California State University, Chico

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

 

WOMEN'S HEALTH

HCSV, WMST, NURS 168-01 Spring 2005

Plumas 102, 11:00-12:15

Professor:  Dr. Diana Flannery              Office Hours: TR 12:30-2 & M 12-2

Office:  635 Butte Hall                          Email:  dflannery@csuchico.edu           

Office Phone:  898-4993                                  Mailbox:  607 Butte     

                                   

I.      Course Description

            This course will include an analysis of health issues, which concern women throughout the life cycle.  The physiological, psychological, cultural, and political impact upon women's well-being will be addressed.  This course fulfills the Natural Science (Subject Area B) for the Women's Issues Theme (Theme O).  You must have completed at least 45 units of coursework in order to receive theme credit. This course has a 2,500-word writing requirement.  Course writing requirements are listed under Student Responsibilities.

 

II.   Texts

            Boston's Women's Health Collective. (1998). Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century: A Book by and for Women.  New York: Simon and Schuster

           

            Ferrini, A. & Flannery, D. (Eds. 2004).   Women’s Health Supplementary Reading Packet #32 available at Mr. Kopy (119 Main Street).

  

III. Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

1.      List the types of research utilized in the study of women’s health, using major research studies as examples.

2.      Distinguish the scientific method from hearsay in interpreting material written about women’s health in popular news.

3.      Discuss critical findings and implications of selected research studies exploring various health and health care issues of women.

4.      Discuss the status and trends in the health of women and their care, with special attention to the differences among ethnic and racial subgroups and the impact of poverty.

5.      Explore selected physiological changes a women’s body undergoes (i.e. Menarche, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, aging) and their psychosocial impact.

6.      List and discuss the common diseases and disorders of women (including STDs):  description, causes, prevalence, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention measures.

7.      Analyze selected factors which serve as barriers to women’s health status and way that public policy, health organizations, and women themselves can enhance health promotion behaviors.

8.      Explore the history of women’s health and the effect of feminist movements upon health status, health research, and health care of women.

9.      Gain knowledge and skills to make informed decisions to enhance personal health status and medical care.

 

IV. Theme Objectives

1.         Define varied feminist theories, perspectives and methods of studying women as they relate to the discipline in which the course represents.

2.         Discuss the historical and current practices, institutions, and belief systems that

        maintain the subordination of women.

3.         Read materials by feminist writers and researchers.

4.         Identify ways women have brought about social, economic, and political change.

5.         Explore the impact of class, race, gender, and sexuality on women’s lives and

their place in society.

 

V.    Course Outline

Day

Topic

Reading Assignment

1/25-27

Introduction to Women's Health

Women’s Health Movement

OBO. 25

OBO. 26,27     RP. 1-5

2/1-3

Women’s Health Status

Science and Women's Health

Picture due      RP. 6-12

                       RP. 13-18

2/8-10

 

Women and Drug Use

Alcohol and Tobacco  

OBO. 3,6         RP.25-29

2/15-17

 

Body Image

Disordered Eating

OBO.1             RP.19-24

2/24

2/26

EXAM #1

Sexuality Survey

     

                       RP. 30-34                                                                                                                              

3/1-3/3

 

Reproductive Cycle

OBO.12          

Advocacy Letter Due

3/8-10

Reproductive Choices  

OBO.13,16,17 RP. 35-42

3/15-17

Spring Break!

 

3/22-24

Pregnancy, Childbearing, Breastfeeding

OBO.19,20      RP. 43-48

 Posters Due

3/29- 4/5

Sexually Transmissible Infections & HIV

OBO.14,15      RP. 49-54

 

4/7

EXAM #2

Top Ten Draft Due

4/12-14

Violence Against Women

OBO. 8            RP. 55-60

4/19-21

Common Diseases/Disorders of Women

OBO. 24

4/26-28

Breast & Heart Health 

                       RP. 61-67

5/3-5

Health in Mid- and Late-Life

OBO. 23          RP. 68-72

Activity Paper Due/ Top Ten Due

5/10-12

5/19

Panel / Review

Final Exam Thursday 10:00

 

Student Responsibilities

 

A.              Participate in a 3 exams at the appointed time.  Dates are listed on the outline.

 

B.              Attend each class prepared and ready to discuss read EACH article and chapter, contribute to class discussions, and participate in planned activities. Attendance will be recorded. For each absence over 3, your final grade will be reduced 1/3 letter grade.

