Class, Race, and Gender
in the U.S. Economy
Econ250/ES250


PHIL MARTINEZ, Instructor
Phone: 463-5158     Office: CEN 419C
Office Hours: MWF 10-11:30, TTh 11:30-12:30 or by appointment

   e-mail: martinezp@lanecc.edu

Web page: http://teach.lanecc.edu/martinezp/EconHome.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION:     This course introduces students to the measurement, analysis, and economic consequences of social stratification within the market, based upon class, race, ethnicity, and gender differences. There is no pre-requisite for the course. This class is part of a “learning community” of courses organized around the theme “Fat Cats and Underdogs: Work, Class, and the American Dream”.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  Upon the successful completion of the course students should be able to:
REQUIREMENTS:    Attendance is critical. Economics is a difficult class to learn purely by reading the text. Regular attendance will be necessary to receive assignments on a timely basis. Students who miss classes tend to produce significantly lower scores. Examinations must be taken at the scheduled time.  Make-up exams will only be given under exceptional circumstances, and you must notify me before you miss the exam.

GRADING:    Grades are earned within  the following scale.
            A-, A, A+    90% and above                   B-, B, B+    80-89%                   
            C-, C, C+    70-79%
  D    60-69%
  F    59% and below


All other grade options (Pass/No Pass, Incomplete, Audit, Drop) are the responsibility of the student.  Students wishing to drop the course must call Class Line. The last day to drop classes is the Friday of the 8th week of classes!

DISABILITY SERVICES: If you need academic support or services due to a documented disability you may be eligible for academic assistance through Disability Services. Contact Disability Services in the STUDENT SERVICES Building,, Bldg. #1, or call 463-5150 or TTY 463-3079.

REQUIRED READING
    Texts:    Race, Class, and Gender in the United States, 5th Edition, Paula S. Rothberg.
                    A Different Mirror, Ronald Takaki


COURSE OUTLINE

I.    Introduction
    1)  Purpose of Course: Honorable Discussion                                           
    2)  Statement of the Problem
    3)  Conceptual Framework: The Economics of Stratification                
    4)  Structural vs. Individual Explanations
    5)  Labor Economics: Basics of Supply & Demand in the Labor Market    
    
II.    Class
    1)    Experience of Class                                                
    2)    Statistical Disparities        
    3)    What is “class”?
    4)    Different Images of Class                                                
                                            
III.     Race
    1)    Experience of racial discrimination                                               
    2)    Statistical Disparities & Economic Evidence of Racial Discrimination
    3)    Models of Racial Discrimination                                                                                                                    
IV.    Ethnicity                             
    1)    Experience of ethnic identity and economic discrimination: What is “race”?
    2)     What is “whiteness”?
    3)    Statistical Disparities
    
V.    Gender
    1)     Women’s working experience:                                
    2)    Statistical Disparities & Economic Evidence of Gender Discrimination:        
    3)     Models of Human Capital, Occupational & Earnings Differences

VI.    The Over-Determination of Stratification: U.S. Immigration Policy
          (Time Permitting)
    1)    Class Criteria for Immigration            3)    Ethnic Criteria for Immigration
    2)    Race Criteria for Immigration            4)    Gender Criteria for Immigration

VII.  Remedies
    1)     Minimum Wage, Taxation, “Welfare” & “Wealth-fare”
    2)    Affirmative Action
    3)    Diversity, Assimilation & Integration
*This syllabus may change at the discretion of the instructor.