Journal for Psychology of Women

This journal is your opportunity to tell me what you think about the issues we discuss in this class. There are no right answers to Journal questions. I will propose questions for you to answer each week, but you may choose not to answer my question and substitute one of your own at any time you are inspired by something you read in the book or hear in class. Journal entries should meet two requirements: they should make specific references to material read in the textbook and they should include your personal thoughts on the subject.

Grading: Journal entries will be graded as Excellent (3 points), Good (2 points) or Not Acceptable (1 point). Excellent entries will use more than one reference to the textbook and reflect serious thought and/or makes connections to other material form the course. Good entries will show that the text has been read and the question thought about. Entries which do not make reference to the textbook, or do not express your ideas about the question are not acceptable.

Journals will be picked up 10 times during the semester, for a possible total of 30 points. Journals count for 20% of your final grade, so they should be taken seriously.

Journals will be returned one class period after they are turned in. Journals can be submitted on paper or electronically.

Journal Questions:

Answer one of these questions, or your own question, by the due date indicated for each group.

1/25

What kind of feminist are you? Be sure to say why you rejected the other types.
There are a few ways in which men and women are clearly biologically different. What are the psychological implications of those differences? Can women and men be different and equal?
What biases do you think you bring to this class? Do you have any experiences that have helped you to see your own or other people's biases?
Do you copy all the media "role-models" you are exposed to? How do you choose which ones to emulate? Are you always consciously aware of these choices?
Have you experienced the negative effects of stereotypes, prejudice or repression?
Is avoiding the normative male and pejorative female in our speech unnecessary "political correctness"?
Do demonstration 2.1 (p. 41) with a friend. Describe your results.
Do demonstration 2.4. (p. 55) Discuss your responses.
To what extent is gender a social construction?

2/6

Is science the best way to understand the commonalities and diversity of women's thoughts and feelings?
How important are hormones in developing gender?
How important are hormones for directing specific behavior?
What biases or concerns make people reluctant to accept Evolutionary Psychology?
Do the parents you know treat their boys and girls differently? Compare that to the research.
Have you experienced gender bias at school?
If we raised boys and girls exactly the same, would they end up exactly the same (personality and ability- wise?)

2/15

How does your adjustment to menarche and puberty compare to the book's discussion?
Why is PMS a politically charged topic? If PMS is to some (possibly large) extent a social construction, how can it feel so biologically real?
What kinds of non-traditional careers would you consider? Which would you definitely not consider? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your decisions?
Do demonstration 4.4 (p. 143) or 4.5 (p.135) and discuss the results.
What factors discussed in your book influenced your own career choice? Are there factors NOT discussed in your book that you feel were important influences?

2/27

Try to be objective and look for the 5 differences (how much to how pointed) in men's and women's speech in the next mixed group conversation you are around. Are the book's results confirmed?
Do you have female characteristics in your speech? Should you try to become more androgynous?
Who do you generally prefer to talk to when you are upset... a man or a woman? Why?
Do demonstration 6.3. Relate your answer to the text's discussion. Think of the person of the opposite gender you feel closest to. How would that person handle the problem?
How would your personality be different if you had been born the "opposite" sex?
What are the basic principles that underlie your own moral decisions (justice, caring, community or individual needs...) Do you think these have been shaped by your gender?

Don't forget, you can be writing about your own questions as well.

3/6

How do you feel about the pay disparity and glass ceiling? What could you do to earn as much as a man (or as little as a woman if you are a man)?
Would you rather have a male or female boss? Would you rather have a male or female nurse?
What kinds of non-traditional careers would you consider? Which would you definitely not consider? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your decisions? (You can only do this question if you did not choose it above)
50 years ago when people were asked who has the harder life, men or women, they generally answered men. Today more people say women. Do you agree? Can we achieve "hard life" equity?

3/20

All of us are single at points in our adult lives. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of being single. Include people's perceptions of singles in your answer.
What do you look for in a partner? Are you typical?
Should couples co-habit before marriage? Be sure to address each of the issues brought up in the textbook.
What makes for happy marriage?
Is divorce good for women?
Did your "sex education" follow the pattern in the book?
When does "no" mean "yes"? Is it ok for no to mean yes? Is it understandable?
Why do women have more not-tonight-honey "headaches" than men?

3/27

What would you say to a teenage boy to convince him to use contraception? What particular biases would you be trying to overcome?
Do you want children? Why? Are you typical?
Abortion, infanticide and infant abandonment have been common across cultures and history. Why do you think that's true?
What would you say to a friend who was considering an abortion to help her make the best decision? Start with what constitutes the "best" decision.
Do demonstration 9.4 about contraception in the media.
If you have been pregnant, compare your experience to what's described in pages 320-332.
Which childbirth model do you prefer?

4/17

Your book cites 9 negative factors of motherhood, but only 4 positive factors. Do you think this is an accurate view of most women's experience of motherhood?
One of the most important dilemmas in modern life is the tension between meeting one's own needs as opposed to the needs of others. How can we balance being good parents and fulfilled individuals?
Can you think of examples of biases against women in medical care from your own life?
Of the health problems discussed in the book, which are you most at risk for? What can you do to reduce your risk?
Call the AIDS Council and see if you can learn about the risk of AIDS locally. Discuss prevention and care available locally.
Call Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood and see if you can learn about the risk of chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea and syphilis locally? Discuss prevention and care available locally.
Do demonstration 11.4 (p. 381). Discuss your results.

4/26

Why is depression more common in women than in men?
Which explanations for gender differences in depression seem to describe reality best for the depressed person/people you know?
Approximately 30% of Americans are obese. How can we balance the various health concerns of anorexia, bulimia, and obesity?
Would you want to go to a feminist therapist? Do demonstration 12.3 to help you decide.

5/8

Where do you draw the line in establishing responsibility for rape? Are your attitudes similar to those described in the book?
Have you been in situations characteristic of acquaintance rape?
Do people you know seem to believe the myths about rape? Why do the myths persist?
Is there one way in which this class has changed how you look at yourself or women or psychology?