 

C.              Respect: Respect the diversity of experience, values, and thoughts presented and explored in class. Conduct yourself professionally in all classroom interactions.

          

D.              Submit high quality assignments on time. Assignments must be submitted at the beginning of the class session in which they are due. Any papers submitted after this time will be deducted by half.  No papers will be accepted after one day from the due date for any reason.

 

           Use proper and complete citation for all materials and sources.  Ideas and information taken from others MUST be properly cited. Any direct quote must be enclosed in quotation marks and cited (use author/page number).

 

           Have assignment ready at the beginning of class each day.  If you have to miss a class session, you may turn your work in early.

          

E.               Review daily discussion questions found in the Mr. Kopy Reading Packet.

 

F.       Submit a picture with a brief biography. (5 points)

           Attach a recent photo of you on a 5x8 notecard and tell me about you…be sure to include your exceptionality, qualities/attributes, passions, feminist position, family, current job etc…

 

G.       How to Write a Protest Letter (see Article #60 in RP) (20 points)

Research a women’s health issue of concern to you. Gather facts, identify current laws and problems, and investigate alternative solutions regarding your women’s health issue. Develop a professional letter that will be mailed to your congressperson, mayor, editor of a newspaper, industry, etc. (obtain mailing address, names, and titles). Final letter should be typed and error free. Include a stamped envelope attached with a paper clip to your letter or provide the email address used in the heading of letter.

TIPS: address it properly, identify bill or issue, letter should be timely, be reasonably brief, ask for a response, write your own views in a scholarly manner, give reasons for taking a stand, show understanding, be constructive (offer an alternative, use personal or business letterhead whenever possible, obtain additional signatures, use 2 references and cite appropriately, text is OK)

(see http://www.nwhn.org/ or http://www.capwiz.com/now/home/ for ideas)

H.     Attend a Woman Centered Event (Paper due 1 week after event) (25 points)

Select an event you can attend in the Chico, University, or neighboring community.  All events must be approved by me.  Submit a 2 page summary (typed) of your event.  Provide the time, location, and describe the women’s issue/event and your role in it.  Recount any thoughts before, during, and after the event.  Relate new insights, perceptions, and experiences.

            Breaking the Silence Concert March 29, 6pm, Tuesday

            Sandra Steingraber, April 6, 7pm Wednesday  

            Naomi Tutu April 23, 10am     

 

I.              Breaking the Silence Art Project (Due March 22) (25 points)

Create a poster or art piece for the Breaking the Silence campus event.  The theme is stopping hate crimes with an emphasis on the GLBTQ community. Grading will be based on creativity, impact, effort, and stopping violence theme.

 

J.             Top Ten Reasons (1st Draft, Due April 7; Final May 5) (50 points)

      Research a women’s health issue of concern to you. Gather facts, identify current laws and problems, and investigate prevention factors regarding your health  issue. 

     

      Subheadings should include:                                            Topics may include:

      Define health problem or condition or disease                  Breastfeeding or BC                 

      Prevalence (National/International)                                 Condition of pregnancy

      Poverty factors                                                             Heart Disease or Obesity

      Racial factors                                                                Breast Cancer or other type

      Why women are at risk                                                  Hormone Disruption

      Corporate/media influence                                             Cosmetics or Plastics

      Public Health & Government Position                             Alcohol or Tobacco

      Advocacy position                                                         Violence

 

Develop a pro-woman flyer that can be distributed at women center events or used for tabling, etc…. Final document should be typed and errors free, printed on hard stock paper, include pictures, creative fonts, and complete referencing. 

 

VI. Evaluation

Bio Notecard

  5

A = 94-100

A-= 90-93

Letter

 20

B+= 88-89

B = 84-87

Poster

 25

B-= 80-83

C+= 78-79

Event Summary

 25

C = 74-77

C-= 70-73      

Top Ten Reasons

 50

D+=67-69

D = 64-66

Exam 1

100

D-= 240-251

F = 63 or less

Exam 2

 75

 

 

Exam 3

100

 

 

Total

400

 

 

 

Blood donation Whitney Rec Center, Tuesday February 15 = 5 bonus points