Psychology 2074B 001 FW24

The Psychology of Gender

Western University

London                   Canada

 

Department of Psychology

Winter 2025

 

Psychology 2074B    Section 001

 

The Psychology of Gender

 

1     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.

 

https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html

 

Antirequisites: n/a

Prerequisites: Restricted to students in Year 2, 3, 4.

 

3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

 

2     Course Information

 

Instructor:                  Bidushy Sadika, M.A.

Office & Phone:          see Brightspace for details

Office Hours:              By appointment (in-person or on Zoom) – please email. (Please include PSYC 2074B in the subject line for any email communications about this course.)

Email:                          bsadika@uwo.ca (24-hour response time on weekdays, 48-hour response time on weekends)

 

Teaching Assistant:   TBA

Office:                         TBA

Office Hours:              TBA

Email:                          TBA

 

Time and Location of Classes: see Timetable on Student Centre

Delivery Method: In-Person

 

For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.

 

3     Course Materials

 

Bosson, J., Buckner, C.E., & Vandello, J.A. (2021). The Psychology of Sex and Gender (2nd Ed.). Sage.

 

A paperback or an e-book version of the textbook can be ordered from the bookstore.

$236/$183

https://bookstore.uwo.ca/textbook-search?campus=UWO&term=W2024B&courses%5B0%5D=001_UW/PSY2074B

 

An e-text version can also be purchased here:

https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/the-psychology-of-sex-and-gender/book269885

 

https://www.amazon.ca/Psychology-Gender-Jennifer-Katherine-Bosson-ebook/dp/B08SKJ7HKG/

 

https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_Psychology_of_Sex_and_Gender/B74IEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&kptab=getbook

 

4     Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

 

This course is devoted to the investigation of women and men grounded in psychological science. By the end of the course, students should understand 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 the psychology of gender, how we become gendered, gender stereotypes and discrimination, sexuality and sexual orientation, gender similarities and differences, gender and work, gender and relationships, gender and health, and gender-based aggression and violence. This course provides an overview of the most up to date scientific findings in the field, encourages students to evaluate their own myths and misconceptions about gender, and challenges students to think critically about the role of gender in their everyday lives.

 

The lecture PowerPoint slides will be posted on the OWL Brightspace course website 30 minutes before each class begins (Tuesdays at 9:00 AM EST). 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. Lectures incorporate videos, group discussion activities, and interactive questions on Slido (https://www.slido.com/) to encourage active learning and peer interactions. While participation is not graded, actively engaging in discussions and activities will significantly enhance your understanding of the content and better prepare you for exams. 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.

 

Gender is inherently a sensitive topic and is interwoven with other sensitive topics (social class and race). 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.

 

Learning Outcome

Learning Activity

Assessment

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge

·         Define key concepts and develop a critical understanding of current advances in psychological research on gender.

·      Lectures

·      Readings

·      Online Forum Posts

·      Exams: Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions

Knowledge of Methodologies

·         Distinguish between major theories of gender identity and development.

·         Learn the importance of using multiple research methods in studying the psychology of gender.

·      Lectures

·      Readings

·      Online Forum Posts

·      Exams: Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions

Application of Knowledge

·         Explain effects of gender identities, attitudes, roles, and ideologies in everyday life.

·         Apply knowledge of the psychology of gender to understand current events.

·      Lectures

·      Readings

·      Online Forum Posts

·      Exams: Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions

Communication Skills

·         Effectively communicate ideas about the psychology of gender with other students in a clear and accessible manner.

·      Lectures

·      Readings

·      Online Forum Posts

·      Exams: Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions

 

5     Evaluation

 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives.

 

The course grade is based on five online discussion forum posts, one midterm exam, and a final exam. Each of the two exams will consist of multiple-choice questions, and the final exam will also include short-answer questions.

 

  1. Online Discussion Forum Posts – 25% of overall mark
  2. Midterm Exam – 35% of overall mark
  3. Final Exam – 40% of overall mark  

 

Online Discussion Forum Posts (25%):

There will be nine online discussion forums throughout the term, each based on the lecture and readings for each week (starting from Week 2), excluding Midterm and Reading Weeks. You are required to participate in FIVE of these nine forums. Each forum is worth 5% of your overall grade, contributing to a total of 25%. If you respond to more than five discussion forums, only your first five responses will be considered. Please note that the “Introduce Yourself!” forum in Week 1 is not graded.

 

Forum Structure and Expectations

The forums will pose 3-4 discussion questions, offering opportunities to:

  • Demonstrate your understanding of course material; and,
  • Apply knowledge to current events and everyday experiences.

 

Each forum will be available from 12:30 PM EST on the day of the corresponding lecture (Tuesday) until 12:00 PM EST the following Tuesday. Responses should not exceed 400 words for each forum post and must directly address the questions provided. Bullet points may be used when necessary.

 

Requirement for Credit

To earn credit for the online discussion forum component:

  • Participate in five forums by the given deadline.
  • Ensure your posts refer to the most recent lectures and assigned readings.
  • Respond to at least 2 of the 3-4 discussion questions per forum.
  • Reply to two classmates’ posts in each forum.
  • Avoid simple “yes/no” or “I agree/I disagree” responses. Use your own words—do not copy directly from lectures or the textbook (unless it is a formal definition of a key concept). Demonstrate meaningful engagement.

