r a c h e l s c h r e i b e r

Rachel Schreiber | courses

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PROSTITUTION: GENDER, SEXUALITY, LABOR, AND POLITICS
Fridays, 12pm–3pm, Sanford 103 SF Campus

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Throughout history, prostitutes have been at the center of societies' fears regarding relationships between women's sexuality and economic power. In this course, we will study the cultural meanings that prostitution has held in specific historical times and places. Such a study will enable us to understand larger intersections of gender, sexuality, labor, and politics. We will examine the ongoing symbolic representation of prostitutes as either "fallen women" or as victims of human trafficking, assessing what such representations tell us about the larger cultures in which they are found. We will also locate instances that do not fit this scheme, including women who turn to prostitution in search of economic independence, prostitution as working-class labor, and prostitutes who fight against their stigmatization.

Rather than attempt to present a comprehensive history of prostitution throughout time, this course picks and chooses from some of the excellent work done by cultural historians of prostitution in the last twenty or so years and places these works in a comparative framework. We will, for example, study prostitution in Victorian England, Chinese prostitutes in San Francisco during the Gold Rush, male prostitutes in New York City at the turn of the last century, and more. One unit will focus on prostitution under colonial rule in Nairobi, the Philippines, and Korea; another unit will examine contemporary debates between feminists over the meanings of sex work, particularly during the sex wars of the 1980s. The course concludes by bringing us into present-day San Francisco, site of significant and ongoing sex work activism.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course will teach students to think critically about the cultural meanings of prostitution in various historical, geographical and socio-political contexts. We will cover a time span that includes both pre-modern and modern sources, as well as a diverse range of cultural and geographic areas. We will focus on understanding the methods that cultural historians use to approach a topic of study such as prostitution. Students will learn how to write effective analyses of both primary and secondary sources.

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Readings

Readings must be completed on the date noted on the course schedule. Reading is required nearly every week. You might find some of these readings to be challenging, and you may not understand all of the material presented. I do expect you to make your best attempt to complete the reading.

Required Text

Course Reader: available at Green Copy in Oakland, approximately $20. It is also on reserve at the CCA library on the SF campus; however, I strongly urge you to purchase your own copy.

Recommended Text

A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker, available at Diesel, or Amazon.

Questions

Each week, you must turn in three questions based on the week's reading. These can be typed or handwritten on a full-sized sheet of paper, and must be complete and ready to turn in at the beginning of class. The questions can simply be on part of the reading that you did not understand, or they can be discussion questions that pertain to the reading. In either case, they should relate directly to the reading itself.

Writing

Two paper assignments will be assigned. The first will be short, 3-5 pages, and the second will be a longer, 7-8 page paper. All papers must be typed, double-spaced, and conform to the college's standards regarding citation style and originality of content. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a failing grade.

Attendance

Attendance at every class meeting is mandatory. Three unexcused absences will result in a failing grade. Excused absences require written verfication; informing me in advance or afterwards of your absence will not excuse the absence. Three latenesses in excess of 15 minutes will count as one unexcused absence, as will returning late from break.

Grading

Your semester grade will be evaulated in the following way:

class participation
35%

weekly written questions
15%

first paper
20%

final paper
30%

A few notes:

Late work will not be accepted.

All work must be completed in order to receive a passing grade in the class.

Class participation means not only that you have to come to class, but that you must participate and be engaged. Each week you are expected to have completed the reading and be ready to discuss it. Class participation also refers to your contribution to the community of the classroom, i.e. your respect for others, your motivation to participate in making the classroom a positive learning environment, and the seriousness with which you approach the course.

Maturity

Please note that the content of this course requires the maturity befitting college students. We will at times read and discuss issues that are sexually explicit and may present points of view that are new to you, and with which you might not agree. You are not expected to agree with every point of view presented in the class, but you are expected to approach these issues with respect and tolerance, both for the authors and subjects presented as well as for your classmates whose opinions might differ from your own. If you feel that you will not be able to meet this expectation, you might consider taking another course.

Contacing Me

The best way to reach me is by e-mail at rachel@rachelschreiber.com. I also have a mailbox at the SF campus if you would like to leave something for me.