RACE, CLASS, GENDER, & SEXUALITY

SOC 2319-001
Call Number 12939
Friday: 12:00 – 2:45 pm, SOM 2.722

Instructor: Brenda McCoy, Ph.D.

Office: GR 3.412
Phone: (972) 883-4940
Email: brenda.mccoy@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: Friday: 2:45 pm, or by appointment

Required Texts:

Both required books are available for purchase at the University Bookstore and at Off
Campus Books (581 West Campbell Road, Suite 101):

Ore, Tracy E. (2006). The Social Construction of Difference & Inequality: Race,
Class, Gender, and Sexuality. (3rd edition). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Ehrenreich, Barbara. (2001). Nickel and Dimed. On Not Getting By in America.

New York: Henry Holt & Company.

Course Objectives:

This course examines privilege and disadvantage in American society and how it is
manifest among different races, ethnicities, classes, genders, and sexualities. For
sociologists, race, class, gender, and sexuality are various statuses or social locations. We
will explore how sociologists define each of these statuses as well as investigate what they
have discovered about their influence. Other course objectives are to assist students in

1. recognizing that the expectations and issues associated with race, class, gender,
and sexuality are not uniform; in fact, these social statuses are intricately intertwined.
2. better understanding the impact of race, class, gender, and sexuality in their own
personal lives.
3. examining the perspectives of those of varying races/ethnicities, classes, genders,
and sexualities.
4. identifying how our own thoughts and actions contribute to another’s subordination.

Exams, Papers, and Grade Calculation:

There will be a total of two exams worth 100 points each. Exams cover material from the
texts, assigned readings, lecture notes, and class discussions and will typically consist of
multiple choice, short answer, and/or essay questions. Each exam will be worth 40% of the
student’s final grade. Students missing an exam will be allowed to take a make-up exam only
in cases of a university-approved absence or an absence approved in advance by the
instructor. Any student missing an exam because of illness must provide indication of illness
from a medical doctor. All students must take the final exam. Any student who fails to
take the final exam will automatically fail the course.

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 In addition to the exams, students will be required to write two reflection papers
(approximately 3 double-spaced pages each). Identifying how and why we behave and why
we have certain attitudes can be a daunting task. Students will be asked to identify and reflect
on their own attitudes and behavior patterns. Each reflection paper will be worth 10% of the
student’s final grade.

Further instructions on the topic and format for the reflection papers will be given in
class. Late papers will not be accepted except in cases of excused absences. Please
note that I do not accept papers sent to me via email.

To calculate your semester grade, multiply each grade you earned by the weight given
to that particular assignment and then add those weighted scores together. For example, if a
student earns a 95 on the first reflection paper, a 90 on the second, 85 on the midterm and 70
on the final, the grade would be calculated as follows:

Reflection Paper I 95 * .10 = 9.50

Reflection Paper II 90 * .10 = 9.00
Midterm Exam 85 * .40 = 34.00
Final Exam 70 * .40 = 28.00
Grade: 80.50 (B-)

If this particular student had a perfect attendance record for the semester (no absences
for any reason) and no conduct issues, 3 additional points would be added to the above total
for a final course grade of 83.5 (B).

Final grades will be assigned based on the following averages:

A+ = 97 – 100 A = 93 – 96 A- = 90 – 92
B + = 87 – 89 B = 83 – 86 B- = 80 – 82
C+ = 77 – 79 C = 73 – 76 C- = 70 – 72
D+ = 67 – 69 D = 63 – 66 D- = 60 – 62
F = Below 60

Attendance and Participation:

Class attendance and participation is extremely important and is required. Students

will be asked to sign in for each class. If you do not sign the attendance sheet, you will
not receive credit for your attendance, even if you were there.

Absences not only cause students to miss the material presented and discussed in
class, but also disrupt group activities. In addition, students tend to do better in my courses if
they attend regularly. Attendance will be calculated as follows:

Perfect attendance: 3 point addition to final grade

1 – 2 unexcused absences: No automatic penalty

3 unexcused absences: 10 point deduction from final grade
Greater than 3 unexcused absences: Automatic course failure

University approved absences will be considered excused. Students who miss class
because of illness may be asked to provide a doctor’s note in order to be considered excused.

