POL 300 - WOMEN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FALL 1995 ZEHRA ARAT PURCHASE COLLEGE, SUNY This course examines the particular values, structures, policies which shape the political attitudes and behavior of women and toward women in developing countries. Women's contribution to political change, as well as the impact of social and political change on the lives of women will be discussed with a reference to specific historical and contemporary cases. This is not a lecture course. In addition to the quality of the class hour in general being dependent on widespread discussion, evaluation of student performance will be heavily affected by the quantity and quality of individual verbal contributions. The evaluation of the student performance will be based on the class participation, two examinations, and a research project. The examinations will be based on the assigned readings as well as class discussions. Students are required to complete the readings prior to the class meeting. The student can choose from three alternative research topics for the paper: (1)a comparison of the status of women in two developing countries;(2)a review of one of the autobiographical books (by Mench or Chang) with a focus on women's lives and their political context; or(3)a discussion of the significance and implications of the Fourth International Women's Conference (organized by the United Nations and currently in progress in Beijing) for the women in developing countries. It is expected to be approximately 10-12 pages (double-spaced, typed). The deadline for the term paper is strict and 10 points will be taken out from the deserved grade for each late day. Each of the four items of evaluation will be equally weighted for the final grade (25% each). However, if a student does poorly at the beginning but makes up for it by doing well on the later work, extra weight will be assigned to the later performance. Plagiarism or cheating on the examinations will result in failure for the course. Attendance is a prerequisite of class participation. Absenteeism or tardiness for more than two class hours will result in unfavorable evaluation of the class participation. There will be no make-up for the exams. No "incompletes" will be granted. Important Dates and Deadlines: Submitting paper topic :September 22 Mid-term Exam :October 31 Research Paper Due :December 8 Final Exam: December 15 BOOKS Required Charlton, Sue Ellen M., Jana Everet, and Kathleen Staudt, eds. Women, the State, and Development. (Albany, NY: SUNY Press, 1989). Dangarembga, Tsitsi. Nervous Conditions. (Seattle, Washington: Seal Press, 1988). El Saadawi, Nawal. Woman at Point Zero. (London: Zed Books, 1975). Markandaya, Kamala. Nectar in a Sieve. (New York: Signet Books, 1954). Momsen, Janet H. Women and Development in the Third World. (London: Routledge, 1991). Sen, Gita, and Caren Grown. Development, Crises, and Alternative Visions: Third World Women's Perspectives. (New York: Monthly Review press, 1987). Recommended Chang, Jung. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. (New York: Anchor Books, 1991). I, Rigoberta Mench. (London: Verso, 1984). Rao, Aruna, Anderson, Mary B., and Overholt, Catherine A., eds. Gender Analysis in Development Planning. (West Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press, 1991). Strobel, Margaret. European Women and the Second British Empire. (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1991). Women in A Changing Global Economy. New York: United Nations, 1995). Women in Politics and Decision Making in the Late Twentieth Century. (New York: United Nations, 1994). Young, Gay, Samarasinghe, Vidyamali, and Kusterer, Ken. eds. Women at the Center: Development Issues and Practices for the 1990s. (West Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press, 1993). READINGS AND DISCUSSION TOPICS I. INTRODUCTION 9/8 Introducing the Subject and the Course 9/12 The Evolution of the State and Patriarchy Momsen, Chapter 1. Charlton, Everet, and Staudt, Chapter 1 and 2. II. HISTORY AND CULTURE 9/15 Hinduism Mukhapadhyay, Carol. "Sati or Shakti: Women, Culture and Politics in India," in Jean F. O'Barr, ed., Perspectives on Power: Women in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. (Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1982):11-26. (reserve) Dhruvajan, Vanaja. "Pativratya: The Ideology," Hindu Women and The Power of Ideology. (Granby, Massachusetts: Bergin & Garvey Publishers, Inc., 1989):26-34. (reserve) 9/19 Buddhism and Confucianism Slides and discussion 9/22 Christianity "Genesis" in Ruth, Sheila. Issues in Feminism. (Mountain View, CA: 1990).pp.173-175. (reserve) Stevens, Evelyn P. "Marianismo: The