Philosophical Theories of Feminism

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course acquaints students with the key debates and philosophical theories in feminism. Topics covered will include the nature of oppression, the difference between sex and gender as well as examine traditional conceptions of rationality, knowledge, and scientific objectivity through a feminist lens. Furthermore, we will discuss feminist ethics and feminist liberation theory.This course will explore the work of Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, bell hooks, Marilyn Frye, Sandra Harding and many others.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the semester, students should be able to demonstrate the following:
1) A critical perspective on key concepts and fundamental issues in femist theory.
2) An understanding of arguments surrounding feminist ethics, epistemology, philosophy of science and differences between sex and gender.

 

WOST PROGRAM GOALS

• To analyze academic disciplines from a feminist and anti-racist perspective
• To encourage original scholarship and research about women that takes into consideration, gender, race, class, age and sexual orientation
• To integrate self-exploration with academic skills
• To provide a non-authoritative learning environment which values students’ ideas and encourages an open exchange of information and opinion
• To promote an individual and critical approach to learning
• To promote knowledge of the diversity of women’s experiences

REQUIRED READINGS

Cudd, Ann E. and Robin O. Andreasen, eds. 2005. Feminist Theory: A Philosophical Anthology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN-10: 1405116617
ISBN-13: 978-1405116619

ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment details and rubrics are posted in the appropriate folder on the Blackboard website. Your grade for the course will be based on the following assignments:

.
GRADING

4 Discussion Papers: - 40% (4 discussion papers, each one is worth 10% of your grade), 40 points each for a possible total of 160 points.

1 presentation of a topic - 10% , 40 possible points for this presentation.

2 take home essays - 50%. 100 possible points per essay for a possible total of 200 points.

400 points total possible for this course.

Course grades will be determined using the following scale:

Grade Point Percentage

4.0 90.0%-100%
3.5 85.0%-89.9%
3.0 80.0%-84.9%
2.5 75.0%-79.9%
2.0 70.0%-74.9%
1.5 65.0%-69.9%
1.0 60.0%-64.9%
0.0 Below 60.0%

 

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENTS:

Discussion Guidelines

Please turn in the discussion assignment by the due date. I will take off 10% for late papers. Please refer further down in the syllabus to see what weeks these are due.

What do you think was the most interesting or important unanswered question in the readings we have done this week? Why? Please answer these questions in a paragraph or two. The paper should be no longer than one double spaced page. Please submit it through Blackboard by the due date.

Presentation Guidelines

The presentation should focus on an important idea or argument in the required readings for one of the topics covered in Weeks 2 through 15. The purpose of your commentary should be to draw our attention to some important point in the reading and to promote a classroom discussion.
o The oral presentation should be approximately 15-20 minutes.
o The presenter will be asked to answer questions for an additional 5 minutes.

Take Home Essay Guidelines

I will give you a choice of topics one week before the take home exam due date. Your paper should be 1500-2000 words. I will not accept late papers without a written excuse. I will post a grading rubric on Blackboard.

COURSE POLICIES

Format of written work: You should adhere to a publication manual for citation of sources in your written work. You may already be familiar with a certain style of citation, in which case you may use the style with which you are most familiar. If you are unsure about what style of citation you want to use, please see me.

Submission of assignments: ALL assignments must be turned in electronically via Blackboard by midnight of the due date. Students are responsible for ensuring files are uploaded properly and in a timely fashion to the classroom website. Assignments emailed to me directly will not be graded. All documents MUST be saved in MS Office using the following name convention:

Lastname_Firstname_documenttitle
Example: Caseldine_Bracht_Jennifer_essay1

Due dates: Assignments are due by midnight on the date listed.

DISABILITY STATEMENT

If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. Contact the Director of Services for Students with Disabilities (Walb, room 113, telephone number 481-6658), as soon as possible to work out the details. Once the Director has provided you with a letter attesting to your needs for modification, bring the letter to me. For more information, please visit the web site for SSD at www.ipfw.edu/ssd.

