INTS 373 | WMST 379 Refugees , Gender and Human Rights |
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Course
Content
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This course will examine the connection between involuntary displacement, gender and human rights law. We will discuss the causes and contexts for population displacement, both internal and cross-boundary. These contexts include racism, sexism, xenophobia, changing political regimes, and war/conflict. Students will be introduced to international principles governing the treatment of refugees, as well as the experiences of humanitarian agencies and those they seek to assist. Materials for the course cover a wide range of scholarly research, international case studies, personal narratives and documentaries.
Central to the course are issues of vulnerability, responsibility and national/international intervention. We will also investigate the gendered nature of forced migration and consider the special risks posed to women and children. For the purpose of comparative analysis, case studies will be drawn from different geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Special attention will be paid to populations shifts in the post-9/11 era and the human rights impact of both natural and human-made disasters. We will also devote a week to displacement issues resulting from Hurricane Katrina.
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Experiential
Learning |
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This course will use an Experiential Learning framework to create a hands-on, interactive learning environment that combines reflective practice with participatory evaluation and problem-solving. Experiential Learning is based on the following premise:
Tell me and I will forget ~
Show me and I may remember ~
Involve me and I will understand.
Students will engage in a range of creative and kinesthetic activities (games, role plays, story-telling, practice interventions) to make these issues come alive and become relevant to their own lives and communities.
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Required
Reading |
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This course is designed to acquaint students with current issues regarding refugees and IDPs. It also seeks to highlight the important and ongoing work of relevant humanitarian agencies. For this reason, our readings for the course will come primarily from online sources (press releases, advocacy campaigns, video reports, etc.). The course is in many ways a 'work in progress'; we will address issues as they unfold and discuss possible solutions to the plight of refugees worldwide. Please feel free to contribute information you discover throughout the course. I am happy to post additional materials to Moodle that are relevant and informative.
In addition to shorter video and documentary segments, we will be viewing three feature films: Hotel Rwanda, When the Levees Broke and The Lost Boys of the Sudan. The films will also be on reserve in Ramsey library.
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Contact
Info |
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Please feel free to arrange an appointment with me if you wish to discuss any aspect of the course. I encourage you to drop by during my office hours or at a mutually convenient time. You should also feel free to call (251-6277) or email me. Email is best, between 7 am and 5 pm Monday-Friday. Emails sent over the weekend may not answered until Monday.
You are responsible for any missed classes; I cannot re-create our weekly meetings. In the case of an absence, please (1) consult the course website for assigned materials (2) contact a classmate to discuss in-class activities. Upon students' approval, I will provide a list of telephone numbers at the beginning of the semester for easy reference.
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Course
Assignments |
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The course will be conducted as a seminar, with both small- and large-group discussions. In addition to short in-class 'free writes', students will complete three major writing assignments: (1) a reflective journal of approximately 250 words per week (2) a group research paper of 8-10 pages (3) a group creative activity. Choices for the creative assignment include, but are not limited to: preparing an investigative report, designing a public advocacy campaign, producing a short documentary (with accompanying narrative), or writing a short story or one-act play.
Reflective Journal
Journals will be graded according to the quality and thoughtfulness of the weekly entries, as well as adherence to the word limit. You are encouraged to experiment, take risks, be creative. You may, for example, want to draw in your journal, write a poem, add photographs, or paste news articles. This is your creative space to ponder and respond.
You should begin writing in your journal the first week. For each entry, be sure to specify the (1) week (2) weekly topic, and (2) word count.
Your final journal grade will be based on the following criteria:
• thoughtful, thorough, well-articulated responses to the course readings and discussions
• integration of course materials into personal reflections
• awareness of the opportunities and challenges of a human rights approach to refugees and IDPs
• intellectual maturity in processing complex and subtle issues from multiple learning environments
Research Paper
The hallmark of effective humanitarian action is teamwork. For this reason, both your research paper and creative project will be completed in groups of three. I realize that some of you prefer to work alone; others have had bad experiences working in groups. Despite these preferences and pitfalls, a major goal of this course is to build a toolkit for cooperation, facilitation, negotiation, and collaboration. It is essential that we practice these skills in a serious way, but also leave ourselves open for discovery and fun. This may well be one of your biggest learning experiences in the course—about yourself and others.
