Thinking, Writing, and Speaking Feminism (FGSS Gateway Course)
FGSS 238
Fall 2009
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
AFAM 238 |
This course offers feminist theory from a broad variety of disciplines, prominently including the approaches to women's roles and lives and feminist politics in anthropology and sociology, psychoanalysis, economics, women, gender, and sexuality studies, feminist literary criticism, and philosophy. We will examine inequality from a broad range of perspectives and focus on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. The course also analyzes issues of social relations, women's rights, and empowerment. Themes explored in the course include aesthetics, the media, discrimination, stereotyping, objectification, oppression, patriarchy, and misogyny. We will take up the interconnectedness of race, class, gender, and sexuality and the ways in which feminism is represented and understood in women's everyday lives. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Speaking, Writing
Writing: Some of the class time is devoted to teaching writing concerns such as developing a thesis, structuring an argument, or using quotations effectively, which is particularly helpful for first and second year studnets. I require drafts of papers, which not only offers an opportunity to intervene in student writing, but also enables them to see critical thinking and writing as a process of engagement and re-engagement.
Speaking: Students have opportunities to sharpen their analytical and speaking skills everyday as they process the theories on offer in the course during weekly discussions of theory and practice. Their analytical, speaking, and presentation skills will be developed and exercised more intensely as they prepare presentations for the class based on the materials on offer in the course.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS FGSS |
| Course Format: Lecture | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (FGSS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Required Texts:
A Concise Glossary of Feminist Theory
From INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES:
1) Rupp, Leila J., THE INTERNATIONAL FIRST WAVE, pp. 248-252
2) Eastman, Crystal, A PROGRAM FOR VOTING WOMEN, pp. 253-254
3) Irigaray, Luce, THIS SEX WHICH IS NOT ONE, Ithaca and New York: Cornell University Press, 1985
Butler, Judith, GENDER TROUBLE: FEMINISM AND THE SUBVERSION OF IDENTITY, New York and London: Routlede, 1999
Guy-Sheftall, Beverly, ed., WORDS OF FIRE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMINIST THOUGHT, New York: The New Press, 1995
Lorde, Audre. SISTER OUTSIDER, ESSAYS AND SPEECHES, FREEDOM, CALIFORNIA: THE CROSSING PRESS FEMINIST SERIES, 1984
Smith, Barbara, HOME GIRLS: A BLACK FEMINIST ANTHOLOGY, New Brunswick, New Jersey, London: Rutgers University Press, 2000
Anzaldúa, Gloria, ed., MAKING FACE, MAKING SOUL HACIENDO CARAS: CREATIVE AND CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES BY FEMINISTS OF COLOR, San Francisco: Aunt Lute Books, 1990
Hooks, Bell. TALKING BACK: THINKING FEMINIST, THINKING BLACK. Boston, Massachusetts: South End Press, c1989
Trinh, Minh-ha. WOMAN, NATIVE, OTHER WRITING POSTCOLONIALITY AND FEMINISM. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1989
Hammad, Suheir. FIRST WRITING SINCE. Susan Hawthorne, Bronwyn Winter, eds. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES. North Melbourne, Vic., Australia: Spinifex, 2002
Required Films in Class:
MY FEMINISM, Colbert, Laurie, Producer, Hector, Nick Hector, editor, directors, Cardone, Dominique and Colbert, Laurie, Bell Hooks, Gloria Steinem, Urvashi Vaid, New York: Women Makes Movies, 1997
THE COLOR PURPLE, a film based on the novel by Alice Walker
Chin, Staceyann, poems and writing
Note: Guest Visit (TBD) and discussion of Theory and Practice.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Grading:
Participation (50%)
Final Paper (50%)
Participation:
Credit for participation is based on class attendance and contributions to class discussions, as well as in-class presentations on selected readings. We will assign in-class presentation during the first class.
Final Paper:
The purpose of the paper is to help students delve more deeply into a topic or aspect of a topic that they find particularly interesting in the context of the class. Students will consult with the professor to make sure a topic is appropriate for the final paper. The paper must incorporate readings, films, and theories on offer in the course, as well as outside materials addressing key issues related to postcoloniality, feminist theory, representations of gender, sexuality, and the politics of difference. The paper should be properly referenced. Students are encouraged to make use of the professor's office hours to get guidance on the 10-15 page, 12-font- 1-inch margins, double-spaced term paper. |
| Instructor(s): Lewis,Libby Ilene Times: ..T.R.. 10:30AM-11:50AM; Location: FISK116; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 35 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 9 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 17 | FR: 18 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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