2017 Fall Semester Canvas Course Syllabus (Tentative)

Anthropology & Archaeology Department

University of Missouri, St. Louis
August 21- Dec. 16, 2017

Course Topic: ANTHRO 3235: Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A

Contemporary Perspective.
Class Section: 001
INT (online) Prerequisite: Anthrop. 11 (1011), or introductory course in
another social science, or consent of the instructor. This course is also cross-
listed with Sociology and Gender Studies.

Professor: S. F. Clarke-Ekong, (Dr. E)

Office hours: No campus office hours.

Office Phone: 314-516-6782
E-mail: ekong@umsl.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course examines important traditional

and contemporary topics, such as the nature of kinship obligation and
privilege; gender as a basis for the division of labor; social organization for
formal and informal networks; and ritual behavior and ceremony. In addition
we look closely at the changing role of African women, as reflected by
African women testing the very limits of what is "socially and culturally
acceptable". The roles women continue to play in politics; comprehensive
development (i.e. cultural and economic) and evolving social structures are
reviewed to gain an understanding of the historical and contemporary
mandates for their social action. Notably, we must expand the lens of
understanding. Some examples that help us include: Nadine Gordimer, 1991
Nobel Prize in Literature. Alfred Nobel called Gordimer's work a "great
benefit to humanity." The South African-born writer focused the bulk of her
work on racial issues, such as Apartheid in her native country. Moving to
East Africa, Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya in 1940. She
1
was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree
and the first to win Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Over to West Africa, Liberia
elected their first female president in November 2005. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
remains the first and only elected female to head an African nation, who was
also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize during her Presidency. The Nobel
Peace Prize 2011 was awarded jointly to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah
Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman "for their non-violent struggle for the safety
of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building
work". Also noteworthy is Rwanda, after suffering a devastating
contemporary genocide, now celebrates a democratic government that has
the largest number of women politicians anywhere in the world.

Professors Course Objectives:

The over-arching objective of this course is to introduce students to different
ways of reading, analyzing and valuing non-Western fiction by African
women authors written in English. In this quest, we will use the lens of
cultural anthropology.

Students will:
1. Study and/or review the ethnographic lessons ingrained in postcolonial
and ethnic-based fiction and nonfiction written by selected novelist.
2. Discuss the manner in which prose fiction represents the notion of self
and the "other" through aspects of texts such as narration and character
development.
3. Explore cultural constructs of self that are created through gender-
specific lens and represent ethnography.
4. Gain familiarity with the academic jargon of cultural anthropology and
literary critique as explanatory models.

Course Learning Objectives:

1. Gain a deeper understanding of the concept of culture from an
anthropological perspective as dynamic and adaptive.

2
2. Connect historical and cultural events to womens writing as a form of
ethno-autobiography.
3. Develop an appreciation for and an understanding of the limits of African
womens narrative from within patrilineal and patriarchal systems.
4. Become more aware of our own Western biases and ethnocentrism
towards our non-Western counterparts.
5. Develop an interest and proficiency in reading non-Western text.

Required Course Texts:

Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society

1987 (2015) Ifi Amadiume
Publisher: Zed Books Ltd.
ISBN 978-1-78360-332-9 pb

A Human Being Died That Night: A South African Woman Confronts the
Legacy of Apartheid
2004 Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
Publisher: First Mariner Books/ Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN 0-618-44659-1

Keeping Hope Alive: one woman; 90,000 lives changed

2013 Hawa Abdi
Publisher: Virago Press Ltd (April 2, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1844087883 paperback

Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation
at War
2011 Gbowee, Leymah
Published: Beast Books
ISBN 978-0-9842951-5-9

So Long a Letter
Mariama Ba
1981 (2008) Heinemann
ISBN 978-0-435913-52-6

**All Canvas Postings, including video streams and external resources.

3
Course Expectations and Evaluation Standards:

There will be eleven grade opportunities: Self-introduction worth 10 points.

Discussion participation worth 10 points each. Please be sure to sign-in by
posting on/or checking into Canvas every week. Two (3-4 pages) short
essays on themes provided by professor, worth 30 points each. Critiques (1-2
pages) worth 15 points each. One long essay 6-8 page, double-spaced 12-
point font essay in APA or MLA style, plus a bibliography that includes at
least 5 referred (external) resources, which will be worth 60 points. You are
expected to perform throughout the semester to the best of your ability.
There is no final exam. There is no extra credit. See assessment rubric in
Course Documents.

