WOMEN
AND POLITICS
PUAF 359W
Fall, 2006
Class Meets: Wednesdays, 4:15—6:45pm
Taliaferro Hall, Room 0101
Instructor: Frances Hughes Glendening
fglenden@umd.edu
Teaching Phillip Westry
Assistants: zhane_ty@yahoo.com
Dawn Cherie White
Office Hours:
By Appointment
Course Description
This course examines the role of women in the political process including the participation of women as activists, voters, advocates, public leaders and as agents of change through various avenues including, among others, public service (elected and appointed), the media, community service, political organizations, and the nonprofit sector. Students will explore the unique perspectives and approaches women bring to politics and public policy as well as the changes they have made in setting public policy priorities.
Additionally, the course surveys the obstacles women have faced in their efforts to gain access to and equity in political influence and power. Particularly important are the diverse paths women leaders have taken to surmount these barriers as they sought to influence the social, political and economic order as a means to bring about change.
Course Structure
As is customary at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership this course will be participatory throughout and, accordingly, will require your active involvement. The class includes readings, discussions, in-class exercises, guest lecturers, journaling, a midterm, possible experiential opportunities and a final project/paper which will culminate in a presentation to the class in addition to what is submitted for review and evaluation.
Typically, classes entail a discussion of the readings as well as some lecture and guest speakers. Guest lecturers expect give and take with the students as do I. The last two class meetings will be reserved for each student to present his/her project to the class. To allow adequate time for each student’s presentation, the length of these two class meetings will be extended appropriately.
Books and Reading Materials
Clift, E. and Brazaitis, T., Madam President: Women Blazing the Leadership Trail, Routledge, New York, 2003.
Gerber, R., Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, Penguin Group, New York, 2002.
Han, Lori Cox, Women and American Politics: The Challenges of Political Leadership, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2007.
Larson, L., ed., Skirting Tradition—Women in Politics Speak to the Next Generation, The Institute of Politics, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Hollis Publishing, New Hampshire, 2004.
Additional readings and handouts also will be assigned. Some will be available online, while others will be either distributed or available on reserve at the Lucille Maurer Leadership Library in Taliaferro Hall. One book in particular, Women of Achievement in Maryland History, written by Dr. Carolyn Stegman, is available both in the Lucille Maurer Library.
Class Components and Grading
Class Participation: 25%
-class lecture/speaker participation
-reading discussion
Journals 25%
Midterm 20%
Outline/Research Plan for Final Project 10%
Final Project 20%
Class Lecture/Speaker Participation and Reading Discussion
Each class session will include a lecture-type segment and many will also include notable guest speakers. This segment will include information not necessarily contained in the readings and participation is strongly encouraged and necessary as is evidenced in the grading allotment. During this time, you are welcome to ask questions and provide your opinion on the topics under discussion. The class lecture portion of your participation grade will be based not only on the frequency of your participation, but also on the quality of your participation. When there are guest speakers, you should prepare and ask questions relevant to the course material and focused on the role of women in the political system and the political process.
Each class also will include a discussion segment involving the reading. Students should come to class with some thought-provoking questions which will help initiate intelligent, topical discussion of the material assigned for the week. You may wish to prepare a few questions as part of your journal submission each week as the readings will be fresh in your mind at that time. The reading discussion portion of your participation grade will be based on your role as an active, substantive class participant during these discussions.
Journals
For each class you will be required to write a thoughtful, analytical one-page reaction to the reading material assigned for the week. This not only will motivate you to complete the assigned reading, but also assists in organizing your thoughts for the class discussion. Please note these weekly journal submissions should not be merely summaries of the material read. Rather, they should reflect your critical analysis of and response to the reading. For your information and guidance, a few examples of appropriate journal submissions will be distributed in class; however, as long as journal entries are analytical in nature, no exact format is required.
Midterm
The midterm will be given in class on October 18th and will include all material covered up to that point, including reading, discussions, guest speakers, etc. You will be given one hour and forty-five minutes (from 4:15pm to 6pm) to prepare two fully developed essays on a given prompt which should include information from all aspects of the course. The essays will be designed to elicit your critical thinking as well as your working knowledge of the course material.
Final Class Project
You should work on this assignment throughout the semester. Although you will select the final project of your choice, the type of project as well as its topic, direction, substance, necessary research, etc. must be approved. In fact, a detailed outline of the final project proposal must be submitted on September 20th for review, comment and approval. In addition to preventing you from procrastinating until the last minute, this will provide a reality check on the scope of your proposed undertaking and will help you avoid “taking on the world” in a semester.
We shall discuss this final project requirement further in class, and, individual appointments may be scheduled to discuss them in greater detail. As indicated on the schedule, our last two class meetings, tentatively December 6th and 13th, will be devoted to individual final projects. Each student will give a fifteen-minute presentation of her/his project to the class.
