HDFS 4700 Spring 2017

HDFS 4700
GENDER ROLES IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
Professor
Dr. Carol Roberson
Phone: 332-4604
E-mail roberca@auburn.edu
Office: 206A Spidle Hall; Office Hours 11:10-12 MW and by appointment

Teaching Assistants
Courtney Fixelle: Email: czf0032@tigermail.auburn.edu
Spidle 344; Office hrs:

Textbook
Gender.Ideas.Interactions.Intersections. Wade and Ferree. 2015. Norton Press

Course Description/Purpose
The purpose of this course is to examine gender, gender roles, and the intersections of gender
and gender roles with race/ethnicity/culture, focusing on the varying ways that these
dimensions influence us, as individuals and in our close relationships. We will examine the
concepts of gender, gender roles, gender role identity, gender role functioning,
race/ethnicity/culture, considering the ways these have changed over time and how they
impact individuals and interpersonal relationships across the life cycle.
1. To study conceptualizations of gender and gender roles

2. To understand the social and psychological processes that influence gender role beliefs
and identity

3. To examine the impact of gender roles on individuals and romantic, marital, and parent-
child relationships

4. To examine the intersections of gender, race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation and
culture.

5. To provide an overview of research on specified topical areas

6. To encourage critical thing about current issues related to gender roles and gender
identity

7. To examine our own perspectives and those of others in order to gain an appreciation of
the diversity in our culture.

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Course Requirements

Exams
There will be three exams, objective in format, covering class materials and assigned
reading. These are worth 100 points each and may include short answer, multiple choice
and short essay questions. Make-up tests must be taken within one week of the test date,
and will only be given if the student has a university-approved excused absence. You must
contact the instructor (Dr. Roberson) and not the Teaching Assistant for approval to
schedule a makeup.
Graded assignments
Periodically throughout the semester you may be asked to fill out surveys and write about
your reactions to them, read and summarize/critique articles, attend related events on
campus, and participate in other class assignments. These will be announced in class and
listed on Canvas with the due date. The values of these assignments will vary (typically
either 5-10 points each).

Papers
You will complete 3 papers over the course of the semester. These will all be based on
extra readings that I will assign.
Paper 1: TBA: 2 page minimum. 25 points. Due Jan 25
Paper 2: TBA: 3.5 page minimum. 40 points. Due Mar 1
Paper 3: TBA: 5 page minimum. 75 points. Due April 19

A grading rubric, which includes a checklist, will be posted on Canvas. You are required
to turn in the checklist for every paper.

NOTE: I do NOT accept emailed assignments. Assignments are late until I have a hard
copy. You will lose 5%/day for late assignments. Assignments received after class on the
due date are considered late.

Quizzes
There will be regular quizzes during the semester. Most of these will be on Friday but I
reserve the right to give unannounced quizzes as well. I will post reading guide questions
each week and these will be the basis of the quiz. On quiz days you may have a quiz, be
asked to turn in your reading guide questions (which must be typed), or a combination of
the two. You should bring your typed questions each Friday in case I collect them. I do not
accept emailed assignments. I also do not accept assignments if you are absent. You may
drop 2 quiz grades but there will be no makeups unless university-approved excuses for 3
or more quizzes. Makeup quizzes must be completed within 2 class periods of returning to
class. Each quiz will be worth 10 points.

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Class attendance
Class attendance and participation are considered mandatory. I will take roll on a regular
basis. If you come in late, you will lose 1 point per day you are late. You are allowed 2
unexcused absences during the semester. You will lose 5 points for each additional day that
you miss. If you have an excused absence, you must bring in your excuse on the first day
you return to class. Excused absences (for attendance, quizzes, or exams) will be entered in
Canvas as .1. This will indicate that you were absent, but that it was excused. Students who
have 5 or more unexcused absences will receive an FA (failure due to attendance) for the
class.

Required out of class activities

You are required to attend 1 out-of-class event. This can be chosen from the list of extra
credit options. To receive credit for this you must write a 1-page reaction to the event,
describing what you learned and what you like/disliked about the event. You must clearly
mark this as an out-of-class activity to receive credit. 10 points

Extra credit
I will also give extra credit during the semester. These will usually be worth 2 points that will
be added to the total number of points available in the class. Typically you may get credit
for two extra credit events during the semester for a total of 4 points.

Class policies
Students are expected to arrive on time and stay for the entire class period. Failure to do
either will result in a loss of 1 point per day.

