Course Detail

G ST 301 Topics in Gender and Culture: Gender and Poverty

G ST 301 IS Sec 1, University of Mississippi
[See UM Catalog for Description]

3 credit hours

Instructor Information:

Kevin Cozart, M.A.

Instructor name:
Kevin Cozart, M.A.
kcozart@olemiss.edu

Areas of specialization:

  • Women and STEM
  • Gender and Sexuality
  • Media Studies
  • Gender, Sexuality, and Mass Media

Contact Information:

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the Email Your Instructor link in the Lessons or Content page. NOTE: Whenever sending email, please be sure to indicate your course title and number in the subject line. You can expect a response within 72 hours, although it may be longer on weekends. Many instructors reply within 24 hours.

For lesson or test administration issues, please contact the iStudy department:

The University of Mississippi
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
iStudy
P. O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677

Phone: (662) 915-7313, toll-free (877) 915-7313
Fax: (662) 915-8826
E-mail: istudy@olemiss.edu

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the connection between gender and poverty that is otherwise known as the “feminization of poverty.” We will study the correlations between social, economic, and political consequences, and how poverty is not recognized. This course will also look at the privilege that being wealthy and male provides. This course will study the unspoken assumption that caring for the home and children are a woman’s responsibility and how a change in female/male role expectations could help resolve many of these issues. Theory and political action, particularly as they relate to the issues of race and ethnicity, will be emphasized. Students will both read the works of women writers in this field and also examine their own communities to analyze the ways in which the individual, community values, and how systems of power play a key role in further keeping women and children in poverty. Students will also learn to formulate responses and interpretations using varied strategies (e.g., critical reading, online self-reflection, comparative analysis). We will also examine other social issues such as population, the wage gap, health care and religion.

Textbook Information:

Textbook information will be provided upon enrollment in your iStudy course.

Course Objectives:

If you complete this course successfully, you will:

  • Be able to understand more fully the connections between theoretical concepts and peoples lived experience in relation to the feminization of poverty: The personal is political is a statement closely associated with women and poverty. Many of the readings for this course will illustrate a strong correlation between social, economic and political consequences and how poverty is not recognized. Required learning activities also explore this connection.
  • Be able to recognize the intersection of gender and the environment: Gender -- the social-cultural elaboration of sexual difference -- shapes identities, defines behavioral expectations, and frames individual possibilities. Since gender constantly interacts with other cultural-social constructs such as race and class, one cannot accurately speak of men-in-general or women-in-general. Many of the readings and learning activities of the course deal with this intersection.
  • Improve critical thinking skills: The readings and the written assignments for this course are designed to prompt you to think about women, children and the “feminization of poverty.” Critical does not mean to criticize, but to question based on reason and evidence.

Course Outline:

This course consists of 14 instructional modules (or lessons) and 2 proctored exams.

You MUST take the syllabus quiz within 2 weeks of enrolling or you will be dropped from the course. NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Unit

Topic

Reading Assignments

Due for Grades

Pacing Guide
to complete the course in one semester

Start Here

Syllabus and Orientation

*You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance.* NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Syllabus Quiz

 Week 1

1

An Introduction to Gender and Poverty
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children”(Acknowledgments, Introduction Pg. ix)
  • Higginbotham, et. al. “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class” (Series Editor’s Introduction-Ann Stromberg, Barbara A. Gutek, and Laurie Larwood. Pg. ix.)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Introduction, Pg. 1)
  • Dujon, et. al., “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States” (Introduction, Preface Still Crying Out Loud, Ann Withorn, Pg. xiii)
  • Cabezas, et. al., “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Introduction-The Policies and Ideologies of Neoliberal Globalization)

Journal Entry

  Week 1

2

The Historical Perspective of Gender and Poverty
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children”(Chapter 1. Money and Morality, pg. 3)
  • Higginbotham, et. al. “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Historical and Economic Perspectives, Pp. 1-28)
  • Cabezas, et. al., “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty”(Chapter 1, Useche and Cabezas)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change” (The Changing Impact of Marriage, Motherhood and Work on Women’s Poverty, Pg. 5)
  • Dujon, et. al., “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States” Chapter One, Pp. 9-17)

Journal Entry, Written Assignment

  Week 2

3

The Vicious Cycle of Poverty
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children” (Chapter 2, Pg. 33)
  • Higginbotham, et. al., “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Part II, Manufacturing and Domestic Service, Pp. 53-57)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter’s 2 & 3, Roy & Stoever)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Schneider, Pg. 41)
  • Dujon, et. al., “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States” (Walker and Flanders, et. al., pp. 19-29)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

Week 3

4

Is Poverty a “Woman’s Issue?”
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children”(Chapter 3, Pg. 63)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States”(Pp. 41-67)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

Week 4

 

Research assignment 1

Research assignment exploring the most important social issue facing us today in regards to women and children in poverty. Complete this assignment before moving to the next unit.