Course Performance Evaluation Standard:

1. There is 1 mandatory introduction worth 10 points

2. There will be 5 discussions; each worth 10 points
3. There will be 2 short essay assignments; each worth 30 points
4. There will be 1 film critique worth 15 points.
5. There will be 1 international news critique worth 15 points.
6. There will be 1 long essay worth 50 points.
**There is NO final exam and NO extra credit.

Assignment expectations and grading rubrics are posted under assignment

tab. The grade scale will be based on 210 total points. Due dates are
highlighted in bold red. Assignment links will be open before due date and
closed automatically at time posted.

Students are responsible for all posted materials. Additional readings may
be posted. You will be sent updates via Canvas announcement.

Students who require any additional consideration must provide legitimate

documentation. If in doubt, please contact me.

There will be a maximum of points allocated on a traditional grading scale,

100-90% -A; 89-80%-B; 79-70%-C; 69-60-D; and you know the rest.
Assignments are due by days/dates posted in RED, unless otherwise noted or
IT system failure. There are no extra credit marks for this course.

University Student Conduct Code:

4
U.M. Collected Rules & Regulations, 200.010 - Standard of Conduct
(Amended Bd. Min. 3-20-81; Bd. Min. 8-3-90; Bd. Min. 5-24-2001) A
student enrolling in the University assumes an obligation to behave in a
manner compatible with the University's function as an educational
institution.

A. JURISDICTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI generally shall

be limited to conduct which occurs on the University of Missouri premises
or at University- supervised functions. However, nothing restrains the
administration of the University of Missouri from taking appropriate action,
including, but not limited to, the imposition of sanctions under

Section 200.020(C), against students for conduct on or off University

premises in order to protect the physical safety of students, faculty, staff, and
visitors.

B. CONDUCT for which students are subject to sanctions falls into the
following categories:
1. Academic dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or sabotage. The
Board of Curators recognizes that academic honesty is essential for the
intellectual life of the University. Faculty members have a special
obligation to expect high standards of academic honesty in all student work.
Students have a special obligation to adhere to such standards. In all cases of
academic dishonesty, the instructor shall make an academic judgment about
the student's grade on that work and in that course. The instructor shall
report the alleged academic dishonesty to the appropriate offices.
a. The term "cheating" includes but is not limited to:
i. Use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or
examinations;
ii. Dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the
instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying
out other assignments;
iii. Acquisition or possession without permission of tests or other academic
material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff;
iv. Knowingly providing any unauthorized assistance to other student on
quizzes, tests, or examinations.
b. The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to:
i. Use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished
work of another person without fully and properly crediting the author with
footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference.
5
ii. Unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency
engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
iii. Unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced
through collaboration with others without release in writing from
collaborators.

Campus Student Support Services Responsibilities:

Students experiencing additional challenges, or who would just appreciate
more one-on-one support with course assignments should avail themselves
of the many campus resources available, including the following, which can
all be accessed from UMSL Home Page and via the URL sent by UMSL
Academic Affairs.

225 MSC Center for Student Success:

http://www.umsl.edu/services/css/225

GLBT Resource Center: 366 MSC

Instructional Computing Labs:

http://www.umsl.edu/technology/instructionalcomputing/labhours.html

Writing Lab:
http://www.umsl.edu/~umslenglish/writing_lab/writinglab.html

Math Lab: http://www.cs.umsl.edu/lab/mathlab.html

Disabilities Services: http://www.umsl.edu/services/disabled/

This University abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that stipulates that no student
shall be denied the benefits of an education solely by reason of a disability.
Disabilities covered by law may include, but are not limited to, learning
disorders, attention deficit disorders, hearing loss, and vision loss or mobility
impairments. If you have a disability that may have some impact upon your
work in this class or for which you may require accommodations, please
contact the Disability Access Services Office in 144 Millennium Student
Center at 516- 6554. This office will appropriately assess your individual
accommodation needs; maintain your disability documentation
confidentially on file, request and coordinate appropriate classroom
accommodations on your behalf. It is also expected that you will make
6
yourself known to the professor of the course, to ensure that all
accommodations are honored.

Tentative Course Schedule:

Section 1: African Women in African Society and Culture

August 21- Week 1

Introduction Blog: Professor, Students, Course.

