ANTH 216: Sex and Gender in Cross Cultural Perspectives

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2024
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Strongly Recommended: ANTH 210 or ANTH 210H or SOC 201 or SOC 201H and ENGL 101.
District General Education: D2. Behavioral Science
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This course explores different cultural attitudes, beliefs, ideas and expressions of sex and gender. Theories behind the formation of gender will also be explored. Both anthropological and sociological terms and concepts will be utilized for a cross disciplinary approach. This is primarily a seminar style course; college level reading and participation is necessary for successful completion. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • identify the differences between sex and gender using Anthropological and Sociological theoretical approaches
  • understand the purpose of gender in different cultures
  • compare American/Western ideas of gender to non-American/non-Western ideas of gender
  • utilize critical thinking skills in analysis of ethnographic materials

Major Course Content

  1. Culture/Ethnocentrism/Cultural Relativity/Enculturation
  2. Sex vs. Gender vs. Sexual Orientation & Term Definition (transgendered,  transsexual, hermaphrodite/intersex, transvestite, etc.)
  3. Theories Behind Gender:
    1. Nature vs. Nurture
    2. Socialization/Enculturation
    3. Developmental Theories
    4. Mates, Marriage and Family
  4. Politics and Economics: Gender Roles, Hierarchies and Power
    1. Gender roles (male, female, intersex, plus)
    2. Discrimination, stereotypes (linked with gender roles, hierarchies & power, blaming the victim, violence against women, etc.)
    3. Globalization and gender
    4. Veils, gender roles, patriarchy
  5. Change (i.e. feminism, women’s movements, men’s responses)
  6. Gender and Religion: Rituals, Spirituality and Gender Construction
  7. Ethics, Relativism and Morality (i.e. The Female Circumcision Controversies, veiling, education of females, gender roles, access to resources, Western and non-Western conceptions – ties to ethnocentrism and cultural relativity)

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Additional articles and/or books may be read on the topics presented in class, including ethnographies and research materials (such as anthropological journals such as "Human Organization"). Articles and books on current issues regarding women, feminism, political representation, media representations, the "Me too" movement, and rape culture for example would be appropriate.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Students will complete a weekly 1 page discussion board post discussing the readings and lecture materials exploring the various topics in the course and applying the anthropological terms/concepts related to those topics. They will then read the posts of 2 other students and write a one-two paragraph response bringing in relevant reading and lecture materials, including terms.
Students will write a 5 page paper in which they research and compare the concepts of gender and gender roles in two different cultures. They will examine the cultures ideas of the genders, discussing how many genders there are and how the cultures concepts are similar as well as different. They will also discuss the gender roles of that culture and how those roles are transmitted from generation to generation.

Examples of Outside Assignments

1. Read assigned chapter from book, write a summary of the chapter and at least 2 discussion questions that cannot be answered from the reading material. Bring the summary and questions to class, share with small group (further work will happen in class with the assignment, but the reading and writing will happen outside of class). See more detail above for more context if needed.
2. Read the readings before lecture in preparation for class discussion.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4A. Anthropology and Archaeology, 4D. Gender Studies, 4J. Sociology & Criminology