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The professor reserves the exclusive right to determine whether or not any other absence is
excused.

Classroom Conduct:

Tardiness and leaving early are very disruptive to the instructor and other students.
Class will start on time, so please make sure you are present by 12:00 pm. Please let me know
at the beginning of class if you absolutely must leave early and make sure your exit distracts
others as little as possible.

This course covers sensitive material; therefore, please make every effort to respect
others. Disagreements are allowed and expected, but should focus on ideas rather than on the
individual who expresses them. Other signs of disrespect that will not be tolerated include, but
are not limited to, having background conversations when others are talking, packing up early
when others are still talking or asking questions, and playing games or surfing the web during
class, or working on material for other classes.

Poor classroom etiquette will be reflected in your grade irrespective of how well
you do on exams or assignments.

University Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty:

The university is very clear on this point. You must do your own work. Cheating on exams,
plagiarism, or any other form of scholastic dishonesty is unacceptable. Detailed explanations of
the university policy are found in the university catalog and online at:
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/scholastic.html

Student Requiring Special Accommodation:

I am happy to accommodate students with special needs. Students who require this type
of assistance should contact the Disabilities Services Office at (972) 883-2098 to make
appropriate arrangements.

Problems, Questions, Concerns:

I strongly encourage you to talk to me if you are having problems with the course or if
you have questions or other concerns. The best way to reach me outside of class is e-mail
since I am not on campus every day of the week.

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 Course Outline:

The schedule of specific topics and readings is subject to change. Any changes to the syllabus will be announced during
class. Assigned reading should be completed by the date listed.

Date Topic/Important Dates Reading Assignment

1/13 Course Introduction None

Social Construction of Difference

1/20 Basics of Stratification Ehrenreich pp 1-49

Conflict & Functionalist Perspectives

1/27 Social Class I Ehrenreich pp 50-119

Monopoly: The Impact of Wealth & Income

2/3 Social Class II Ehrenreich pp 121-191

The Face of Poverty
Due: Reflection Paper I

2/10 Social Class III Ehrenreich pp 193-221

The Social Psychology of SES Ore pp 105 – 112: “Getting Corporations off the Public Dole”

2/17 Race & Ethnicity I Ore pp 76 – 88: “Race, Wealth, and Equality”
Monopoly: The Impact of Race Ore pp 98 – 104: “Doubly Divided: The Racial Wealth Gap”

2/24 Race & Ethnicity II Ore pp 29 – 41: “Optional Ethnicities: For Whites Only?
Historical Perspectives Ore pp 692 – 699: “Seeing More than Black and White”
Midterm Exam

3/3 Race & Ethnicity III Ore pp 563 – 569: “Making Systems of Privilege Visible”
Race and Privilege Ore pp 570 – 571: “Yes, I Follow Islam, But I’m Not a Terrorist”
Due: Reflection Paper II Ore pp 572 – 581: “A Dozen Demons”
Ore pp 590 – 596: “Gee, You Don’t Seem Like an Indian from the
Reservation”

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Date Topic/Important Dates Reading Assignment

3/10 Spring Break

3/17 Gender I Ore pp 700 – 713: “Dismantling Noah’s Ark: Gender and Equality”
Monopoly: The Impact of Gender Ore pp 316 – 328: “Missing in Interaction”

3/24 Gender II Ore pp 133 – 150: “Masculinity as Homophobia”

Historical Perspectives Ore pp 350 – 361: “The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for
Men in the ‘Female’ Professions”

3/31 Gender III Ore pp 550 – 559: “Homophobia as a Weapon of Sexism”

Domestic Violence Ore pp 533 – 549: “The Construction of Masculinity and the Triad
of Men’s Violence”

4/7 Sexuality I Ore pp 187 – 198: “Naming All the Parts”

Historical Perspectives Ore pp 164 – 168: “The Social Construction of Sexuality”

4/14 Sexuality II Ore pp 624 – 628: “Bisexuality, Feminism, Men and Me”
Virtually Normal? Ore pp 120 – 127: “The Five Sexes Revisited”

4/21 Intersections Ore pp 641 – 655: “Toward a New Vision”

4/28 Final Exam

12:00 – 1:30 pm

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