1. Cultural Anthropology, Gender, Sex and more

http://www.livinganthropologically.com/2012/05/16/anthropology-sex-gender-
sexuality-social-constructions/
2. Culture Concept (posted)
3. The Truth About Stories: http://blog.ted.com/2011/08/17/playlist-the-truth-about-
stories/
4. Reading- So Long a Letter -95 pages.
5. Introductory Discussion Post- Tell a bit about yourself. Due date: August 26 at
8:00pm

August 28- Week 2

Topic 1. Gender, Socialization, Politics and Conflict

1. Reading Assignment: African Women and Colonialism (course posting) Gender,

Colonialism and Sexuality: The Impact of Colonialism on African Women
2. TED Talks Presentation: Theo Sowa, We need African Womens Voices.
https://youtu.be/GfIQgPb7pQs
3. Enhancing our understandings. http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-
40526447/how-a-zimbabwean-rain-dance-works
4. http://www.okayafrica.com/culture-2/12-iconic-women-who-have-shaped-our-
culture-mothers-day/
5. Course Content Discussion#1 Due date: Tuesday, September 5 at 8:00pm

September 4- Week 3

Topic 2. Defining an African Woman through Narrative

1. Reading Assignment - Male Daughters, Female Husbands, Forward-Page 23
2. Video posted: As Old As My Tongue
3. Video Stream: TEDxWashingtonCircle- Jemimah Njuki - The Missing
Link12/20/2010Jemimah Njuki is a young scientist working on women in
agriculture issues in Africa. She has a PhD in Development studies from the
Sokoine University of Agriculture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr3J8QYY2Gc
4. Course Content Discussion#2 Due date: Saturday, September 16 at 8:00pm

7
September 11- Week 4

Topic 3. Conceptual Frameworks and Current Discourse on

1. Reading Assignment - Male Daughters, Female Husbands, Pages 27-88
2. Watch Youtube. The Land of No Men: Inside Kenyas Women-Only Village
3. African Feminisms. Article Posted. A brief history of African feminism
4. Summary notes for review will be posted.

September 18 Week 5

Topic 3. Continued..
1. Reading Assignment Male Daughters, Female Husbands, Pages 89-143
2. Watch Miriam Makeba Interview. https://youtu.be/2oRHLMSo1JQ Please
forgive annoying adverts.
3. Short Essay #1- 30 points (3-4 pages) see submission link. Due date: September
23 at 8:00 pm.

September 25 Week 6

Topic 4. Socialization and Tales of Truth and Myth

1. Reading Assignment:
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGubRjX2hk A Voice Like Egypt
3. BiKidude, As Old as My Tongue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4onqF_rZnCI
4. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR7BG9pJeRs
5. See Canvas Discussion#3 for topic

Section 2: African Women in Their Own Voices

October 2 Week 7

Topic 5. The Forces of African Women in Civil War

1. Reading Assignment: Mighty be Our Powers (Pages 1-85)
2. Video: Women with Open Eyes
3. http://www.okayafrica.com/culture-2/notinmyname-exclusive-photos-
south-africas-march-women-abuse/

October 9- Week 8

Topic 5 continued
1. Reading Assignment: Mighty be Our Powers (Pages 86-166)
2. Video: Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBQFbCc4pHU
3. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8pFoIaf5Ys
4. Film Critique Due dates

8
October 16- Week 9

Topic 5 continued
1. Reading Assignment: Mighty be Our Powers (Pages 167-end)

October 23 Week 10

Topic 6. Roles Contemporary Women Play in Africa

1. Reading Assignment: Keeping Hope Alive- Chapters 1-10
2. Interview: http://youtu.be/3X3ns3LwlV8
3. Video stream posted: Tableau Ferraille
4. Short Essay#2- 30 points. (3-4 pages) See Canvas for topic
Due date:

October 30 Week 11

Topic 6. Continued
1. Reading Assignment: Keeping Hope Alive- Chapters 11-19
2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2015/08/13/6-
emerging-female-entrepreneurs-to-watch-in-africa-
2015/#3cffa5ae1ae7
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOwzIstPnb8
4. Canvas Discussion#4 Due date

November 6 Week 12

Topic 6. Continued
1. Reading Assignment: Keeping Hope Alive- Chapters 20-end
2. Video
3. International News Critique Due Date

Section 3: African Women and the World

November 13 Week 13

Topic 7. Memory Construction

1. Reading Assignment: A Human Being Died That Night: A South African
Woman (Chapters 1-4)
2. Video. Steve Biko
3. Video. Winnie Mandela
4. Course Content Discussion #5 Due date:

November 19-27 Fall Break. No assignments.

9
November 27 Week 14
1. Reading Assignment: A Human Being Died That Night: A South African
Woman Confronts the Legacy of Apartheid chapters 5-end
2. Video: All that A Woman Can Do

December 4

Classes END December 9th.

10