MD551/651: The Girl Child: The Problem and Potential (4 units)

Desiree Segura-April, Assistant Professor of Children at Risk
Winter 2008 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 and missiological 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:

1.  Develop awareness of the issues and problems facing the girl-child globally
2.  Develop a personal biblical theology of gender and reflect on the promise and potential of the girl-child in the kingdom of God
3.  Acquire the basic tools for understanding and applying biblical and theological principles for mission with the girl-child
4.  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 weekly for three hours throughout the quarter. 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 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.

1.  Course Reader
2.  Carmichael, Amy. Gold Cord: The Story of a Fellowship. Ft. Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1957.
3.  Kilbourn, Phyllis, ed. Shaping the Future: Girls and Our Destiny. [Working Title]. Forthcoming.
4.  Rivers, Francine. A Lineage of Grace. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999.
4.  Sohoni, Neera K. The Burden of Girlhood: A Global Inquiry into the Status of Girls. Oakland, CA: Third Party                Publishing Company, 1995.
5.  Van Leeuwen, Mary Stewart. After Eden: Facing the Challenge of Gender Reconciliation. Grand Rapids, MI:                 W.B. Eerdmans, 1993.
6.  Students will choose one of the following:

Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a Geisha. New York: Vintage Books, 1997. 
McCormick, Patricia. Sold. New York: Hyperion, 2006.
McDonnell, Faith J.H. and Grace Akallo. Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children. Grand           Rapids, MI: Chosen Books, 2007.

 

RECOMMENDED READING: These and other readings will be on the reserve shelf.

1.  Guider, Margaret E. Daughters of Rahab. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1995.
2.  Haag, Pamela. Voices of a Generation: Teenage Girls Report About Their Lives Today. New York: Marlowe &                Company, 2000. 
3.  Inness, Sherrie, ed. Millennium Girls: Today's Girls around the World. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1998.
4.  Kapur, Promilla. Girl Child and Family Violence. Chirag Delhi, New Delhi: Har-Anand Publications, 1993.
5.  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.
6.  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 small-group collaborative Bible study, to be presented in class.

        3.  A theological reflection paper (1,250 words).
4.  A reading log.

        5.  A final research paper/project including annotated works cited 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:

        1.  An overall greater analytical depth will be expected on all writing assignments.         
2.  Read an additional 250 pages and submit one additional 4MAT reflection paper (1,000 words)
3. An extended annotated bibliography with the final research/integration paper

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

 

RELATION TO CURRICULUM: Elective in SIS.

 

FINAL EXAM: None.

 

Note:  This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification.                              Last Date Edited: 10 October 2007