GNDR A165: Gender Communication
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 03/12/2025 |
| Top Code | 220110 - Women's Studies |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Open Entry/Open Exit | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S) |
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
Explores the role, influence, effects, and significance of gender on our everyday communication interactions. Analyzes issues of gender and communication by examining the theoretical perspectives used to explain gender phenomena, gender socialization, and male and female interactions and stereotypes. Explores, with an emphasis on improving communication skills, the relationship between gender and communication as it pertains to the nature of gender(s), the language of gender, and gender differences in verbal and nonverbal communication. Enrollment Limitation: CMST A165; students who complete GNDR A165 may not enroll in or receive credit for CMST A165. Transfer Credit: CSU.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Demonstrates the ability to explain and evaluate the role, influence, effects, and significance of gender on our everyday communication interactions.
- Demonstrates the ability to apply a variety of theoretical perspectives to multiple communication contexts as a means of effectively evaluating gender phenomena, gender socialization, gendered interactions, and gender stereotypes.
Course Objectives
- 1. evaluate and explain the concepts of background information, personal effectiveness, communication and gender communication.
- 2. evaluate and explain how the social interpretations of sex differences influences gender, gender-role transcendence and an expanded communication repertoire; analyze how androgyny, masculinity and femininity, and gender fluidity relate to gender role-identity.
- 3. evaluate and explain how language influences and empowers people and analyze the reasons for using nonsexist language in gender communication; comprehend what constitutes sexist language, sexual language and what it communicates about men and women.
- 4. identify and evaluate the techniques of choosing relationships, barriers and road blocks and factors that influence relationships
- 5. identify and evaluate the issues and possibilities of same-sex and cross sex friendships and apply the knowledge in order to develop meaningful sex friendships, relationships/friendships with women and men.
- 6. identify and evaluate the attitudes and communication patterns in romantic relationships, marriages, and within families; understand the role of power and empowerment in marriage and families and apply effective communication pattern within these contexts.
- 7. identify and evaluate the implications of sexual harassment, interviews and day-to-day issues of women and men, and how gender speak hinders or facilitates each; apply that knowledge to understand the impact of sex bias and managerial communication in the workplace.
- 8. identify and evaluate the impact of textbooks and other educational literature on role-types, teacher/student gender communication issues, and the impact of peer group gender communication on the classroom/campus.
Lecture Content
Communication, Gender, and Culture a. Research on gender and culture as an area of study b. The relationship between gender and communication Theories About Sex and Gender a. Biological theories b. Interpersonal theories c. Cultural theories d. Critical theories Gender and Verbal Communication a. How language defines gender b. Gendered styles of verbal communication Gender and Nonverbal Communication a. Functions of nonverbal communication b. Forms of nonverbal communication Socialization into Gender a. Family communication b. Societal influences on gender Engendered Education: The Gendered Curriculum a. Gendered expectations and their impact on students b. Gendered expectations and pressures facing faculty Gendered Close Relationships a. Styles of friendship b. Romantic relationships Gender and the Media a. Media influences on gender b. Media saturation Gendered Organizational Communication a. Gendered stereotypes in the workplace b. Gendered patterns in organizations Gender and Violence a. Social construction of gendered violence b. Types of gendered violence
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
Instructional Techniques
This course combines lectures by the instructor, class discussion of assigned textbook readings, group work, audio/video presentations emphasizing certain communication concepts and skills, Internet and Power Point presentations by the student and instructor, oral presentations by the students, peer evaluations, role play exercises, quizzes, exams, and classroom activities which all contribute to the students overall understanding of Gender Communication principles.
Reading Assignments
2 hours/wk: read articles on the constructs of gender ranging from male female, to nonbinary, gender fluidity, and transgender. read journal articles on the evolution of the feminist movement. read articles on gender expression in popular culture.
Writing Assignments
2 hours/wk: complete a Reflective Essay - How did your parents and/or stepparents model masculinity and femininity? Does your own embodiment of gender reflect their influences? complete a Reflective Essay - Consider your current or past work environment. Have you observed the kinds of stereotypes in the workplace identified in your textbook? What were they, and what was your perception of these before and after learning about these in class?
Out-of-class Assignments
2 hours/wk: compose a reflective letter of introduction, an analysis which explains how the assignment changed your view of gender. essay on a topic such as: How does the gendered violence in rap music and video games affect real life violence in real life?
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Class participation and attendance, written and oral assignments, examinations, debates, group projects and term papers
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Written assignments may include journaling, self reflection, analysis of student's current behavior, application of theories, case studies, book or movies reports, reviews of current research and chapter reviews.
Eligible Disciplines
Communication studies (speech communication): Master's degree in speech, speech broadcasting, telecommunications, rhetoric, communication, communication studies, speech communication, or organizational communication OR bachelor's degree in any of the above AND master's degree in drama/ theater arts, mass communication, or English OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Palczewski, C., McGeough , D., DeFrancisco, V... Communication and Gender, 4th ed. Pearson Education, Inc., 2003 Rationale: - 2. Required Woods, Julia. Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender and Culture, 13th ed. Wadsworth, 2018 Rationale: - 3. Required Goines, M., McAlister, J., Alexander B. The Routledge Handbook of Gender Communication, 1st ed. Routledge, 2022
Other Resources
1. Supplemental readings assigned by the instructor based on current events and research.