ANTH 216H: Sex and Gender in a Cross Cultural Perspective - Honors

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2021
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Prerequisite: Student must be eligible for the Citrus College Honors Program or obtain a recommendation from an Honors instructor.
Strongly Recommended: ANTH 210 or ANTH 210H or SOC 201 or SOC 201H; 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. Students are expected to work and participate at an honors level which includes strong critical thinking skills, thorough analysis of readings, presentations, and leadership skills demonstrated through class participation/presentation. College level reading is strongly advised for success in the course. This is primarily a seminar style course; college level reading and participation is necessary for successful completion. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Critically evaluate a real-world example of a specific culture's gender concepts applying anthropological/sociological knowledge, theory, and vocabulary to understand the purpose of gender in different cultures.
  • Develop and practice cultural relativity skills while critically examining and evaluating texts, ethnographies, and visual aids such as films and internet files.
  • Analyze and apply anthropological and sociological terminology to ethnographies, theories of gender, and visual aids such as films or internet files.

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
  5. 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
  6. Change (i.e. feminism, women’s movements, men’s responses)
  7. Gender and Religion: Rituals, Spirituality and Gender Construction
  8. 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

Journals/books to use for research relevant to the topic (i.e. Human Organization, Anthropological journals on sex and gender studies, ethnographies, etc.). 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

In a 3-5 page paper, evaluate a controversial cultural practice linked with gender (i.e. female circumcision, wearing veils, female poverty, etc.) outside of their culture with a culturally relative approach. Offer culturally relative understanding of this cultural practice and offer culturally relative solutions if there is an issue that needs to be solved.
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.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Conduct library research on Feminist movements and a specific feminist to be presented in a written essay. The essay will be posted in a discussion board and students will read and respond to at least two other student essay posts in the online offering, or in a class discussion for an on campus course offering.
Research issues concerning sex and gender in cross-cultural perspectives and write about it in a culturally relative way (see writing assignment sample below).
Interviewing Participant Observation

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4. Social and Behavioral Sciences