This document summarizes an academic class on gender and society. It includes an agenda that covers housekeeping, an introduction to pathways, and conversation starters. There is a discussion of the textbook topics and skills. The document outlines discussions on the differences between gender and sex, masculine and feminine behaviors, and culture's influence on gender stereotypes based on studies. It directs students to have group discussions responding to topics on the readings and videos. Homework includes adding a conversation starter to a Google Doc and buying the textbook.

1. Academic Interactions
130 Nikki Mattson
IECP
Fall 2105

2. Agenda
• Housekeeping – conversation starters
• Introduction to Pathways 1

3. Conversation Starters
• HW?
• http://ai130fall15.blogspot.com/

4. Getting to Know the
Textbook
• Read through the topics and skills from
pages iv-vii.
• From the “scope and sequence” pages,
what topics and skills are you particularly
interested in?
• Share your interests with your group

5. Pathways 1, pg. 1: Gender and Society
• What is the difference between the words “gender” and “sex”?
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/genderme
d/sexandgender.html

6. Group Discussion
1. What kinds of behaviors/attitudes/actions do you
consider to be masculine?
2. What kind of behaviors/attitudes/actions do you
consider to be feminine?
3. Do you think your beliefs about what is feminine and
masculine are shaped by the culture of your home
country? If so, how?

7. Culture and Gender Stereotypes
• Williams and Best (1982) studied 30 countries and found high
cross-cultural agreement on the adjectives used to describe males
and females.
– In all countries, adjectives associated with men were rated as
being stronger and more active.
– Participants from Japan and South African rated male
characteristics as more favorable; Italy and Peru rated female
characteristics more favorable.

8. Culture and Gender Stereotypes
• Follow up studies by Williams and Best
(1990)
– Men are viewed as active, strong, critical,
conscientious, extraverted, and open.
– Women are viewed as passive, weak,
nurturing, adaptive, agreeable, and
neurotic.

9. • Do you
agree or
disagree
with any of
these
stereotypes
(in
particular)?

10. Pathways
, pg. 1.
• Video

11. Group Discussion
• What did you see in the video?
• What are your reactions to what you saw?

12. Why Cholitas?
What do you think of this practice of fighting cholitas?

13. Pathways, pgs. 2-3 (Group
Discussion)
• Read pgs. 2-3 and complete the
discussion questions with your group.

14. HW
• Add one conversation starter (Pathways,
Pg. 5) to the Google Doc asap, if you
haven’t already done so.
• Buy your textbook.