Time Schedule:
Rachel R Chapman
ANTH 469
Seattle Campus
Delineation and analysis of a specific problem or related problems in anthropology. Offered occasionally by visitors or resident faculty.
Class description
Africa Living with HIV/AIDS: Focusing Out on the Issues
Any understanding HIV/AIDS in Africa must be grounded in an understanding of Africa itself, and Africa’s place in global histories and hierarchies. This course examines the epidemiological, historical, political-economic and social dimensions of HIV/AIDS in Africa as well as current challenges and debates in international AIDS policy and programming. We will engage a range of approaches and analytical models to help grasp the “complex and myriad effects, responses, conditions and debates (Parikh 2001) surrounding the African HIV/AIDS pandemic. Through lecture and discussion, class sessions will help you focus your potential as an advocate for policy change and program development. Other topics include the roots of African cultures and economies; structural adjustment policies and their impact on health systems in Africa; social science AIDS research approaches; gender relations and prevention strategies; voluntary counseling and testing; community responses to AIDS policy and programs; global advocacy and antiretroviral treatment; and African experiences with and leadership in prevention, care and anti-retroviral treatment of HIV/AIDS.
The course begins with a focus on the individual level of the issues and challenges created by HIV/AIDS, and then moves through family, community, national, trans-African, and, finally, international and diaspora-level features of the current crisis. This telescoping strategy to build awareness and critical perspectives will give you the opportunity not only to analyze the multi-level and inter-related nature of the pandemic, but also to identify the level at which you think change and innovation are most needed and how you can contribute.
‘Poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right; the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no freedom.’ Nelson Mandela. Speech at launch of Make Poverty History campaign, Trafalgar Square, London, 3 February 2005 Course Objectives 1. Exposing participants to African perspectives and expertise on the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
2. Building participants’ historical awareness of the current AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa
3. Helping participants develop analytical tools to understand, evaluate and elaborate hands- on responses to the AIDS pandemic from across multi-disciplinary academic and professional backgrounds.
4. Encouraging participants to think critically and work locally on the global project of addressing the AIDS pandemic through participation in service learning with a Seattle-based organization that delivers services to African immigrants and their families.
Student learning goals
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic geographic features and political map of the African continent.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the multiple-level causes of the AIDS pandemic in Sub- Saharan Africa.
3. Apply analytical tools developed in the course to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an action strategy or research program aimed at addressing AIDS in Africa and make recommendations for future action or future research.
4. Identify through a short written proposal format at least one application of the expertise in their chosen field of study to address the root causes of or ameliorate the consequences of the AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, prevent or treat HIV/AIDS.
General method of instruction
Lecture Professor facilitated discussion Large and small group in-class discussion In-class individual and group exercises Close readings of film and other expressive arts Spontaneous in-class thought-piece writing
Recommended preparation
African History Contemporary topics in African Society any intro to anthropology course openness to participate in all experiences as fully as possible
Class assignments and grading
1. Participation: This course is a reading, writing and responding intensive! Students must complete required readings in preparation for class discussion periods. Class attendance is required, and active class participation during discussions is essential.
2. Reading Summaries and Questions: Each week one brief written response to the week’s readings is required. You do not need to spend more than 20 minutes total on each week’s summary. Each summary should be between 250 and 500 words. The goal of the summaries is to ensure that students complete the readings before class, so they should be turned in at the beginning of class each Friday. The work will be evaluated as either 0 = not acceptable, or 1=acceptable. All assignments must be typed and you are responsible for maintaining your own copies of assignments. No late submissions will be accepted and no e-mail submissions will be counted. The reading summary guidelines are on page 6 and will be discussed further in class. [Service learning students will relate readings to their project experiences. Further guidelines will be distributed by the professors.]
3. Mid-term and Final: A one-hour short answer/essay midterm and final exam will be given in week 6 and will cover lectures and readings up to that week and week 11 and be cumulative.
4. HIV/AIDS and Africa Research Paper: Each student will choose a problem or question relating to AIDS and Africa and write a 5-page paper on the issue chosen. As part of the research, students must include: 1) Review of the problem. 2) Identify and describe a project, program and/or organization that has been developed to address the problem (from AIDS orphans to maternal resistance to AIDS treatment after. Nevirapine, poverty eradication, churches and AIDS, GLBT activism, to abstinence only policies, etc.). 3) Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the project or program based on class paradigms. 4) Brief proposal for future action strategy or research in this area. A guide for this assignment will be provided by the professors. [Service learning students will use this paper to describe their service learning experience. Further guidelines will be distributed by the professors.]
Reading summaries 40% Mid-term exam 15% Final exam 15% Research Paper 30% TOTAL 100% = 4.0
