Desiree Segura-April, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Children at Risk
Summer 2006 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
The
girl-child around the world is often marginalized and put at risk due to her
status as both female and child. This course is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the problems
the girl-child may face as well as the potential she holds for being an active
member of her community and the church. It will introduce students to some of
the tools and perspectives needed to show her the wholistic love of Christ.
Course topics will include an overview of the major risk factors that affect
girl-children, developing a biblical theology of gender, theological
foundations necessary to work with girls long-term, and presentation of best
practices drawn from historical and contemporary mission projects with the
girl-child.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Develop awareness of the issues and problems facing
the girl-child globally
• Develop
a personal biblical theology of gender and reflect on the promise and potential
of the girl-child in the kingdom of God
• Acquire
the basic tools for understanding and applying biblical and theological
principles for mission with the girl-child
• Develop
awareness of a Christian response informed by an understanding of the problems
and exploration of the best practices of mission with the girl-child
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for a
one-week intensive. Students will learn via presentations, media clips, discussion
of reading materials, case study analysis, and small group exercises.
REQUIRED READING: 1500 pages from the required texts and the
reserve shelf reading as identified in syllabus. If you have previously read any of the
required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading
list or a book approved by the instructor.
Carmichael, Amy. Gold Cord: The Story of a
Fellowship. Ft. Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1957.
Kilbourn, Phyllis, ed. Shaping the Future: Girls and Our Destiny.
[Working Title]. Forthcoming: MARC, no date.
Kurz, Kathleen M., and Cynthia J. Prather. Improving the Quality of Life of
Girls. New York: UNICEF, 1995.
Rivers, Francine. Lineage of Grace Series
(Unveiled, 2000;
Unashamed, 2000; Unshaken, 2001; Unspoken, 2001; Unafraid, 2001). Wheaton,
IL: Tyndale House.
Sohoni, Neera K. The Burden of Girlhood: A Global Inquiry into the Status of
Girls. Oakland, CA: Third Party Publishing Company, 1995.
World Vision, ed. The Girl Child: Enhancing Life Sustaining Hope 1998
Washington Forum. Federal Way, WA: The Institute for Global Engagement,
World Vision, Inc., 1998.
World Vision Canada. Girls! Stories Worth Telling: Report and Conference
Manual. Toronto, Canada: World Vision Canada, 1998.
Course Reader
Students
will choose one of the following:
Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a Geisha. New York: Vintage Books,
1997.
Rivers, Francine. Redeeming Love. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1997.
Tepper, Sheri S. The Gate to Women's Country. New York: Foundation
Books, 1988.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Devasia, Leelamma, and V. V. Devasia, eds. Girl Child in India.
Springfield, VA: Nataraj Books, 1992.
Guider, Margaret E. Daughters of Rahab. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press,
1995.
Haag, Pamela. Voices of a Generation: Teenage Girls Report About Their Lives
Today. New York: Marlowe & Company, 2000.
Inness, Sherrie, ed. Millennium Girls: Today's Girls around the World.
Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1998.
Kapur, Promilla. Girl Child and Family Violence. Chirag Delhi, New
Delhi: Har-Anand Publications, 1993.
Phillips, Lynn. The Girls Report: What We Know & Need to Know About
Growing Up Female. New York: The National Council for Research on Women,
1998.
Scrimger, Nicki, ed. The Girl Child: An Investment in the Future.
Toronto, Canada: UNICEF Ontario, 1994.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Four 4MAT
reflection papers (1,000 words each) from required texts and reserve shelf
reading.
2. A theological reflection paper (1,250 words).
3. A final research/integration paper researching one aspect of the problems
and potential of the girl-child, integrating course learnings, and giving
implications for mission (2,500-3,500 words).
For ThM
Students:
• An overall greater analytical depth will be expected
on all writing assignments.
• Read an
additional 250 pages and submit one additional 4MAT reflection paper (1,000
words)
• An extended
annotated bibliography with the final research/integration paper
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATION TO CURRICULUM: Elective in SIS.
FINAL EXAM: None.