WS 110d: Women, Society and Culture
Lecture / Recitation Format
Instructor: S. Collingwood ARR
This section of WS 110 is unlike all other sections. It is a distance course, but classes will meet in Second Life, an on-line 3D virtual environment. If you are on campus, you do not need to have your own computer to take this course, as a computer lab has been set up for independent study; however, the course does require general computer skills. At the very minimum, you should know how to upload and download files, cut and paste, and keep a coherent file structure. If you do not like working with computers, I would advise you to take another section of WS110.
Membership in Second Life is free, but the program requires a high-speed internet connection; if you would like to try the program, please go to http://secondlife.com to sign up and visit an orientation island. If you will not be working in a university computer lab, check the systems requirements page (http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php) to be sure the computer you are using is adequate.
The course uses an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach to explore the realities of women in local, national and international contexts. Readings seen in class are designed to connect with practical work in Second Life. We will begin with a discussion of the philosophies of modern feminism, and we will test these philosophies in our study of law and public policy regarding issues of race, class, sexual orientation, economic equality, physical ability, violence, and the environment. Within Second Life, we will see how these issues are reflected in a virtual society where individuals can choose their identity, gender and race, and change them at will. We will also explore the possibilities of this new medium: Is a virtual environment a good base for feminist activism? Is sexual harassment present in Second Life? How does the "digital divide" affect women's participation in this new medium?
The course encourages the student to find and to better express her/his voice, through the development of rhetorical and writing skills. Students work in teams, each of which will focus on a general subject area. There is a strong emphasis on feminist process and on achieving consensus within the group as a whole, as well as on finding points of connection with the subject areas of other groups.
WS 110 fulfills the GEC requirement for Social Diversity and Social Science. You must be 18 to take this course.
