this course is considered to be mandatory. Lectures are intended to complement the textbook, which means I will present a blend of content that will include information not in the textbook. Approximately half of the items on each examination cover material that is presented only in lectures and not covered in readings. Class attendance will significantly increase how much you get out of this course. Students who miss lectures score dramatically lower on examinations.
I will aim to post the weekly power point slides in advance of the lecture on the course website. Please note the slides posted in advance will represent a framework for taking notes, if you wish, and may omit some material that will only be presented in the actual lecture.
Generally I encourage questions and discussion throughout the lecture. However, due to the size of the class, questions and discussion will need to be kept to a minimum. Do feel free to ask questions afterwards, or make an appointment with the TAs.
When questions and/or discussion do occur during lecture, please be constructive and respectful of the topic, the instructor, and other people in the class. Please keep in mind that your fellow students may not share your religious affiliations, political beliefs, cultural backgrounds, economic, ethnic, or sexual orientations. In a class of this nature and size, we cover sensitive and personally relevant topics and a variety of opinions and views are to be expected. To ensure a positive learning experience and full participation by all, please listen with an open mind and express your thoughts and responses in a respectful manner.
4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
|
LEARNING OUTCOMES |
ACTIVITIES |
ASSESSMENT* |
|
1. Define key concepts and methods in psychological research on gender |
lectures; readings |
multiple choice exam questions—MC & TF |
|
2. Distinguish between major theories of gender identity and development |
lectures; readings |
multiple choice exam questions—MC, TF, & SA |
|
3. Recognize and explain key empirical findings on gender comparisons |
lectures; readings |
multiple choice exam questions— MC, TF, & SA |
|
4. Identify gender role attitudes and behaviors |
lectures; readings |
multiple choice exam questions— MC & TF |
|
5. Explain effects of gender attitudes and roles in everyday life domains |
lectures; readings |
multiple choice exam questions— SA |
|
6. Apply knowledge of the psychology of gender to understand current events |
lectures; readings |
multiple choice exam questions— MC & SA |
*MC = multiple choice; TF = true/false; SA = short answer
5.0 EVALUATION
The course grade is based on three exams comprised of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions:
1 – Exam 1 (33% of overall mark)
2 – Exam 2 (33% of overall mark)
3 – Exam 3 (34% of overall mark)
** Please note that I do not make grade adjustments (e.g., applying a bell curve to the distribution of marks on a test or paper). Also, I cannot adjust marks on the basis of need (e.g., because a certain mark is needed to get into a particular academic program).
Material from the textbook chapters and the corresponding lectures will be covered in each exam, as designated in the class schedule. **Please note that the final exam is cumulative. You are responsible on the final exam for material covered after the second exam as well as the material covered for the first two exams.
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Exam 1: Tuesday, February 11th, 9:30am to 11:30pm, SH-3345 (33%)
Exam 2: Tuesday, March 10th, 9:30am to 11:30pm, SH-3345 (33%)
Exam 3: Final Exam, TBA April 6-26 (34%)
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
January 7 Introducing sex and gender Chapter 1
January 14 Studying sex and gender Chapter 2
January 21 Becoming gendered: nature, nurture, development Chapter 3, 4
January 28 Gender stereotypes: contents and origins Chapter 5
February 4 EXAM 1
February 11 Power, discrimination, and sexism Chapter 6
February 18 SPRING READING WEEK
February 25 Cognition, language, emotion, and communication Chapter 7, 8
March 3 Sexuality and sexual orientation Chapter 9
March 10 EXAM 2
March 17 Interpersonal relationships, work, and home Chapter 10, 11
March 24 Gender and health: physical and psychological Chapter 12, 13
March 31 Aggression and violence Chapter 14
April 6-26 EXAM 3 – FINAL (cumulative)
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2019-2020 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute lecture notes, wiki material, and other course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
