Spanish 277

Spring Semester 2003 Syllabus

Instructor: Professor Rose Marie Galindo

Associate Professor of Spanish

Office: 149 Andrews Hall

Office Hours: M, T, W, Th, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Tel: 608-758-6533

Email: rgalindo@uwc.edu

Course Description

This course will examine the lives of Latin American and Latina women within Latin American society and the U.S. Particular attention will be given to the roles assigned to these women by patriarchal culture and to the stereotypes that have influenced their lives. The complex interrelationship between gender, class, race, and ethnicity will also be examined through the analysis of a variety of primary texts, films, and scholarly articles. No knowledge of Spanish is required. In this course we will assume that the conditions Latin American and Latina women face vary according to race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and historical dynamics. One important aspect of this course will be to explore the different ways in which Latin American and Latina women have resisted race, class, and gender oppression.

Class Requirements

1. Class Participation (35%).

This class will be centered around the discussion of the reading material and the films viewed in class. Active participation is required. Because of that, I expect you to prepare the reading assignments in advance of the class session for which they are scheduled. Films and documentaries will be viewed and discussed in class. They will also be a very important part of the course material, and will be fully integrated into the course. Attendance will be taken and unexcused absences beyond 3 will be grounds to lowering the final grade one letter grade. Absences due to University sponsored events, and sicknesses are excused absences. However, they DO NOT excuse you from assignments.

The following scale will be my basis for determining your participation grade at the end of the semester.

A= Excellent preparation. All readings done. Active volunteering and oral participation in class, with groups and with partners.

B= Above average preparation. All readings done. Some volunteering in class, but active participation in group discussions.

C= Noticeable lack of reading and preparation. Very limited participation in class and group discussions.

D= Attending classes, but no participation in discussions.

F= Failure to attend classes. No participation.

2. Exams: There will be two exams (30 % ) and a final exam (20 %). The exams will be a combination of term identifications, short and long essays. If you miss a test, you must send me an e-mail, and reschedule another date within 24 hours.
Your responsibilities in this course:

3. Reaction Page: (15%). Each Thursday after class you will be sending me by email a page that describes your reaction to the works under discussion each week. Each reaction page should be approximately 250 words long (1 page doble spaced). It should focus on the texts being discussed for the week. I hope this reaction page will be a space where you can ask questions, respond to class discussions, or engage in other creative and insightful appropriation of course material. I will try to incorporate your responses into class discussion whenever possible.

Attend classes. Attendance will be taken and absences beyond Three will be grounds for lowering the final grade one letter grade. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get missed notes and handouts.

Read steadily to keep up. This course has a heavy reading load, including difficult articles and chapters that you may want to read more than once.

Read actively. Identify themes and central ideas as you read. Take notes and raise questions for class discussions.

Be prepared. Being prepared means that you will come to class with your reading assignments done, and that you will be ready to participate in class.

Be on time. Being on time means that you are in the room before the class starts. When you are late you disrupt the class and the work of your classmates.

Take responsibility for your out-of-class learning. While this is necessary in the traditional classroom, it is especially important in the DE classroom, due to the geographical distance between student and instructor. Thus, it is vital that you, the student, communicate problems and concerns to me via E-Mail, telephone or fax.

Don't be afraid to ask questions when you don't understand something. Chances are that if you are wondering about something we're covering in class, someone else is too. Besides, learning about women in other cultures is a rewarding experience. It will change the way you see your own culture, other cultures and yourself.

I reserve the right to modify the syllabus and assignments for this class as necessary in order to improve the quality and value of the class. I will post schedule updates and other information related to the class on our web site.

Required Texts

Lerner, Gerda, The Creation of Patriarchy
Alegria, Claribel. Ashes of Izalco

Burgos, Isabel: I, Rigoberta Menchu

Belli, Gioconda: The Inhabited Woman

Anzaldua, Gloria: Borderlands/La Frontera

Castillo, Ana: Massacre of The Dreamers

Spring 2003
Latin American and Latina Women Spring 2003

The following dates and topics to be covered are tentative, and will depend on the progress of the course.

1 Week: Jan 21-23

Introduction to the course.
Introduction to Latin America.
Lerner: "Definitions" (pp. 233-235; 238-240).


2 Week: Jan 28-30

Lerner: "A Working Hypothesis" (pp 36-53).

Crow: "The Toltec-Aztec Culture (pp. 45-63).

3 Week: Feb. 4-6

Berdan: "Daily Life of the Aztecs" (pp. 73-96).

Burkhart:"Mexica Women on the Home Front" (pp. 25-54).

Video: The Aztecs

Aztec Resources on the Web (Go to Learning Links)Aztec/Tenochtitlan (Go to Learning Links)

4 Week: Feb 11-13

Crow: "The Incas: Children of the Sun," (pp. 22-44).

Silverblatt: "Andean Women Under Spanish Rule," (pp. 151-161).

Video: The Incas

5 Week: Feb 18-20

Pescatello: "America in the Reconquest," (pp. 132-144).

Henderson, "Malinche," (pp. 1-21).

I, The Worst of All (movie)

6 Week: Feb 25-27

Henderson:"Sor Juana"(pp. 73-95).

EXAM I

7 Week: March 4-6

Burgos: I, Rigoberta Menchu

Introduction to Guatemala

Introduction, pp. xi-xxi.
Chapter I-II. pp. 1-17: "The Family, Birth Ceremonies."
Chapter IV, pp. 21-27: "First Visit to the Finca."
Chapter VI-VII, pp. 33-37.

Chapter X-XI, pp. 56-78: "The Earth-Marriage Ceremonies."
Chapter XIV, pp. 91-101: "A Maid in the Capital."
Chapter XV. pp. 102-116: "Conflict with the Landowners."
Chapter XVI, pp. 116-121: "Period of Reflection."


8 Week: March 11-13:

Chapter XXX, pp. 210-219: " Indian Women and Ladino Women."
Chapter XXXI, pp. 220-226: "Women and Political Commitment."

Video on Rigoberta Menchu

9 Week: March 18-20

Spring Break

10 Week: March 25-27

Introduction to El Salvador

Ashes of Izalco

Chapter 1-9: pp. 9-76.

Chapter 10-18: pp. 77-173.

11 Week: April 1-3

Belli: The Inhabited Woman

Crisis in Nicaragua

Chapter 1-8 (pp. 7-107).

Chapter 8-17 (pp. 108-270).

12 Week: April 8-10

Belli: The Inhabited Woman

Chapter 18-28 (pp. 271-412).

EXAM II: April 10

Hispanic Americans (Video)

13 Week: April 15-17

AnzalduaBorderlands/La Frontera"Aztlan: El otro Mexico," (pp. 1-13).

AnzalduaBorderlands/La Frontera"La conciencia de la mestiza," (pp. 77-91).

"Movimientos de rebeldia y las culturas que traicionan"(pp. 15-23).

14 Week: April 22-24

CastilloMassacre of the Dreamers "Introduction," (pp. 1-17).

Castillo: Massacre of the Dreamers "A Countryless Woman," (21-41).

Women of Hope (video)

15 Week: April 29-May 1

Castillo: "In the Beginning There Was Eva," (pp. 105-119).

Mi familia (movie) Discussion

16 Week: May 6-9

El Norte (movie)

Thursday May 8: Last day of classes

Final Exam: May 13, 10:00-noon.