Students may not use their cell phones for any reason during class. Doing so will result in an
unexcused absence for the class period.

Students may NOT use their laptops in this class. You should print the powerpoints available
on Canvas and bring these to class to complete, or take handwritten notes.

Students are expected to be respectful of other students, to pay attention when others are
contributing to class discussions and to refrain from side discussions. Students are
encouraged to share their (informed) opinions and observations in class.

Professionalism: Students are expected to be respectful of the Teaching Assistants and any
guest lecturers. Being professional also means being respectful and articulate when writing
emails to Teaching Assistants and professors. Failure to act in a professional way will result
in the loss of 4 points per event.

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Late Papers
You will lose 5% of your score for each day of the week your paper (of any type) is late unless
you have an excused absence on the due date. I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILED ASSIGNMENTS.
ASSIGNMENTS ARE LATE UNTIL A HARD COPY IS TURNED IN TO ME. Any papers turned in after
the class period of the date due will be considered late. Please keep in mind that you cannot
always count on printers in Spidle or on campus being available before the class period.

Last Day to turn in or makeup assignments

The last day I will accept or allow any makeup work is April 24 BY THE END OF THE CLASS
PERIOD (1:50).

Posting of Grades
Grades will be posted on Canvas, usually within one week of the exam or quiz. It is your
responsibility to check your grade and report any problems with your grade within ONE WEEK
of when it is posted. I will NOT consider changes to your grade after 1 week.

Honesty code
Violations of the Student Academic Honesty Code and the Student Discipline Code will be
handled according to Auburn University guidelines. All students should refer to the Tiger Cub
and be familiar with the academic honesty and discipline expectations.

Accommodations for students with disabilities

Students who need special accommodations should make an appointment to discuss the
Accommodation Memo with me as soon as possible. If scheduled office hours conflict with
classes, an alternate appointment time can be arranged. If a student does not have an
Accommodations Memo but needs special accommodation, contact The Program for Students
with Disabilities, 1244 Haley Center, 334-844-2096.

Eportfolio statement
The HDFS department supports the Auburn University ePortfolio initiative. As a result, HDFS
majors are required to develop an ePortfolio that identifies their professional goals and
incorporates examples of learning, classwork and/or experience that demonstrates progression
toward those goals. You are encouraged to consider how your experience in this class relates to
your professional goals and how your work in the course might be included in your ePortfolio.
Assignments from this course that may be useful to incorporate into your ePortfolio include
reaction papers, and major papers or projects. More information about ePortfolios see
http://wp.auburn.edu/writing/eportfolio-project/

I recommend that you dont post your (assignments) directly to your ePortfolio (because of
concerns about plagiarism), but rather include a reflection post on how completing the
assignments relates to your professional goals, how you overcame challenges, or how your
views changed as a result of completing this paper.

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Assigned reading
The assigned readings should be completed BEFORE the class meeting. See schedule for a list
of readings. Additional readings will be announced via class emails.

Diversity Statement
Auburn University is committed to providing a working and academic environment free from
discrimination and harassment and to fostering a nurturing and vibrant community founded
upon the fundamental dignity and worth of all its members.

Womens Study Minor

This course is cross-listed with Women's Studies and can count towards the requirements of
the Women's Studies minor. If you are taking this class to fulfill the minor in Women's Studies,
please let the professor know. If you would like to learn more about the Women's Studies
Program and its minor, please see the professor, or contact the director of the program, Dr.
Joyce de Vries, devrijc@auburn.edu.

Sexual Assault/harassment statement

"Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses
subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against
other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been
harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources through Safe Harbor:
334-844-7233, and
at https://cws.auburn.edu/studentaffairs/healthandwellness/programs/safeharbor/?Info

Safe Harbor (part of AU's Health Promotion and Wellness Services office in the Student Center,
Suite 2103) is the resource on campus for helping survivors of sexual assault and discrimination
and harassment.

Contingency Plan
Should the professor be unable attend class for an extended period of time, the graduate
teaching assistant will cover class.

Sample calculation of scores

Tests 300
Graded assignments 5-10 points each
Paper 1: 25 points
Paper 2: 40 points
Paper 3: 75 points
Quizzes 100-(10 @10 each)

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Lost attendance/professionalism points ?? (I hope none)

The extra credit is added to the total number of points that you have (not a percent of your
grade)

Course grades will be determined as:

90-100% = A
80-89.9% = B
70-79.9% = C
60-69.9% = D
Below 60 = F
Note: I do not round up: 89.9=B, etc