Book Review-Portrayal of Gender in Literature
Gender & Communication
Assignment: Each student will write an essay about the portrayal of gender from a chosen book. A current book related to gender will be chosen by the student. All selections must approved by the instructor. Please avoid textbooks!!
Your review of the work must identify the portrayal of gender. In your essay identify those aspects of the book that illuminate specific constructions of gender. Feel free to structure your evaluations from gender variables discussed in your text (sexism in language, language differences, media influences, initiating relationships, friendships, romantic relationships, socialization, social learning theories, etc.,.) If you are choosing a research book that discusses gender communication you may still use the same structure to evaluate this material.
Each essay should include the following:
1) A brief description of the book. (¼ of the paper)
2) An evaluation of gender portrayed in the book as it relates to concepts from your class readings. (½ of the paper)
3) An evaluation from you about the impact this work may have on contributing to or reducing stereotypes for woman and men. (¼ of the paper)
You may organize the above information in any format that you would like. You can separate the description from the evaluation or you can use a combination as you write your review. The approximate length of each essay is 2000-2500 words typed pages. Each paper must be checked for errors in grammar, spelling and typing.
All papers must include an evaluation from one classmate. These peer evaluations must be completed three days prior to the due date, so students have enough time make necessary changes in their essays. Please include a signed review with your paper submission.
Sample of book titles are listed on next page.
Sample Book Titles
Alvarez, JulieHow the Garcia Girls lost their accents
Anzaluda, GloriaBorderlands
Beam, JosephIn the life: a black gay anthology
Berry, FaithBefore and beyond Harlem: Langston Hughes a biography
Bornstein, KateGender Outlaw
Cameron, AnneDaughters of copper women
Canada, Geoffrey Reaching up for manhood: transforming the lives of boys in America
Carey, Lorene Black Ice
Checkoway, JLittle Sister: Searching for the shadow of Chinese women
Clarke, JennieWeaving New Patterns: women’s’ struggle for change in Asia and The Pacific
Collins, Patricia HillBlack Feminist Thought
Collins, Patricia HillBlack Sexual Politics
Deferrari, G.Gringa Latina: women of two worlds
Dujon, DianeFor Crying Out Loud: women’s poverty in the U.S.
Ensler, EveThe Vagina Monologues
Gates , ShteirNatural Eloquence: Women Reinscribe Science
Hall, ChristineDaughters of the Dragon: Women's Lives in Contemporary China
Hernandez, DaidyCOLONIZE THIS!:Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism
Hesse-Biber, Sharlene Am I Thin Enough Yet? : The Cult of Thinness and the Commercialization of Identity Hooks, bellSisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Discovery
Huckle, PatriciaTish Sommers, activist and the founding of the older women’s league
James, JoyShadowboxing: Representations of Black Feminist Politics
Kanter, RosabethMen and Women of the Corporation
Karp, MarcelleThe Bust Guide to the New Girl Order
Katz, JaneMessengers of the Wind: Native American women tell their life stories
: Propaganda and Politics in Weimar Germany
Sparke, PennyAs Long As It's Pink: The Sexual Politics of Taste
Spender, DaleInvisible Women: The Schooling Scandal
Spender, DaleNattering on the Net: Women, Power and Cyberspace
Spender, DaleWomen of Ideas
Thompson, PatriciaBringing Feminism Home: home economics and the hestian connection.
Authors to look for:
Gloria AnzalduaAlice Walkerbelle hooksDale Spender
Katha PollitTrinh T. Minh-haSally Miller Gearhart
Susan FaludiToni MorrisonPaula Gunn Allen