Other Face of Machismo in Latin America" in Pescatello, Ann., ed., (Pittsburgh: University of Pitsburg Press, 1973):89-102. (reserve) 9/26 Islam The Koran, Selected verses on women. The Koran Interpreted. Trans. by A.J. Arberry (New York: MacMillian, 1955):100-126. (reserve) Callaway and Creevey, "Women and State in Islamic West Africa," in Charlton, Everet, and Staudt, pp. 86-93 only. 9/29 African Religions and Ideologies Toubia, Nahid. "The Social and Political Implications of Female Circumcision: The Case of Sudan," in Fernea, pp. 148-159. (reserve) 10/3-10 The Western Expansion, Colonial Rule and their Legacy Elizabeth Morgan, Van Weigel, and Eric DeBaufre. "Recent History--Colonialism," in Global Poverty and Personal Responsibility. (New York: Paulist Press, 1989). (reserve) Staudt, Kathleen. "The State and Gender in Colonial Africa," in Charlton, Everet, and Staudt, Chapter 4. Dangarembga, T. Nervous Conditions. Recommended: I, Rigoberta Mench. Strobel. European Women and... II. FAMILY, SOCIAL LIFE, AND WORK 10/13-17 Family and Social Life Momsen, Chapters 2-3. Santow, Gigi. "Social Roles and Physical Health: The Case of Female Disadvantage in Poor Countries," Social Science and Medicine 40:2 (1995):147-161. Markandaya, K. Nectar in a Sieve. Film: Kamala and Raji (10/13) 10/20-24 Economy and Work Momsen, Chapters 4-6 10/27 Prostitution: A Global Industry El Saadawi, Woman at Point Zero. Odzer, Cleo. "Patpong Prostitution," (reserve) Enloe, Cynthia. "Base Women," in Bananas, Beaches & Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989). 10/31 MID-TERM EXAM IV. THE STATE, POLITICS, AND GENDER 11/3-7 Nationalism and Development Policies Momsen, Chapter 7 and Table 4.2 Arat, Zehra. "Kemalism and Turkish Women" Women and Politics, 14:4 (Fall 1994):57-80. (reserve) Callaway and Creevey, "Women and State in Islamic West Africa," in Charlton, Everet, and Staudt. Shiva, V. "Development, Ecology and Women," in Rajani Kanth., ed., Paradigms in Economic Development. (London, M.E. Sharpe, 1994):243-253. (reserve) Recommended: Wild Swans. Rao. Gender Analysis in Development Planning. 11/7-10 Political Institutions and Women Arat, Yesim. "Obstacles to Election," (reserve) Film: Struggle for Democracy: The Last Citizens (11/10) Recommended: Women in Politics and Decision Making. 11/14-17 Women's Organizations and Struggle Everet, J. "Incorporation versus Conflict: Lower Class Women, Collective Action, and the State in India," in Charlton, Everet, and Staudt, Chapter 8. Churchryk, P. "Subversive Mothers: The Women's Opposition to the Military Regime in Chile," in Charlton, Everet, and Staudt, Chapter 7. Film: Americas, Part 5. "In the Hands of Women" (11/14) VI. THE THIRD WORLD WOMEN AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY 11/21-28 The Impact of International Integration Arat, Z. "Women Under Layers of Oppression: The (Un)Changing Political Economy of Gender" in Manochehr Dorraj. ed., The Changing Political Economy of the Third World. (Boulder, Co: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1995):265-293. (reserve) Film: Where the Credit is Due (11/28) 12/1-5 Third World Feminism Sen and Grown. Development, Crises, and Alternative Visions. Recommended: Young. Women at the Center. 12/8 The Means of Struggle and Change Charlton, Everet, and Staudt, "Conclusion." (also read Chapters 1 and 2 again). 12/12 Review Session 12/15 FINAL EXAMINATIONGUIDELINES FOR THE COMPARATIVE TERM-PAPER 1. Select two developing countries (make sure that there is enough information on women in these countries). 2. Make yourself familiar with some general characteristics of the countries. Gather information about the religions practiced in the country, the ethnic and racial origins of the population, the type of government, the official/mainstream ideology, and former colonial experience. You can obtain some of that information fairly quickly from the Political Handbook of the World or The Statesmen's Yearbook (Both available at the library, the most recent issues at the Reference section). You should study also the economy of the country: the levels of wealth, industrialization, urbanization, employment in different sectors, and the type of economy (socialist, capitalist, mixed), etc. For information on some of these items try two annual publications: "World Development Indicators," a set of tables presented at the end of the World Development Report (by the World Bank); and the Human Development Report ( by the United Nations). The latest issues are at the Reference section of the library. You can also use the Country Study series. Note that this part of your research is only for you to obtain the necessary background. I do not want this information to be reproduced in your paper. 