The Psychology of Women provides students with an understanding of the gender development of women from a biopsychosocial perspective. Special attention will be placed upon the influence of culture, class, and ethnicity in the topics discussed.  Online Format: 3 units.  Acceptable for credit: University of California; California State University. This course also meets the cultural diversity requirement for the AA degree. Course Number: Psych 009. Section Number: 74148. This class may be taken with a pass/ no pass option.

Students will be expected to read a minimum of 1 chapter per week from the primary textbook, to read from supplemental reader(s) and posted lectures/ assignments, and to actively participate in online discussion assignments (when applicable). The supplemental reader(s), while brief in length, will need to be completed when assigned, in addition to the text reading assignments. With any 3 unit college course, students are expected to spend a minimum of 2-3 hours of studying for every hour they spend in class. Since this is an online course without in-class lectures to attend, it is particularly accelerated. Online courses in many ways are more challenging for the student, as the workload requires one to stay on task and self-motivated throughout the semester.

That said, psychology is a fascinating field with a myriad of topics to discuss and explore.  In this course, we will discuss everything from gender differences in communication and brain development to selected topics, such as Native American myths re: women and creation; society's influence on body image, sexuality, and sexual behavior; and violence toward women.  My course offers interesting reading, several fascinating videos, lectures/ posted articles, and class discussions.  This is a course that will be fun and provide new insights for men and women alike!

Supplemental Reader (fast read):
Cameron, Anne. (2002) Daughters of Copper Woman. ISBN 13: 978-1-55017-245-4

Both required books are available at the WVC bookstore. If you choose to order elsewhere, the materials MUST be in your possession by the third day of class.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Outcome: Identify and describe behaviors in a simulated life context (DVDs) that clearly illustrate core concepts from the lexicon of Psychology of Women when taught from a multicultural perspective. These concepts include the following: collectivist culture, culture-gender interaction, gender roles, display rules, ethnic/cultural identity, gender role ideology, gender discrimination, gender stereotypes, and modern sexism.

Outcome: Explain the biosocial and cultural factors that influence women’s development throughout their life span by successfully answering questions in the following areas. a) Why a Global, Multicultural Psychology of Women? b) Female-Male Comparisons: The Meaning and Significance of Difference c) The Female Body and Its Meanings d) Growing Up Female: Expectations, Images and Identities e) Self-Confidence, Assertiveness, and Entitlements f) Women's Work g) Physical Health, Illness, and Healing h) Mental Health, Illness, and Therapy i) Myths and Scripts for Women Growing Older j) Sexualities k) Violence Against Women: A Worldwide Problem l) Leadership, Power, and Social Change