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OVERVIEW
Women and Social Action is facilitated by Dr. Martha E. Thompson and supplemented with live and videotaped interviews, studio discussion, and study guide exercises. Studio guests feature a diverse mix of ages, races, religions, ethnic origins, sexual orientations, physical disabilities and social class roots.
Course highlights include:
- An empowerment model for social change
- Connections between personal experience and social action
- The value of group-centered leadership
- Interconnection between different social issues
- Gender socialization and stereotypes
- Reproduction rights
- Family and child care
- Health care and weight control
- Women in religion
- Women in the workplace
- Sexual harassment
- Subsidized public housing
- Homelessness
- Violence against women and self-defense techniques
- Illegal and deviant behavior
- Community building for greater impact in social action
Through people’s stories, we gain a richer understanding of barriers women face, varied goals and strategies for social change, and the rewards and challenges of social action.
COURSE MATERIALS
Study Guide:
Thompson, M.E. 2003. Women and Social Action Study Guide, Third Edition. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.
Required Texts:
Andersen, Margaret L. 2003. Thinking about Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender, sixth edition. NY: Allyn and Bacon.
Cantarow, Ellen. 1980. Moving the Mountain: Women Working for Social Change. Old Westbury, NY: Feminist Press.
COURSE LESSON DESCRIPTIONS
Class 1: Social Action and Social Change
Defines and personalizes the terms “social action” and “social change”. The Studio Class explores the connection between personal agendas and social action, the value of examining “every-woman” issues, and the need for a framework in which to ground empowerment challenges.
Interviews:
- Irene Campos Carr, Coordinator, Women’s Studies Program (Northeaster Illinois University)
- Helen Um, Coordinator, Women’s Program, Korean Self-Help Center (Chicago)
- Andrea Smith, Women of All Red Nations (Chicago)
- Elaine Stocker, Student, IMPACT: Self-Defense for Women (Chicago)
- Jean Lachowitz, Executive Director of Genesis House (Chicago)
- Paulette Patterson, Information and Referral Specialist, Council for Disability Rights (Chicago)
- Marlene Jackson, Hopi Tribe (Keams Canyon, AZ)
- Judy Panko Reis, Health Resource Center for Women with Disabilities (Chicago)
Class 2: Perspectives on Women
Traces the roots of our society’s perceptions of women. The Studio Class investigates how life experiences color our perspectives, how our perspectives influence our social action choices, and how attitudes toward feminism and other sociological concepts affect society’s mental model of what a woman should be.
Interviews:
- Pauline Bart, Department of Psychiatry (University of Illinois – Chicago)
- Laura McAlpine, Director of Chicago Women’s Health Center
- Radhika Sharma, Legal Advocate and Community Educator (Chicago)
- Rachel Lucas-Thompson, a 10-year old student
- Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, Congregation Beth Sholom (Park Forest, IL)
- Betty Achinstein, Teacher at Marshal Middle School (Chicago)
- Mary Ann Schwartz, Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies (Northeastern Illinois University)
Class 3: Leadership and Social Action
Offers an alternative view of leadership that empowers the individual. Dr. Thompson identifies the distinguishing characteristics of leadership that facilitate empowerment for individual group members. Students learn critical techniques for analyzing leadership styles.
Interviews:
- Regina Curry, Associate Director at WE CAN (Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors-Chicago)
- Charles Payne, Associate Professor of African-American Studies, Sociology, and Urban Affairs (Northwestern University)
Class 4: Commonalities and Differences
Explores ways of using both commonalities and differences to build cooperation within a group. The Studio Class discusses the organizational approach of Jessie Lopez De La Cruz (text reading), defines the characteristics of a “centerwoman”, and discusses how both common and differing points of view can make positive contributions to group action efforts.
Interviews:
- Norma Seledon-Telez, Coordinator, Latina Leadership Program, Mujeres Latinas En Accion (Chicago)
- Alicia Amador, Youth Outreach worker, Mujeres Latinas En Accion (Chicago)
- Yvonne Murry-Ramos, Executive Director, American Indian Economic Development Association (Chicago)
Class 5: Gender Socialization
Examines the many dimensions of the gender socialization process. The lesson reveals how everyone participates in the gender socialization process and how race and class affect the process. Other issues include how gender socialization affects every aspect of our feelings and perspectives, and how we can modify those affects through social action.
Interviews:
- B.J. Richards, Preschool Teacher, J.B.’s Kids
- Barbara Scott, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies (Northeastern Illinois University)
Class 6: Transforming Knowledge
Looks at the impact of gender and cultural bias in schools and the media. This lesson examines aspects of gender fairness and multicultural inclusion in school curricula. Discussion features examples of how both content and pedagogy are affected, and how some teachers are working for change within the system.
