Labor and Employment Relations (LER)136: Race, Gender and Employment
In 1964, the United States implemented Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which made it illegal to practice employment discrimination against someone because of race, sex, religion, or national origin. This was a landmark accomplishment in a time of social upheaval and the quest for civil rights. But did you know that today white women and African American men make approximately 75 percent of white men's earnings? Despite all of society's efforts and more than thirty years under civil rights legislation, gender and racial inequalities in the work place persist. Why do they persist? What can or should be done about them?
What will I learn in this course?
This is a 3-credit course that will focus on providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the "how" and "why" of employment inequities in order to better assess potential solutions. The content of this course touches on theories of employment, stratification, empirical studies of inequality, labor legislation, worker organizations, and current events to begin to develop a picture of work inequality as it exists today and where it may be going in the future. By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- explain how inequality arises in society generally;
- use a working vocabulary for the social study of employment inequality;
- describe the varieties of employment inequality;
- assess the extent of employment inequality by race and gender;
- assess the relative strength of competing theories about employment inequality;
- identify and discuss race and gender inequality in a variety of occupations and employment settings;
- describe and assess avenues for changing employment inequalities.
This course meets the General Education United States Cultures (US) requirements and the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. It is cross-listed with Women's Studies (WMNST). See your adviser if you have questions about how this course can be used in your program of study.
Are there any prerequisites for this course?
No specific classes are required before taking LER 136.
I've never taken an online course before. What is it like?
This course is taught completely online. We'll use Penn State's course management system, ANGEL, for LER 136, and you will be able to communicate with the professor and your classmates through chat, e-mail, and threaded discussions within ANGEL.
You do not need to come to campus at any time, and you do not need a proctor or remote testing site.
However, an online course is not easier than on-campus course. In fact, it takes a lot more self-discipline. You must be willing and able to commit the same amount of time as you would for attending class and studying for a traditional course. You must also be a motivated, organized student who feels confident about reading to learn and who is comfortable working independently. If you're wondering whether an online course is right for you, take this short survey to find out more about how online learning is different.
What are the technological requirements for this course?
To complete this course, you must have the following equipment or capabilities:
- have access to a computer that meets the ANGEL technological requirements.
- be comfortable with navigating the Internet
How is the course structured?
LIR 136 has 11 lessons. Each week, you will participate in a small group activity, complete an individual activity, and participate in an online discussion. As a final project, you'll be participating with your group in an online debate on a topic of interest to you. There will be time set aside during the course for groups to prepare their debate materials.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about LIR 136 Online, see a recent course syllabus. To register, visit the Office of the University Registrar. At the beginning of each semester, all enrolled students should access LIR 136 at the site of Penn State's course management system, ANGEL.
National Archives
Of all the images of working women during World War II, the image of women in factories predominates. Rosie the Riveter—the strong, competent woman dressed in overalls and bandanna—was introduced as a symbol of patriotic womanhood. The accoutrements of war work—uniforms, tools, and lunch pails—were incorporated into the revised image of the feminine ideal.
Produced by Westinghouse for the War Production Co-ordinating Committee NARA Still Picture Branch (NWDNS-179-WP-1563)
The Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor seeks to "promote profitable employment opportunities for women, to empower them by enhancing their skills and improving their working conditions, and to provide employers with more alternatives to meet their labor needs."
Equal pay has been the law since 1963. But today, forty years later, women are still paid less than men—even when we have similar education, skills and experience. See the Equal Pay Calculator at the AFL-CIO web site to find out how much the pay gap between men and women may cost you over a lifetime of work.