 

Grading Criteria (5 points per forum)

  • Content (2 points): Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the topic, offering clear, concise, and relevant insights based on the course materials (lectures and readings).
  • Critical Thinking (2 points): Effectively applies relevant concepts and theories to current events or personal experiences, incorporating external literature when necessary (with proper citations). Responses should be original, thoughtful, and analytical.
  • Engagement with Peers (1 point): Actively engages with at least two classmates by responding to their posts, contributing to ongoing discussions, and promoting further interaction.

 

Forum posts must be submitted by the specified deadline, which begins from 12:30 PM EST on the day of the corresponding lecture until 12:00 PM EST the following Tuesday. To ensure full engagement points, avoid waiting until the last minute to submit your post. Additionally, be sure to back up your work with screenshots, as technical issues will not be considered a valid excuse.

 

If you would like feedback on your forum post, please reach out to me. Due to the size of the class, I am unable to provide weekly feedback, but I am happy to discuss your performance on this assessment.  

 

The online discussion forums are designed to deepen your understanding of the course content by encouraging critical thinking and connecting it to real-world applications. Engage actively to make most of this learning opportunity.

 

Midterm (35%) and Final Exam (40%):

As designated in the Evaluation/Assessment Schedule (Section 6), there will be one midterm exam. The midterm will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions and will cover Chapters 1-6 of the textbook, along with the corresponding lectures. 

 

The final exam will be cumulative, covering material from Chapters 1–14 of the textbook and corresponding lectures. Greater emphasis will be placed on material covered after the midterm, with some coverage of earlier topics. The exam format will include 100 multiple-choice questions and 5 short-answer questions.

 

Administration: All exams are scheduled to be conducted on campus. The midterm exam will be held in class during regular class hours. The exact date, time, and location for the final exam will be announced once it has been scheduled.

 

All exams will be closed book. You will have 2 hours to complete the midterm exam, and 3 hours to complete the final exam. Any suspicion of collaboration during the exam will be subject to investigation, including the analysis of response patterns. Please just prepare and do your own work.

 

Policy on Missing Coursework

 

No Make-Up Discussion Posts: Since you are only required to participate in five out of the nine forums, you have the option to select a different forum if you miss one. As a result, there will be no make-up opportunities for missed forum discussion posts.

 

Make-Up Exam: Make-up exams for this course will be essay-based. Due to logistical constraints, multiple-choice exams cannot be administered on alternate dates. To schedule a make-up exam, proper documentation is required. If you miss an exam, please submit an academic accommodation request within 24 hours of the scheduled exam time. Please read the Absence and Academic Considerations section (Section 10) in this course outline thoroughly for further details.

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines:  https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:

 

70%    1000-level to 2099-level courses

72%    2100-2999-level courses

75%    3000-level courses

80%    4000-level courses

 

In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.

 

Policy on Grade Rounding

 

Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.

 

6     Assessment/Evaluation Schedule

 

Assessment

Date and Time

Online Discussion Forum Posts (25%)

Weekly from Tuesday at 12:30 PM EST to the following Tuesday at 12:00 PM EST

Midterm (35%)

February 11th (9:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST)

Final Exam (40%)

April 7th – 30th (in-person) (Time: TBD)

 

7     Class Schedule

 

Week / Lecture #

Week of

Topic

Readings

1

January 7th 

Introduction to the Course

 

Introducing Sex and Gender

 

 

Chapter 1

2

January 14th

Studying Sex and Gender

Chapter 2

3

January 21st    

Nature, Nurture & Gender Development

Chapters 3 & 4

4

January 28th  

The Contents and Origins of Gender Stereotypes

Chapter 5

5

February 4th  

Sexism and Discrimination

Chapter 6

6

February 11th

MIDTERM

Chapters 1 – 6 and corresponding lectures

7

February 18th

READING WEEK

 

8

February 25th

Cognition, Language, Communication, and Emotion

Chapters 7 & 8

9

March 4th

Sexual Orientation and Sexuality

Chapter 9

10

March 11th

Interpersonal Relationships

Chapter 10

11

March 18th 

Work and Home 

Chapter 11

12

March 25th

Gender and Health (Physical and Psychological)

Chapters 12 & 13

13

April 1st   

Aggression & Violence

Chapter 14

 

April 7th – 30th 

FINAL EXAM

Cumulative (Chapters 1 – 14 and corresponding lectures)

 

All grades for the online forum posts and midterm will be posted on the OWL Brightspace course website. Forum posts will be graded and released within 3-5 days after the submission deadline.

 

8     Academic Integrity

 

Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

 

Statement on Use of Electronic Devices

 

Students are permitted to use electronic devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches, during class for the sole purpose of taking notes and engaging in learning activities. All devices should be set to silent mode during class to avoid disruptions. These devices must not be used for any other activities, such as browsing the internet or messaging.

 

Please note that electronic devices are strictly prohibited during exams. All devices must be turned off and securely stored away before entering the exam venue.

 

Plagiarism Detection Software

 

All written work may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism.  Any work 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.

 

Use of AI

 

The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.

 

Multiple Choice Exams

 

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

 

Personal Response Systems (“Slido”)

 

In classes that involve the use of a personal response system, data collected will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed.

 

9     Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education

 

View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.

 

Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.

If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information.  Email: aew@uwo.ca  Phone: 519 661-2147

 

10  Absence & Academic Consideration

 

View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link

 

Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html

 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.

 

Medical Absences

 

Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.

 

Nonmedical Absences

 

Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.

 

Religious Consideration

 

Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.

 

11  Other Information

 

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ 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.

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

Copyright Statement

 

Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos 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 any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.

 

Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions

 

Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.

 

12  Land Acknowledgement

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.