Interviews:
- Wendy Stack, Director of Professional Development Program, Chicago Teachers’ Center (Northeastern Illinois University)
- Betty Achinstein, Social Studies Teacher, Thurgood Marshal Middle School (Chicago)
- Pat Beardon, Teacher, Metcalf Elementary School
- Yolanda Simmons, Teacher, King High School
Class 7: Families
Examines the effect of family background on social action. This lesson examines the complex issues facing today’s families. It defines how family origin determines gender perception, discusses the important contributions that family collectives make to society, and pleads a case for change in social policies and practices that need to keep pace with society’s evolving needs.
Interviews:
- Hopi Tribe members (Keams Canyon, AZ)
- Harriet Gross, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (Governor State University–IL)
Class 8: Child Care
Looks at the evolving nature of child care in America. This lesson explores how the act of caring for children is often simultaneously exalted and devalued. Discussion topics include the ways in which race and privilege affect child care attitudes, child care for teen mothers, and the capacity for subsidized child care to diminish parental responsibility.
Interviews:
- Teachers, students, and children at the Orr Community Academy Infant and Family Development Center
- Brenda Chock Arksey, Director of Child Education and Development Services, Chinese American Service League
Class 9: Women and Health
Examines women’s health care issues and attitudes. The lesson looks at health care issues important to women across society. Discussion defines how gender affects the delivery of that health care and interviews offer examples of social actions that are pushing for change in the state of women’s health care.
Interviews:
- Mary McCauley II, Director, and Sandra Steingraber, Robin Stein, and Carol Zimmerman of the Lesbian Community Cancer Project (video composite)
- Laura Alpine, Director, and Sharon Powell, Outreach Coordinator for the Chicago Women’s Health Center
- Geri Shangreaux, Dean of Native American Educational Services (Chicago Campus)
- Judy Panko Reis, Health resource Center for Women with Disabilities
Class 10: Women, Weight, and Food
Examines the impact of media and social institutions on a woman’s attitude toward her body. The Studio Class discusses aspects of diversity in the female body and our national obsession with thinness. Students discuss gender-related weight and food issues, how body perceptions influences sexuality and power, and how social action might help women win back control of their bodies.
Interviews:
- Demetria Iazzetto, contributor to The New Our Bodies, Ourselves: Updated and Expanded for the 90’s
Class 11: Pregnancy and Childbirth
Examines the movement toward woman-centered pregnancy and childbirth practices. The Studio Class explores the accepted social structure of the pregnancy and childbirth practices, and interviews explore alternative medical and midwifery models that empower the mother.
Interviews:
- Judy Panko Reis, Health Resource Center for Women with Disabilities (Chicago)
- Marge Altergott, Health Educator, Adjunct Faculty for the Department of Sociology (Northeastern Illinois University)
Class 12: Motherhood
Explores societal expectations of motherhood. The lesson takes a look at the demands society places on mothers. The lesson describes the impact these demands have on our lives and offers strategies for modifying the more restrictive expectations traditionally associated with motherhood.
Interviews:
- Amy Blumenthal, author of Scrambled eggs and seed daddies: conversation with my son, Empathy, Gay and Lesbian Advocacy Research Project
Class 13: Abortion and Reproductive Issues
Weighs the issues behind a woman’s right to control her fertility. Topics covered in this lesson include the socio-historical context of abortion and the impact of such social factors as race, social class, religion and gender on abortion attitudes.
Interviews:
- Demonstrators outside Cook County Hospital
- Rev. Cheryl Pero, Crossings Ministry (Lutheran), Harold Washington College Campus Ministry
- Aida Giachello, Assistant Professor, Jane Addams College of Social Work (University of Illinois-Chicago and National Latina Health Organization)
Class 14: Religion
Examines both the regenerative and restrictive influences of religion on women. The lesson explores the ways in which women are challenging traditional religious womens about women. Topics include how religion provides a foundation for transforming society and how activists are transforming the role of women in the clergy and religious organizations.
Interviews:
- Rev. Cheryl Pero, Crossings Ministry (Lutheran), Harold Washington College Campus Ministry
- Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, Congregation Beth Sholom (Park Forest, IL)
- Dr. Ellen Cannon, Professor of Political Science (Northeastern Illinois University)
Class 15: Work
Examines work-related issues particular to women. The Studio Class discusses work-related issues from several angles, including the impact of the economic-political system on women, segregation by gender and race in the workplace,
and the impact of status on prestige, power, and privilege. Students discuss how women can network, mentor, and advocate for change in the workplace.
