311 study guides-final

CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY

Social Sciences Department

Soc 311 Sociology of Gender

Study Questions for Final

The following questions are ways in which you can relate the materials you are reading to the issues and concepts covered in the course. They will also serve as questions for the final exam.

1) The issue of rape in our culture is a complicated and emotional one. Several authors and speakers present research on gender violence.

a) How is rape defined by our society as presented by these authors?

b) Discuss the contradictory ideas and issues around rape in our society, especially the assumptions that support the "blame the victim" or "she asked for it" view of rape.

c) How do definitions of gender affect the incidence of rape?

2) Karen Coffey, in her talk on the role her agency plays in the county, discusses the issues of violence against women and its affect on women's lives.

a) What are her concerns?

b) What responses does the system provide to women?

c) What is being done for victims?

d) How are offenders handled?

3) The issue of sexual harassment is still a concern when looking at problems for women in the work place.

a) What is sexual harassment? Give Examples of behaviors you would identify as harassing.

b) Why is it a problem?

c) What punishment, if any, should be meted out to offenders?

4) Homophobia is an important concern in the extension of human rights.

a) What are the main issues around responses by heterosexuals to the male and female homosexual communities?

b) Why is this such an emotionally charged topic?

c) What role does homophobia play in the definition of gender roles in American society?

d) What were the major concerns expressed by Sonia, Sade and Kate in relating their experiences of coming out as lesbian?

5) Reproductive rights and the involvement of the government in the lives of women are a major issue. What are the major arguments in the debate pro-life and pro- choice or reproductive rights on the issues of abortion and family planning.

6) What is meant by gender equity in education? What impact has Title IX had on college and professional women?

7) We discussed different kinds of love styles (sorge, pragma, mania, eros, ludic, agapic). How do these play a role in romantic relationships and become factors in understanding violence against women?

Final date: March 19, 2010 7-10:00 am

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