University of Puerto Rico
Cayey College
Department of English
Dr. Walter Rybarkiewicz
e-mail: wrybarkiewicz@cayey.upr.edu
INGL 3370
SHE SAID, HE SAID: LANGUAGE AND GENDER
Course Description:
In this specialized middle-level language course the students will work on increasing their mastery of spoken and written English while focusing on the subject of the interrelationship of language and gender. The students will discover how gender differentiation results in differences in language comprehension and how, in turn, language use serves the propagation of gender roles, and their participation in the structures of power and control. The intersections between gender, social class, ethnicity and cultural affiliation will be examined, as well as the resulting linguistic behavior they produce. Finally, the course will address the issues of sexism in language and will touch upon biological and anthropological factors relevant to the discussion of gender.
Texts and Teaching Materials used in the course:
The relevant Internet sites
Selections from the following books and articles, available as course packets:
Durham, Carolyn. 1995. At the crossroads of gender and culture. The Modern Language Journal 79, ii. 153-165.
Faludi, Susan. 1999. Stiffed: The betrayal of the American man. New York: William Morrow and Co.
Kimura, Doreen. 2000. Sex and cognition. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press.
Lakoff, Robin. 1990. Talking power. New York: HarperCollins.
Tannen, Deborah. 1990. You just don't understand: Women and men in conversation. New York: Ballantine.
Tannen, Deborah. 1994. Gender and discourse. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Relevant videos and movies‑all available from the Sala de Sonido e Imagen collection in the CUC Library:
VHS 32: Americas in women’s hands: The changing roles of women.
VHS 456: Gender and relationships.
VHS 626: Lives of girls and women.
VHS 658: The developing child: Self-identity and sex role development.
VHS 883: Sex and gender.
VHS 884: Sexism in language.
VHS 1059: When should a couple divorce.
He Said, She Said,
When Harry met Sally.
Course Outline:
Week 1: Organizing the course.
Week 2: Functional-social view of language—an introduction to gender and communication.
Week 3: Elements of discourse analysis.
Week 4: Rapport- and report-oriented discourse.
Week 5: Listening and talking in conversation.
Week 6: Discourse purpose and topical cohesion.
Week 7: Taking turns and interrupting: patterns of dominance and control.
Week 8: Directness, inference, presupposition and comprehension.
Week 9: Discourse styles in conflict.
Week 10: Ethnic style in male and female conversation.
Week 11: The sex- and class-linked frames of discourse.
Week 12: Cultural differences in gender-related aspects of communication.
Week 13: Sexism in language.
Week 14: Biology, anthropology, and gender.
Week 15: Recapitulation and review.
Course Policies and Requirements:
Effective study of the course contents is not possible without one's own materials. Five percent of the final grade (out of 15 % allotted for the active participation in class) will be given for owning the required text, bringing it to the class, and using it during the discussion.
Students are responsible for coming to the class having read the assigned material. Points will be given for being able to discuss the topic in class (active participation). If poor or no discussion results, students may expect unannounced quizzes which will check their knowledge of the material assigned for reading.
Attendance is mandatory: A student missing more than three hours without a legitimate and verifiable excuse will see her or his grade lowered from A to B, B to C, and C to D for each additional three-hour period missed. If unexcused absences reach 35% of the class time the student will automatically “gain” an F. A legitimate and verifiable excuse will have to be shown in case of a true emergency. The students are responsible to cover the material they have missed. Only those with a legitimate and verifiable excuse can take a make-up for a missed quiz, test, or an exam. The make-up has to take place within two weeks from the missed class.
All assignments are to be given when due: late work without a legitimate excuse will result in reduced evaluation (5% for each working day the project is late).
Receiving cell phone calls during class is not accepted. If a student anticipates an important call, he/she should notify me in advance.
Evaluation:
1. Active class participation ................................ 15 %
2. Journal, homework, and class assignments .. 25 %
3. Two shorter written papers ............................. 20 %
4. Two oral reports ................................................ 20 %
5. Final written project .......................................... 20 %.
The standard curve will be used: 100-90% = A; 89-80% = B; 79-70% = C;
69-60% = D; 59% or less = F.