Class Expectations
Everyone is expected to arrive at class
on time and to participate fully. Inasmuch
as this seminar meets only once a week, attendance will be taken and unexcused
absences will decrease a student’s participation/discussion average. By the second class meeting, please advise me
of any religious holidays necessitating an absence.
Written assignments must be typed (Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced) and submitted by the deadline for full credit. This includes the weekly journal submissions. In the interest of all involved, particularly you,
please retain a copy of all submissions for your records.
Academic Integrity
All students are expected to observe and honor provisions of the University’s Honor Code of Academic Integrity. The Code prohibits cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents and forging signatures. The University Senate requires that students include the following signed statement on each examination or assignment: “I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment).” Students taking courses at the Academy of Leadership are expected to maintain the highest levels of honesty and integrity
Students with Disabilities
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me by the conclusion of the second cla
Course Schedule
August 30th Introduction
of Course and Class Requirements
-Introduction of class participants
-Discussion of “Women in Politics”
-Assignment for following week: 1) establish at least three personal objectives for the course and submit next week; 2) find relevant reading (explained in class) to share with class; and, 3) prepare your first journal reaction to the assigned reading (Women and American Politics) .
September 6th Women in American Politics--Overview
(1) Present reading you selected to the class.
(2) First journal submissions are due for Women and
American Politics.
(3) Personal course objectives are due (at least three).
(4) Reading and Class Discussion:
a.
Women and American Politics, entire book.
b. Students’ individual readings.
September 13th Women
in Politics: Finding Your Own Voice
Guest Speaker: Andrea Leahy-Fucheck, Managing Partner, Griffin & Leahy; former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Maryland; Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs for former Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening; and formerly “Of Counsel” at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston.
Reading, Class Discussion and Journal Submission Due:
(1)
Skirting Tradition, entire book.
(2) Journal submission due for Skirting Tradition.
(3) Students continue to share the readings they selected regarding non-elected “women in politics”.
September 20th Women Helping Women
Guest Speaker: Susan Markham, Director of Campaign Corps as well as Political Opportunities Program (POP),
both of which are programs of EMILY’s List.
(1) Finish discussion of Women and American Politics and begin discussion of Skirting Tradition.
September 27th “Stepping Out”: Women Challenging Incumbents
Guest Speaker: Donna Edwards, lawyer and civic activist turned Congressional candidate for Maryland’s 4th Congressional District.
(1) Detailed outline of proposed final project due and be prepared to share your proposal briefly with the class.
(2) Be prepared to discuss Skirting Tradition.
October 4th Women in the Media—As Public Figures and as Professional Journalists
Guest Speaker: Dr. Maurine Beasley, professor of journalism, noted author, former Washington Post staff writer and education editor, and, national expert on Washington women journalists, journalism history, and, first ladies and the media.
(1) Continue to share your project proposals with the class.
(2) Read and be prepared to discuss Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, Introduction through page 153.
(3) Journal submission due for Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way through page 153.
October 11th Women’s
Multiple Roles: Finding Your Own Voice
Guest Speaker: Maryland First Lady Kendel Ehrlich
(1) Read and be prepared to discuss Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, page 157 to the end of the book..
(2) Journal submissions are due
for Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way.
October 18th Midterm Examination
Report to class as usual. You will be given one hour
and forty-five minutes to complete the examination after
which time you may depart. If there is an extra-credit
question, it will be optional and you will be given extra
time to answer it. No journal submission is due today.
October 25th No guest speaker today.
1) Catch up on any presentations not given previously.
2) Read and be prepared to discuss Madam President, Introduction and pages 29 through 65 and 135 through 224.
3) Journal submissions due on Madam President.
November 1st Interest
Groups—A Woman’s Place?
Guest Speaker: Catherine McLeod, Director of Administration and Outreach, Maryland Right to Life, Inc.
1) Read and be prepared to discuss Madam President, pages 251 through 321.
2) Journal submissions due for Madam President.
November 8th Women in the Judiciary—Does it make a difference? Should it?
Guest Speaker: The Honorable Ann N. Sundt, Associate Judge, Montgomery County Circuit Court.
(1) Submit a revised, more fully developed overview and summary of your final project. At this stage, the submission should demonstrate significant project progress, i.e., well on the road to completion.
(2) Various readings either will be placed on WebCT or distributed in class on November 1st.
November 15thth Women
in Appointed Public Service
Linda H. Lamone, Administrator, Maryland State Board of Elections.
(1) See www.elections.state.md.us as well as applicable newspaper articles, etc. Additional readings may be placed on the class WebCT or distributed in class.
(2) Discussion of final projects.
November 22nd No class. This is a work day for your final project. Happy Thanksgiving!!
November 29th No guest speaker today.
(1) Submit a written analysis of the progress you have made toward achieving your course objectives for the semester, i.e., those submitted early in the semester.
(2) Everyone is expected to come to class today as there
will be an in-class exercise for all students.
December 6th Student Presentations of Final Projects
December 13th Student Presentations of Final Projects