Introduction to Race, Gender and Class Studies
Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches

Textbook required:

1. Introduction to Sociology: A Race, Gender & Class Perspective
     by Jean Ait Belkhir and Bernice McNair Barnett, SUNO-RGC Book Series, 1999
2. An Interdisciplinary Bibliography on Race, Gender and Class by Jean Ait Belkhir
3. Race, Gender & Class: An Interdisciplinary and Multicultural journal

Table contents posted on the RGC Website 

4. Other materials and journals 

Statement and Introduction

Race, gender and class represent the three most powerful organizing principles in the development of social injustice worldwide. The field of race, gender and class paradigm and its research have spawned and reshaped fields, subfields, pedagogical and curricular discussions across disciplinary and interdisciplinary spectrum. In the 1990s, the intersectionality of race, gender and class scholarship underwent a paradigmatic shift, a critical transition on four levels: One, globally, recognition that race, gender and class represent the three most powerful organizing principles. Two, scholastically, RGC studies have reshaped pedagogical and curricula discussions across disciplines. Three, academically, RGC studies encompass traditional (e.g., sociology and mathematics) and interdisciplinary disciplines (e.g., women’s studies, ethnic studies, and working class studies). Four, through multiculturalism, RGC studies has helped foster the acceptance of both people on the "margins" (people of color, women, and, still on the margin of the marginalized people, the working class) and their work and scholarship.

This paradigmatic shift is similar to the transition in scholarship in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, when women of color called into question the exclusionary and marginalizing theories and practices of traditional canons as well as patricentric Ethnic Studies and Eurocentric women’s studies. Indeed, beyond the earlier need to move the voices of the marginalized to the center and to have greater legitimacy in wider academic and political arenas, RGC studies are now in the process of achieving even greater insights into the multidimensional interplay of race, gender and class through the study of: (1) RGC within the capitalist world economy; (2) RGC history; (3) RGC theories and concepts (4) quantitative and qualitative research methods for RGC studies; (5) the shifting centrality of RGC; (6); RGC issues in U.S. society today; and (7) building bridges between RGC in the 21^st century.

Course Seminar Format

After an introduction to RGC history, theories, concepts, and an overview to quantitative and qualitative research methods for RGC studies, students will pursue individual projects based on a selected topic from the book Introduction to Race, Gender and Class Studies, and suggested resources published (in hard copy and electronically) in Race, Gender and Class Bibliography. Oral report on students’ research progress will be required to all students. Students will be required to write a 15-20 page research paper.

Grades

Students’ grades will be based upon the following:

• 40% Research paper
• 20% Oral Report
• 20% Research Methods
• RGC Exam

Research Paper Format

• Title and Author Name
• Abstract and Keywords
• Introduction
  Choice of a RGC intersection approach
  Definition of R/G/C and RGC Intersection
  Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches
• Literature Review on the selected topic
  Previous Studies on R/G/C and RGC Intersection
• Data Origins and Methods of Analysis
  Quantitative and qualitative research approaches
• Results
  • Table and Figure
• Discussion
  Quantitative and Qualitative Interpretation
• Conclusion
  Study Limit and Potential
• Bibliography
• Appendix

Course Organization

Week 1:
Introduction

Race, Gender and Class in Sociology: The Shifting Centrality
Jean Ait Belkhir, Southern University at New Orleans
Bernice McNair Barnett, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Week 2:
UNIT 1: The Shifting Centrality of Race, Gender and Class

1. The Centrality of Race in the Social Structure: A Critical Social History
   Doris Wilkinson, University of Kentucky

2. The Social Construction of Gender,
   Jonathan Harrington, Kirsten Paap, University of Wisconsin-Madison 16

Week 3:
September 7 (Monday 6: Labor Day Holiday) - September 10

3. The Foundations of Class, Race, Gender and Classism
   Jean Ait Belkhir, Southern University at New Orleans
   Chuck Barone, Dickinson College 34
4. Race, Gender and Wealth and Income
   Elizabeth M. Esterchild, Rodney R. McDanel, University of North Texas 51

Week 4:
UNIT 2: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods

5. Quantitative Methods and Race, Gender, and Class
   Rodney L. Brod, Paul E. Miller, The University of Montana 69

Week 5:

6. In-Depth Interviewing Method and Race, Class, and Gender
   Gloria Holguin Cuádraz, Arizona State University West
   Lynett Uttal, University of Wisconsin-Madison
7. Social Psychology and Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality
   Jocelyn A. Hollander, University of Oregon,
   Judith A. Howard, University of Washington

Week 6:
UNIT 3: Science

8. The Intersection of Race, Gender, Class, and Science
   Anne F. Eisenberg , University of North Texas.
9. Intelligence and Race, Gender, Class
   Jean Ait Belkhir, Christiane Charlemaine, Southern University at New Orleans.

Week 7:

Week 8:
UNIT 4: Culture, Media, and Sexuality

10. Culture and Race, Gender and Class
    Karen Beasley Young, Erylene Piper Mandy, Chapman University.
11. Media and Race, Class, Gender
    David Croteau, Virginia Commonwealth University,
    and Williams Hoynes, Vassar College.
12. Human Sexuality and Race, Gender, Class
    Israel Cardona, Grossmont College - California 202