Do not begin the next lesson until the research assignment has been submitted.

  Week 4

5

Exploring the Link: Social Issues and Welfare
  • Carbezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 4, Chatterjee)
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children” (Chapter 4, Pg. 95)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Press,
  • Johnson-Dias and Fagan, Pg. 55)
  • Higginbotham, et. al., “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Zavella, Pg. 76)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

  Week 5

6

Economics and Poverty
  • Higganbotham, et. a“Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Hondagneu-SoteloPg. 101)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 5, Karides)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States”(Pp. 79-107)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

  Week 6

7

Positions of Inequality
  • Higganbotham, et. al. “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Morgen, Pg. 131)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 6, Reese)
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children” (Chapter 5, Pg. 121)

Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States”(Pp. 151)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

  Week 7

 

MIDPOINT OF COURSE

If you are a semester student, you must reach the midpoint of your course by the date specified in your information.
If you are a Flex UM student, you CANNOT WITHDRAW from this course after the lesson has been submitted.

All lesson assignments or exams needed to reach the midpoint of the course

The exact date semester students are required to reach the midpoint is specified in your information.

8

Women, Invisibility and Poverty
  • Carbezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 7, Fisher)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Schleiter, Statham, Reinders, Pg. 81)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Kohn, Pg. 97)
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children” (Chapter 6, Pg. 179)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

Week 8

9

Gender, Race and Poverty
  • Higganbotham, et. al. “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Weber, Higginbotham/ Min, Pp. 153-176)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States”(Pp. 121-141)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change” (Jones, DeWeever, Pg. 113)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States”(Pp. 121-141)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

Week 9

Mid Course Exam

Proctored Exam

Be sure to complete all previous assignments before taking this exam. Complete this test before moving on to the next unit.
The midterm covers units 1-9.

To be scheduled
and completed
before proceeding

  Week 9

10

The Globalization of Poverty
  • Carbezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 8, Misra and Merz)
  • Higginbotham, et. al. “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Pardo, Pg. 197)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States” (Pp. Pp. 155-183)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

Week 10

11

Culture and Poverty
  • Carbezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 9, Munoz)
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children” (Chapter 7, Pg. 179)
  • Higginbotham, et. al. “Women and Work-Volume 6: Exploring Race, Ethnicity, and Class”(Pardo/Dickson, Pp. 197-216)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

  Week 11

 

Research assignment 2

Research assignment that investigates ways each of us can help to create social change. Complete this assignment before moving to the next unit.

Do not begin the next lesson until the research assignment has been submitted.

  Week 11

12

“Still Crying Out Loud”
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Pg. Johnson,135)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Knight, Pg. 151)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 10, Mellon)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 11, Esbenshade)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States” (Pp. Pp. 223)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

  Week 12

13

Implication of Gender and Poverty
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change” (Fisher & Lyons, Pg. 161)
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Lovell & Gi-Taik Oh, Pg. 169)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 12, Allen)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 13, Olmsted)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States” (Pp. Pp. 309-337)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

  Week 13

14

Understanding Gender and Poverty-Final Thoughts
  • Hartmann, “Women, Work, and Poverty: Women-Centered Research for Policy Change”(Ohler & Folbre, Pg. 185)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 14, Ezeilo)
  • Cabezas, et. al, “Wages of Empire: Neoliberal Policies, Repression, Women’s Poverty” (Chapter 15, Kolhatkar)
  • Dujon, et. al. “For Crying Out Loud: Women’s Poverty in the United States” (Pp. Pp. 341-369)
  • Hayes, “Flat Broke With Children” (Chapter 8, Pg. 215)

Written Assignment, Journal Entry

  Week 14

Final Exam

Proctored Exam

Be sure to complete all previous assignments before taking this exam. Any assignments not completed before the exam is taken will receive a grade of zero. All course work must be graded before you will be eligible to take the Final Exam.
The final mainly covers lessons 10-14, but the essays may span the whole course.

To be scheduled
and completed
to finalize credit

  Week 15

Grading:

GRADING SCALE:
94 - 100% = A
90 - 94% = A-
87 - 90% = B+
84 - 87% = B
80 - 84% = B-
77 - 79% = C+
74 - 77% = C
70 - 74% = C-
64 - 69% = D
Below 64% = F

FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.

You must submit the lessons required to take the course exam(s). Lessons required but not submitted will receive a grade of zero. For the final exam, all coursework must be submitted and graded.