Description and Goal: The course project is an opportunity to demonstrate that you understand and can see gender at both the micro and macro levels of society. The goal of the essay is for you to develop and apply your sociological lens, your critical thinking skills and to question taken-for-granted assumptions about gender and the world around you.
What you will do: You are required to take a candid (this means not staged or deliberate) photographs that captures the topic(s) we have been discussing in class and/or that we have been reading in articles and the text. The photos need to be taken during the course of the quarter. The idea is to look at the present with the concepts addressed in class in your mind. This is very different than thinking retrospectively. Discover concepts and capture them – demonstrating that your sociological and gendered lens is working!
Consider what is appropriate to photograph and demonstrate creativity. The assignment requires that you think more deeply about the issues. If you take pictures of people in non-public settings always ask for permission.
What will you turn in: You will submit eight photos. The first three are required to be represented in your photo essay:
Gender as identity
Gendered interaction(s)
Gendered institution(s)
Then, pick five of the following to complete your eight photos:
Emphasized Femininity
Hegemonic Masculinity
Gender Socialization
Gendered Intimacies
Gendered Food
Gendered Body
Gendered Violence
Gendered Hobbies
Gendered Spaces
If you have another concept you’d like to include please message me directly to propose it.
You will submit each image on the top half of the page and provide a one to two paragraph written description on the bottom half. Your descriptions must be clear and concise, and address the following:
What is in your photo?
Explain the sociological concept(s) the photo relates to.
And, explain how your photo represents this concept?
If you use exact language from course material anywhere else you must cite using APA format – no exceptions, see the syllabus for plagiarism parameters. I have posted a link to assist with your citations in the photo essay folder as well.
To conclude the paper you will write a paragraph or two that addresses the following: What did you learn? How did you improve your critical thinking skills, that is, how are you better able to question, understand, evaluate ideas and information and support meaningful conclusions about gender at the micro and macro levels?
Grading Criteria for Final Project is based upon the above. Specifically:
Does the photo demonstrate an application of the concept? Is the photo appropriate and creative?
How well do you define the concept?
Are you making the connection between the photo and the concept?
Is the conclusion thorough and meaningful? Does it address how you learned critical thinking skills?
