Montgomery College

Rockville Campus

History and Political Science Department

Syllabus

Spring 2009

 

 

History 112 (30125) (320730)            Instructor: Shuping Wan

Women in World History                   Office: Humanities Suite 270

MWF 11:00-11:50                             Office hours: MWF 8:25-9:55

                                                             R 6:00-6:30 and appointment

                                                            Office phone: 240-567--5024

                                                            Department phone: 240-567--5178

                                                            E-mail: shuping.wan@ montgomeruycollege.edu

 

Course Reading/Texts:

Eugenia Delamotte, Natania Meeker, Jean O’Barr (eds), Women Image Change: A Global Anthology of Women Resistance

Yuki Tanaka, Japan’s Comfort Women

Sarah Shaver Hughes and Brandy Hughes, Women in World History, vol. 2: Readings from 1500 to the Present

 

General Course Information:

 

Brief Course Description: “Her story” has often been neglected or distorted in history.  This course is concerned to restore women to the history of humankind.  Emphasis will be given to certain crucial issues in the history of women of non-Western societies since 1500.  While the “non-Western world” has become a general category used to represent various “third world” societies, our course has been designed to frame the diverse experiences of women of non-Western societies within a broader context than national.  Themes include the Western construction of non-Western women, culture and women, war and women, modernization and women, revolution and women, and the “third world” discourse of feminism.  Methodologically, we will investigate whether concepts such as tradition, class, ethnicity, colonialism, capitalism, development, third world, alternative modernities, may or may not help us better understand “her story.”

 

Aims and Objectives:

By the end of the course students should be able to outline the experience of women in non-Western societies since 1500, describe important historical events and figures, and analyze some important issues in women studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessment:

 

This is a lecture course, but your participation is strongly encouraged.  We will have some movies and discussions in the class.  These are not optional, and you are responsible for the contents.  All assigned readings should be completed prior to the class.  Your course grade will be determined on the basis of an oral history project (10 points), a book review of Yuki Tanaka’s Japan’s Comfort Women (20 points), a mid-term exam (25 points), and a final exam (45 points).  The oral history project is a report based on your interview of a woman from a non-Western society, preferably someone not from your culture.  The length of the report is about four pages (double-spaced).  You will be required to present your report in the class.  The book review should consist of the main thesis of the book, the arguments of the author, the historical evidence the author presents, and your evaluation of the book.  The length of the book review is about six pages (double-spaced).  The mid-term exam consists of fifteen multiple choices and one essay question.  The final exam consists of twenty-five multiple choices and two essay questions.

Honors Module:  In addition to the above assignments, honors module students need to write a research paper of 10 pages (40 points).  The topic should be relevant to the course and approved by the instructor.

 

Grading:

 

A=90-100; B=80-89, C=70-79; D=60-69; F=59 or less.

Honors Module Grading: A=125-140; B=110-124; C=95-109; D=80-94; F=79 or less 

 

Policies:

 

Attendance: Attendance/participation is required.  In the whole semester you are allowed to miss three classes for unexcused reasons.  Excessive absence will result in a reduced grade.

 

Make-up: If exceptional circumstances necessitate student absence on the day of the exam, you should contact the instructor prior to the exam and timely submit a written request for a make-up.

 

Late work: You are strongly advised to complete tour assignment ahead of the schedule.  Late work will be penalized 20% a day.  Absence from the class does not excuse a student from the paper due date.  The instructor does not accept any papers via email.

 

Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will result in awarding an “F” for the course.

 

Student who has a disability might want to contact the Disability services (CA122) ans to obtain an authorizing letter for accommodation.  Please feel free to talk to the instructor in regard to necessary arrangements.

 

In addition, it is the student’s responsibility to understand collegewide policies concerning academic honesty and classroom conduct.  The information is available in the College’s web page.

Course Schedule:

 

Week 1 Jan. 26-30                  Introduction to the Course

Slaying the Dragon

                                                Hughes, 1-12

Week 2 Jan. Feb. 2-6              Women of Qing China and Tokugawa Japan

                                                Hughes, 13-32, Delamotte, 325-329, 344-347

Week 3 Feb. 9-13                   Women of the Ottoman Empire

Hughes, 33-50

Week 4 Feb. 16-20                 Women of the Mughal Empire

                                                The Moguls:  Women and Warriors

                                                Hughes, 51-70, Delamotte, 122-123

                                                Interview report due on Feb. 16(M) prior to class

Week 5 Feb. 23-27                 Class presentation

Week 6 Mar. 2-6                     Women in Colonial Latin America

                                                Hughes, 89-112

Week 7 Mar. 9-13                   African Women in a New Era of Commerce and State Building

                                                Hughes, 113-136, Delamotte, 155-158

                                                Mid-term Exam Mar. 13 (F)

Week 8 Mar. 16-20                 Spring Break

Week 9 Mar. 23-27                 Revolution and Women

Hughes, 231-240, Delamotte, 274-276, 359-362, 493-496

Week 10 Mar. 30-Apr. 3         War and Women

Hughes, 243-247, Joan Hori 56-65

Sandakan #8

                                                Senso Daughters

In the Name of the Empeor

Week 11 Apr. 6-10                 Book review due on Apr. 6(M) prior to class

Progress and the Colonial Legacy: A Dilemma of African Women

                                                Hughes, 161-182; Delamotte, 220-224, 453-457.

Week 12 Apr. 13-17               The Symbol of Veil in Modern Islam

Hughes, 185-203, Delamotte, 277-280

Women and Islam

                                                                Beyond Borders: Arab Feminists Talk about Their Lives

Week 13 Apr. 20-24               Gender Division in South Asia

Hughes, 205-226, Delamotte, 167-171, 483-487

Women in the Struggle against Poverty

Week 14 Apr. 27-May 1         Gender in Modern Latin America

                                                Hughes, 261-265; Delamotte, 376-379, 420-423

Week 15 May 4-8                   Third World Discourse of Feminism

Free Trade Slaves

                                                Delamotte, 401-409, 453-457, 502-509

                                                Final Exam May 13 (W) 10:5-12:15am