READINGS:

All assigned readings should be read prior to coming to class.

Correspondence: Please email me only through blackboard. I will usually reply within 48 hours. If I do not, then it means I probably did not receive your e-mail. Please check with me if you do not receive a response within 48 hours.

WORKING SCHEDULE OF TOPICS, READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS. SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Week 1. What is feminism? January 9th-11th

Readings:

-- Introduction

--Mary Wollstonecraft, “Of the Pernicious Effects which Arise from the Unnatural Distinctions Established in Society”

--John Stuart Mill, The Subjection of Women

--Simone de Beauvior, “Introduction from The Second Sex

 

Week 2. What is feminism? January 16th is a holiday. We will only have class on January 18th this week.

--Kate Millett, “Theory of Sexual Politics”

--bell hooks, “Black Women: Shaping Feminist Theory”

Week 3. What is sexism? January 23rd-25th

--Introduction

--Ann E. Cudd and Leslie E. Jones, “Sexism”

--Marilyn Frye, “Oppression” Discussion 1 is due on January 25th.

Week 4. What is sexism? January 30th-February 1st

--Iris Marion Young, “Five Faces of Oppression”

--Sandra Bartky, “On Psychological Oppression”

Week 5. What is gender? February 6th - 8th

--Introduction

--Elizabeth A. Lloyd, “Pre-theoretical Assumptions in Evolutionary Explanations of Female Sexuality”

--Louise M. Antony, “Natures and Norms”

Week 6. What is gender? February 13th-15th

--Judith Butler, “Subjects of Sex/Gender/Desire”

--Sally Haslanger, “Gender and Race: (What) Are They? (What) Do We Want?” Please do not forget the first exam is due next Wednesday.

 

Week 7. Is knowledge gendered? February 20th-23rd

--Introduction

--Genevieve Lloyd, “The Man of Reason”

--Elizabeth Anderson, “Feminist Epistemology: An Interpretation and a Defense” 1st take home exam is due on February 23rd.

Week 8: Is knowledge gendered? February 27th-29th

--Helen E. Longino, “Can there be a Feminist Science?

--Sandra Harding, “Rethinking Standpoint Epistemology: What is ‘Strong Objectivity’?” Discussion 2 is due February 29th.

 

Spring Break - March 5th-11th

Week 9: Is Value Gendered? March 12th-14th

--Introduction

--Annette C. Baier, “The Need for More than Justice”

--Joan Tronto, “An Ethic of Care”

Week 10: Is Value Gendered? March 19th-21st

--Eva Feder Kittay, “Vulnerability and the Moral Nature of Dependency Relations”

--Jean Hampton, “Feminist Contractarianism”

Week 11: Is Value Gendered? March 26th-28th

--Martha Nussbaum, “Women and Cultural Universals”

--Schwartzman's Critique of Nussbaum (I will post this on Blackboard) Discussion 3 is due on March 28th.

 

Week 12: What is a Self? April 2nd-April 4th

--Introduction

--Jean Grimshaw, “Autonomy and Identity in Feminist Thinking”

--Marilyn Friedman, “Autonomy, Social Disruption, and Women”

Week 13: What is a Self? April 9th-11th

--Anita L. Allen, “Forgetting Yourself”

--Susan Brison, “Outliving Oneself”

Week 14: What Would Liberation Be? April 16th-18th

--Introduction

--Simone de Beauvoir, “Conclusion from The Second Sex”

--Catherine A. MacKinnon, “Difference and Dominance: On Sex Discrimination” Discussion 4 is due.

Week 15: What Would Liberation Be? April 23rd-25th.

--Susan Moller Okin, “Toward a Humanist Justice”

--Drucilla Cornell, “Feminism, Utopianism, and the Role of the Ideal in Political Philosophy” Please do not forget the final take home exam is due next week.

 

Week 16: April 30th

--Final take home exam is due on April 30th.