Interviews:
- Melissa Josephs, Policy Associate, and Shelia Rogers, Director of Participant Services for the Keys to Success Program at Women Employed
- Eileen Kreutz, Training Coordinator at Chicago Women in Trades
Class 16: Sexual Harassment
Defines legal and institutional strategies for challenging sexual harassment.
The Studio Class examines the various forms of sexual harassment and shares their experiences with it. Discussion covers the place of laws, gender roles, and bureaucratic procedures and policies in warding off sexual harassment. Individual, legal, and institutional strategies for coping with existing harassment are shared.
Interviews:
- Randall Gold, Attorney, the firm of Lawrence, Kamin, Saunders, and Uhlenhop (Chicago)
- Mary Mittler, Vice-President for Student Affairs, Oakton Community College (Skokie, IL)
- Joe Connelly, Instructor, Self-Empowerment Group
Class 17: Low-Income Resistance
Examines how women in low-income situations have resisted traditional stereotyping to become a force for social action. Activists for social change at Wentworth Gardens - a low-rise public housing development in Chicago - share success stories on lifestyle improvements they have realized as a result of social action. Advice and organizational tactics are offered.
Interviews:
- Activists at Wentworth Gardens, Chicago
- Hallie Amey, President of the Resident Management Council
- Beatrice Harris, President of the Local Advisory Council and Board Member of the Resident Management Council
- Andrea Henley, Director of the Boys and Girls Club
- Susan Stall, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies (Northeastern Illinois University)
Class 18: Homelessness
Explores the complex social factors affecting the homeless. The lesson examines the causes of homelessness, the relationship of homelessness with other social issues, and the psychological and emotional issues common to homeless women. Interviews share how empowerment strategies are beginning to make a difference in the lives of the homeless.
Interviews:
- Shelter representatives on the Coordinating Committee for the Women’s Empowerment Project
- Della Mitchell, Coordinator at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Empowerment Project for Homeless Women with Children
Class 19: Connecting the Issues
Takes a look at the benefits of networking issues for greater empowerment. The Studio Class examines feminism from its earliest achievements into the 1990’s. Discussion brings to light the need to weigh and interconnect issues in order to make the right choices for social action.
Interviews:
- Judy Vaughan and Dihya Al Kahina, National Coordinating Team, National Assembly of Religious Women
- Maha Jarad, Director of Women in Organizing Project (Women United for a Better Chicago) and Program Development Coordinator at the Union of Palestinian Women’s Association
Class 20: Violence against Women
Explores the scope of violence against women. The Studio Class discusses the difficulties in recognizing and talking about violence aimed at women. Students offer several theories on the source of violence, and discussion touches on ways of both challenging and dealing with all the stakeholders involved in this situation.
Interviews:
- Stephanie Riger, coauthor of The Female Fear and Coordinator of Women’s Studies (University of Illinois-Chicago)
- Ranjana Bhargava and Lee Maglaya of Apna Ghar (Chicago)
Class 21: On the Streets and in the Jails
Examines the roles of women involved in criminal or deviant behavior. Women who have experienced prostitution, the killing of a battering partner, and serving prison time share their stories with the Studio Class. The class learns how gender, race and class tip the balance for women at risk in this situation, and discussion touches on social actions that could lead to change.
Interviews:
- Jean Lachowitz, Executive Director of Genesis House (Chicago)
- Leslie Brown, Director, Support Advocates for Women...Both Inside and Outside Prison
- Shelley Bannister, Illinois Clemency Project for Battered Women, and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Women’s Studies (Northeastern Illinois University)
Class 22: Rape and Self-Defense
Offers a framework for making decisions in situations that call for self-defense. The Studio Class discusses the issue of self-defense, touching on its definition, the empowerment issues at stake, and the factors that contribute to effective self-defense. Students explore the relationship between self-defense, martial arts, and the anti-violence movement.
Interviews:
- Students at IMPACT: Self-Defense for Women
- Pauline Bart, co-author of
Stopping Rape: Successful Survival Strategies, Department of Psychiatry (University of Illinois-Chicago)
- Nancy Lanoue, Co-Director of Thousand Waves: Martial Arts and Self-defense for Women and Children
Class 23: Perspectives on Social Change
Students are challenged to describe their own perspective on social action. The Studio Class shares their personal convictions as to which form of social action they favor – individualistic or collective. Discussion touches on the various perspectives involved in social change, how perspectives affect the very definition of the problem to be solved, and how community building is central to the empowerment process.
Interviews:
- Marca Bristo, President, Access Living Center
- Renny Golden, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Women’s Studies (Northeastern Illinois University)
Class 24: New Directions
Students share the insights and review the major themes involved throughout the course. The students share what they have learned, pointing out the relationships between empowerment, social action, social change, and the power of community building. |
