SUNY Cortland, 3 credits, Old Main
Dr.
Office: Old Main
138a, Hours: W
Phone: 607-753-
2013
Course Description:
This course is
one of the linked courses of the Living Democracy Learning Community.
In this course,
we will examine the personal and systemic nature of discrimination. The central
aim is to foster critical thinking about the ways in which the interlocking
systems of oppression, e.g., colonialism, racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, and
heterosexism, shape our lives and how people have worked to resist these
oppressions. Special attention will be
given to the ways in which violence is perpetuated through interpersonal
relationships and through institutions, such as schools, the media, the
juridical system, welfare policies. We
will explore a framework for thinking about the intersections of prejudice and
discrimination and different frameworks which articulate alternative moral and
political visions for a more just and democratic world.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
(1) To understand
key concepts, such as prejudice and discrimination;
domination, power and oppression; and ideology.
(2) To understand
how our society supports violence as a way of solving problems (institutional
forms of violence which sustain sexism, heterosexism, racism, classism, and
other systems of oppression);
(3) To identify and learn how systems of
oppression operate on micro and macro levels;
(4) To learn about the problem of internalized
oppression;
(4) To analyze
in what ways those persons who are in a position of adjudicating and eliminating
violence may perpetuate violence;
(5) To discuss alternative non-violent visions for society and how
we might bring about such visions.
Course Requirements:
1. Class participation is crucial to the
success of this course. The topics we address in this course may touch our
lives in powerful ways. There will be ample opportunity to talk about these
issues in class. You are expected to have completed and to be prepared to
discuss all of the assigned readings. Your personal experience is valued, and
some of the reading assignments were chosen to help put those experiences into
a social, political, economic and cultural context.
Bring your
questions/comments to class, which will be collected occasionally. Prepare a
question per reading/chapter and be ready to discuss the readings and your
questions.
2. Two Social/Political Papers: On a
regular basis faculty and class members will announce events happening on
campus or in the community (speakers, workshops, rallies, etc.) which examine
or attempt to address sexism, racism, classism, ageism, heterosexism, etc. You will attend and write a short paper on
each event within one week after you
attend the event. Papers should be 2-3 pages in length, typed and double
spaced, in which you evaluate the event and your response to it.
3. Journals: This is reflective and critical writing on our assignments (1 page,
double spaced, per assignment). They will be collected occasionally.
4. One research paper: Written assignment
(5 typed pages) on one research topic. You will receive possible paper topics
from the instructor. You have to use
three academic sources (in addition to web sites) for your paper. Papers must be typewritten and include a
bibliography.
5. Oral Group Presentation: You are
required to work in a small group during the semester and give one class
presentation on your service learning project at the end of the term. Your
presentation will be based in part on your work with Prof. Suarez
service learning course. Your group may choose to do one or more of the
following: You may use multi media technologies, such as Power Point
Presentations, slides, or videotapes.
7. Course evaluation:
Your grade for
the course will be computed as follows:
Class
participation 10 pts
2 Social/Political
Papers 10 pts
Journals 30 pts
One research
paper 30 pts
Group
Presentation 20 pts
Note:
Late papers are penalized by loss of points (1 point deduction for each day
late; penalties accrue beginning with class period in which the work is due). No incompletes will be given in this course.
Plagiarism
will not be tolerated, and incidents of plagiarism will be treated in
accordance with the policies of the University.
Note that all written requirements are individual efforts. Only
the oral presentation will be evaluated on a collective/group basis.
Attendance
Policy: For
the success of this course, in particular for the planning of the activist
project, it is important that you do not miss classes. Please notify your group members, if you
cannot come to class. Excessive absence
(more than 3 missed classes), will affect your grade.
SUNY
Texts:
Heldke et al Oppression,
Privilege and Resistance [H]
Matsuda, et al.,
Words That Wound [M]
Joy James, Imprisoned
Intellectuals [JJ]
Joel Shatzky, Common
Sense [SH]
The Syllabus:
Week 1: Shifting the Center: New terms,
new definitions
T8/24:
Introduction to the Course
R 8/26 Pedagogy
of the Oppressed #1 [H]
Week 2: Racism, White Supremacy
T 8/31: Something
about the subject #4
R 9/2: White
privilege and male privilege #23
Week 3: Sexism and Homophobia
T 9/7: HC
Oppression #14
T 9/14: Encountering
the American Holocaust #8
R 9/16: Occupied
Week 5: Resisting Oppresssions
R 9/23: Homophobia:
A Weapon of Sexism #20
Week 6: Multiple Identities
Week 7: Work and Myth of Meritocracy in a Capitalist
Society
Week :
ctd
R 10/14: 10, 14
Week 9: Incarceration/ Criminal (In)justice
T 10/19 October
break
R 10/21 King,
Malcom X (1-2) in [JJ]
draft of research papers due (typed, stapled,
with bibliography)
Week 10: Incarceration/ Criminal (In)justice
R 10/28 Muntaqim,
Shakur, Abu-Jamal (7, 8, 12)
T 11/2
R
11/4 no
class
Terms: critical
race theory, 1st Amendment, tort law, harms of racism, cause of
action, defamation, Cohen v.
R 11/11 M
chapter 4
Week 13: Words That Wound
Terms: 'fresh
air' approach, civil libertarians, UN vs
T 11/16 John
Stuart Mill [handout], M chapter 2
R 11/18 M
chapter 6 epilogue
Week 14: Words That Wound
Terms: Brown v.
Board of Education, speech vs conduct, critique of fighting words exception,
intersectionality of racism and sexism
T 11/23 M
chapter 3; chapter 5
R Thanksgiving recess
T 11/30
Presentations
R 12/2 Presentations
Week 16: ctd.
T 12/7
Presentations
Activist reports are due.