Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) 423

Overview

This course looks at motherhood and mothering within the context of Western society. As you study the materials in this course, you will be encouraged to distinguish between mothering as a construct that informs personal identity and motherhood as a role determined and shaped by gendered, social, economic, and cultural structures. You will have the opportunity to explore how changes in expectations have affected mothers’ roles and mothering practices. You will look at the roles that theory and popular culture have played in shaping contemporary mothering practice; issues affecting women’s choices to combine professional careers with mothering; public policy that works to either constrain or reinforce the practice of mothering; the impact of poverty and mental well-being on motherhood; and how others outside of the boundaries defining the “good mother” experience motherhood. All the topics discussed in this course offer insights encouraging a critical awareness of factors affecting the lives of contemporary women who are also mothers.

Outline

• Unit 1: The Study of Motherhood
• Unit 2: Reflections on Motherhood—Theory and Popular Culture
• Unit 3: Paid Employment and the Practice of Motherhood
• Unit 4: Enabling Policies—In Theory and in Practice
• Unit 5: Mothering and Poverty
• Unit 6: Mothers, Mothering, and Mental Health
• Unit 7: “Other” Mothers, “Other” Mothering
• Unit 8: The Future of Motherhood

Evaluation

To receive credit for WGST 423, you must complete all five assessment activities and achieve a minimum grade of 50 percent on the final exam as well as an overall grade of D (50 percent) or better for the entire course.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Resources

All other materials are available online.

Challenge for Credit Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the WGST 423 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) or greater on the research essay to be eligible to write the challenge examination. A cumulative average of 50 percent on both activities is required. Credit is awarded on a pass/fail basis only.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form