Professor: Abusharaf Course format: Seminar Number of respondents: 14 Total Enrollment: 18 Class Composition: Froshs: 7 Sophs: 4 Jrs: 4 Srs: 3 Concs: ? Non-Concs: ? Don't Know: ?

Instructor Average: 1.77 Course Average: 1.71

“Displacements: Gendered Perspectives on Violence, Borders, and Refugees” focuses on the experience and struggles of women refugees from a variety of different countries. The course aims to examine the status of women in conditions of displacement from a global perspective. There are no prerequisites for this class, although any previous knowledge of gender studies, African history, or international relations would help in understanding various topics covered throughout the semester.

According to her students, Professor Abusharaf encouraged lots of discussion during class and always brought up interesting topics. The videos shown in class were well chosen, and reviewers loved the guest lecturers. Although Abusharaf was very knowledgeable, class was not always well organized, and most class members would have preferred a more directed and focused class time, where they could listen to her own insight on different issues. However, most reviewers indicate that she was extremely approachable, helpful, and always receptive to her students’ needs.

Survey participants maintain that all of the readings were useful and interesting in general. Although respondents enjoyed reading the personal accounts, they found that very few of the readings gave any overall perspectives about the issues involved. The workload for the course consisted of a weekly response journal, one presentation, and one final paper. Most students would have preferred more feedback on their work throughout the course of the semester.

Students spent between two to five hours per week on work for this course, which matched almost everyone’s expectations. Take this course if you are looking for a great class with “interesting and thought provoking” readings, and are willing to take the initiative to engage yourself in the material and participate during class discourse.

View AF/0105 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.