To help keep each team on track, I ask that you use the following rubric to gauge each other's performance. You will be assessed by your teammates in the following categories: (1) workload (2) organization (3) participation (4) deadlines (5) showing up (6) providing feedback (7) receiving feedback. You will submit these rubrics along with your completed assignments.
It is vital that you submit your research paper and creative project on the day they are due. In fairness to your classmates, a late penalty will be applied to all tardy assignments (5 points per day late).
Ideas for creative projects will emerge as the semester unfolds. Course materials—documentaries, interviews, newspaper articles, websites—will give you a variety of genres to consider. Your choice of topic and format should be based on your own creative interests and talents. Creative projects will be assessed on two primary criteria: (1) written/visual content (2) public presentation to the class. After presenting your projects, you will have the opportunity to make changes based on peer feedback.
Nota Bene ~ For both the research paper and creative project, I encourage you to choose a topic you are passionate about: refugee children, refugee women, refugees fleeing the war in Iraq, internally displaced persons in Darfur, etc. The best papers are always those you genuinely care about. I am happy to discuss possible topics with each group and help you decide on a project that works best for you.
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Speaking
Out |
The only way you will do well in this course is to come prepared and be an active participant in every class. The quality of your contribution to the class will be evaluated according to the following standards:
| A | Contributes consistently, regularly and enthusiastically to class activities. States ideas clearly. Volunteers for activities and assignments. Does not dominate. Takes the lead in engaging others in discussion. |
| B | Contributes to each class meeting. Does not dominate. Maintains an active presence in class activities. Sometimes engages others in dialogue. |
| C | Contributes only sporadically. Rarely engages others in discussion. |
| D | Physically present and actively listens, but does not contribute with any regularity. |
| F |
Absent. Frequently unprepared or inattentive. Makes unproductive comments. Talks while others have the floor or engages in other disruptive behaviors. |
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Showing Up |
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Attendance is essential for a successful class, especially in an upper-level seminar of this kind. Because the course meets only once a week, you are expected to attend all classes. Absences will figure into your class participation mark, which is 20% of your final grade.
In addition to being present in class, please arrive on time. On days when it is necessary for the University to delay starting classes due to inclement weather, a late start class schedule will be in place.
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Winter Break |
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This course aims to deepen our knowledge of involuntary displacement, but also raises the question: should international protections extend to environmental and economic 'refugees'? In order to explore this question in a hands-on, real-world context, I am planning a 10-day service project in early December. Students will travel as a group to El Paso, Texas, where they will partner with members of the Loretto Community, a religious order dedicated to social justice. The Loretto community has a long history of human rights advocacy in Latin America and currently works on the U.S.-Mexico border assisting individuals and families denied access to the United States. The purpose of this trip is to raise awareness about the intersection of immigration/migration and human rights in our own 'backyard' and to be in solidarity with those promoting greater humanitarianism.
Further details about this trip (sample itinerary, travel/lodging information, prospective cost, financial assistance) will be available in early fall.
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Course Grade |
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| preparation & participation |
20
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93 - 100 | A |
| in-class writing/quizzes | 5 | 90 - 92 | A - |
| reflection journal |
25
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87 - 89 | B + |
| research paper |
25
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84 - 86 | B |
| creative project | 25 | 77 - 79 | C + |
| Course Grade | 100 | 74 - 76 | C - |
| 60 - 69 | D |
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Academic Honesty |
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All students are held to the standards of academic honesty as described in the 2008-2009 catalogue (heading "Academic Procedures"; subheading "Student Requirements"), where academic misconduct is discussed. A breach of academic honesty will result in the unacceptability of the work under question and possible failure of the course. If you are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism, please come talk to me. Better safe than sorry!
Last modified: Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 08:29 AM