Overview
The purpose of this
course is to introduce students to interdisciplinary feminist
scholarship, which seeks to understand the creation and
perpetuation of gender inequalities. After tracing the
historical emergence of feminist critiques, the course
surveys contemporary feminist issues, particularly work
and family, health and sexuality, creativity and politics.
Each section draws on historical analysis and pays close
attention to the variety of women's experiences. Along
with the focus on the U. S., the course incorporates international
perspectives on women and feminism.
1/9 INTRODUCTION:
WHAT IS FEMINIST STUDIES?
Part I. BEFORE FEMINISM
1/10 ORIGINS STORIES: NATURE AND CULTURE
1/15 Holiday- no class (view film outside class)
1/16 GENDER AND POWER CROSS-CULTURALLY, I
1/17 GENDER AND POWER CROSS-CULTURALLY, II
(weekly sections begin)
Part II. THE EMERGENCE OF FEMINIST
THEORY AND PRACTICE
1/22 ORIGINS OF EUROPEAN FEMINISMS: LIBERAL, SOCIALIST,
MATERNALIST/RADICAL
1/23 Small group meetings begin and meet weekly
1/24 RACE, GENDER, AND IDENTITY IN "FIRST AND SECOND
WAVE" U.S. FEMINISMS
1/29 THE POLITICS OF LOCATION AND TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISMS
1/30 films or small groups
1/31 RESISTANCE, ALLIANCES, AND COALITIONS
Part III. CONTEMPORARY FEMINIST
ISSUES I: WORK AND FAMILY
2/5 THE FAMILY ECONOMY AND TRADITIONAL WOMEN'S WORK
(1st paper due)
2/6 films or small groups
2/7 INDUSTRIALIZATION AND THE TRANSITION TO WAGE LABOR
2/12 SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES
2/13 films or small groups
Part IV. CONTEMPORARY FEMINIST
ISSUES II: SEXUALITY AND HEALTH
2/14 WHOSE BODY? HEALTH, FOOD, AND BEAUTY
2/19 holiday - no class (view films outside class)
2/20 REPRODUCTION (reschedule any Tuesday small groups)
2/21 SEXUALITIES
2/26 SEX AND VIOLENCE I: RAPE AND HARASSMENT
2/27 Films or small groups
2/28 SEX AND VIOLENCE II: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD
ABUSE
Part V. FEMINIST STRATEGIES
AND UTOPIAN VISIONS
3/5 MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: WAR, PEACE, SPIRITUALITY
(2nd paper due)
3/6 films or small groups
3/7 LANGUAGE
3/12 CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION
3/13 films or small groups
3/14 POLITICS, EDUCATION, AND COURSE SUMMARY (small
group paper due)
3/22 final due
| Wk |
JANUARY |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
| 1 |
1/8 |
|
Day
1: Intro |
Origin
Stories |
| 2 |
1/15 |
*holiday* |
Gender
& Power-----> |
-->Cross-Culturally |
| 3 |
1/22 |
Origins
of European Feminisms |
First
small groups |
Race,
Gender, Identity |
| 4 |
1/29 |
Politics
of Location |
Small
groups/film |
Resistance
& Coalition |
| |
FEBRUARY |
|
|
|
| 5 |
2/5 |
Family Economy
Paper 1 due
|
Mid-course
evaluations / Sm.group/film |
Industrial'zn & Wage
Labor
|
| 6 |
2/12 |
Social
Welfare Policy |
Small
group/film |
Body:
Food, Health, Beauty |
| 7 |
2/19 |
*holiday* |
Reproduction |
Sexualities |
| 8 |
2/26 |
Sex & Viol I: Rape &
Harassmt
|
Small
group/film |
Domestic violence & child
abuse
|
| |
MARCH |
|
|
|
| 9 |
3/5 |
Social change: War, Peace,
Spirit
Paper 2 due
|
Small
group/film |
Language |
| 10 |
3/12 |
Creativity
& Imagination |
Small
group/film |
Politics,
Education & Summary |
Finals due
Noon 3/22 @ History Dept.
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