Assignments

Cultural Relativity and Exploring Global Gender Ideals
In Unit 4 you will use the concept of cultural relativism to explore the way gender-related practices and beliefs function in other cultures. The unit investigates the influence of western societies on the changes in gender roles in other cultures as the process of globalization continues. You will also explore how exposure to Western values, ideas, and behavior create challenges for families in non-western cultures.

Outcomes
After completing the learning activities in this unit, students will be able to: 
•	Analyze the ways women and men in other cultures define and carry out their gender roles
•	Identify the link between American gender norms and the changes that are occurring globally in non-western cultures
•	Formulate questions that can help you understand more about gender ideals in other cultures

What do you have to do in this unit?
•	Read about fertility decisions and the division of household labor in two other cultures.
•	Attend Seminar or complete Option 2 to share ideas on couples’ status reversal. 
•	Participate in a discussion about the relationship between a child’s sex and parental status.
•	Interview someone who has personally experienced or observed gender differences in another culture.

Introduction: The readings for Unit 4 show how culture influences the ways that families define and carry out gender roles in other societies. As you read, try to identify the similarities and differences between the gender ideals in these two different cultures and your own.
Both readings can be found in the Kaplan Library:
Hu, C., & Kamo, Y., (2007). The Division of Household Labor in Taiwan. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 38, 105-124.
Gipson, J., & Hindin, M., (2007). “Marriage means having children and forming your family, so what is the need of discussion?”: Communication and negotiation of childbearing preferences among Bangladeshi couples. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 9, 185-198. DOI: 10.1080/13691050601065933

Be sure to read the article “The Division of Household Labor in Taiwan” in the Kaplan Library before completing either Seminar option.
Option 1: Participate in the Seminar as you consider the answers to the following questions.
1.	How does exposure to Western values, ideas and behavior create challenges for families in non-western cultures?
2.	What are the challenges that occur within the social institutions of family and work as cultures move away from patriarchal structures that emphasize women's dependence on men?
3.	How can status-reversal in couples be seen as deviant? How do men and women who are part of a status-reversed couple compensate for this “deviance”?
Option 2: Complete the Seminar Option 2 wiki activity.
•	Visit the government website for any non-Western nation. 
•	Search the website to see if you can find any pictures of families. 
•	Post the photos to the Seminar Option 2 wiki, and describe any clues you see indicating that Western gender influence has reached this nation. Remember to give credit to the “owner” of the image by including information (much like in your paper references) regarding the origin of the image. Properly cite and provide links to any images you post.
•	Review your classmates’ posts and offer your perspective on whether the families seemed to reflect any Western influence. 

The Assignment: Interview someone who has lived, worked or vacationed in a country other than your own to learn more about gender norms in other cultures.
1.	Develop a list of questions that will help you to understand more about the gender norms and ideals of another culture.
2.	Conduct the Interview Ask the questions you prepared beforehand. Remember to probe for the respondent’s ideas about how culture and the gender norms are related. Ask for specific examples to substantiate responses. Take notes. DO NOT include the notes or your questions in your paper.
3.	Write the paper: Use the interview data you gathered to compare and contrast gender ideals in another culture to those of Western societies. The paper should be five pages long. Page One should be the title page, Page Five should be the reference page. Pages Two, Three, and Four should contain your text. There should be three references, two of which may be the assigned articles for this unit.
•	Paper starts with an introduction that explains the who, what, and why of the interview
•	The discussion of data includes direct quotes and examples from the respondent.
•	A conclusion is made about the ways that history, culture and globalization have influenced gender construction in the culture that was investigated. 
If in doubt about formatting your paper, ask your instructor or check the APA Quick Reference Guide in the menu of the course home page for directions and examples.
Check your paper against the Unit 4 Assignment Rubric from your Syllabus to be sure that you have included the required elements. If you have any questions at all, please contact your instructor for help.
Submitting your paper: Submit your paper in the space for the Unit 4 Assignment in the Drop Box.

Unit Summary
In this unit cultural relativity was used to understand the societal influences behind gender norms in other societies. You analyzed the way that women and men in other cultures define and carry out their gender roles, and you identified the link between American gender norms and the changes that are occurring globally in non-western cultures. You also considered the challenges created within the social institutions of family and work as cultures move away from patriarchal structures that emphasize women's dependence on men.