3. Asses the status of women in each country. In addition to the literature that you will review, a reference book that you should consult for this purpose is Sisterhood is Global, edited by Robin Morgan (on reserve). Also use Women and Politics Worldwide by Barbara Nelson and Najma Chowdhury, which contains more up to date information on some countries. Try to answer questions including the following: What is women's position in the family? Does marriage constitute a condition for respectability? Are women free to choose their partners? How much sexual freedom do they enjoy? How much voice do they have in family matters? Do they have inheritance and property rights? What is the extent of violence against women? To what extent women participate in the public life (in the work force, in associations, in politics, etc.)? Are they provided with educational opportunities? Use The World's Women: Trends and Statistics 1970-1990 for data on enrollment, literacy, and political representation, etc. (also check the Human Development Report). 4. Compare the position of women in those two countries. Are there any variations? If there are, in which areas (e.g. family structure, education, employment, politics, etc.). How can you explain these variations? By the economy of the country? By the religion? By its colonial legacy (e.g British rule versus Spanish rule)? By the ideology of the government and its policies? By women's movements? (You would need to examine the recent history of the countries and utilize specialized scholarly books and articles on women). 5. Conclusion: Can you refer to one country as a stronger/weaker patriarchy than the other? What do you expect for the future of women in these countries? Are there any trends? GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH PAPERS 1. Whatever topic you choose to study make sure that you are interested in it. Yes, it may be an assignment, but making it an interesting task depends on you. 2. Before you wait till the end of the term, or finish reading two difficult books on the subject, conduct a thorough search for literature and make sure there is enough material on that topic in our library. 3. Act soon. Order the books and articles that are not available in our library through the inter-library loan service. Note that it takes two weeks (or longer) to receive the material. 4. Do not limit your bibliography to books. Make use of articles from academic journals. Articles are shorter, more condensed, to the point, and timely. You can get more information in a shorter period of time. 5. Use indices (e.g. Social Science Index) and the bibliographies of the most recent articles to dig for more sources. 6. The assigned readings for the course are relevant to your topic. Consult them while you are working on your topic. Although your bibliography should include other sources, there is no rule to exclude the assigned readings. 7. While you are reading, do not mechanically underline the important/relevant parts of the text, but take notes in your own words. This way you will not only improve your reading comprehension, but also have the half of the writing task done. 8. Follow proper quotation and bibliographic citation rules. Do not take a chance of getting accused for plagiarism. 9. Do not forget proof reading. 10. Although the instructor may end up being the sole reader of this paper, while writing, imagine a larger audience. Ask yourself if your paper would make sense to somebody who did not take this course. Better yet, ask a friend (who has not taken this course) to read your paper and tell you what she understands. 11. A writing strategy for those who tend to loose the focus: First Stage: After completing your readings, write a paragraph that indicates your topic and your argument (thesis). Consult people (your class mates or the teacher) and ask them if your thesis is clear and your paragraph makes any sense. Revise it till what they understand is same as what you mean to say. Second Stage: Write a two page summary of your research. It should include the following questions: What is your topic? Why is it worth studying? Which theories and/or hypotheses are reviewed in your paper? Which ones are criticized? Which ones are supported? What is your thesis/hypothesis? Is it widely supported? Final Stage: Now, you can treat your summary as an outline and the paragraphs as the core of the sub-sections of your paper. To explain and clarify each paragraph, you can insert the literature review, quotations from other sources, your data/tables, etc. -- Zehra F. Arat Associate Prof. of Political Sci. and Women Studies Purchase College, SUNY zarat@brick.purchase.edu