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Lecturer(s)
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Vendra Maria Cristina Clorinda, Mgr. PhD.
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Course content
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Part 1 (Week 1 - Week 5) A Feminist Alternative 1. Introduction: Why Feminism and Gender Studies? 2. Criticizing Androcentric views: four examples 3. Stereotypes and Social Images 4. Interests and Domination 5. Androcentric Omissions Part 2 (Week 6 - Week 9) Key Concepts in Feminist Theory 6. Sex and Gender 7. Sexuality and Sexual Difference 8. Essentialism 9. Birth Part 3 (Week 11 - Week 14) Feminist Readings 10. Gender Constitution: Judith Butler 11. Sexual Difference: Seyla Benhabib 12. Birth Control: Angela Davis 13. Feminist Imagination: Nancy Fraser 14. Review and Conclusion
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
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Learning outcomes
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Should we completely reject philosophies and views of the past? Or should we accept past theories and apply gender-related criteria to them? How should sex and gender be understood? What are sexual acts? Why sexuality is linked to power relations? Through the consideration of these and other related questions, the course aims at introducing students to core issues in feminism and gender relations. It will provide them the tools to critically understand the major topics and debates in feminist philosophy and gender theory, e.g., sexism and misogyny, the nature of sex, race, sexual orientation, sexual agency, and the moral status of abortion. The course will offer an introduction to feminist and gender theories and principle explaining how these are relevant for social justice in the current context. It will draw on a range of selected texts from feminist figures such as Angela Davis, Nancy Fraser, Judith Butler, and Seyla Benhabib. Students are expected to critically engage with all the readings assigned and contribute to class discussions.
The course will be divided into three parts. (1) The first part will consider the development of feminist theory as a process of critique of androcentric biases in the crucial assumptions, methods, and norms of traditional philosophy. (2) The second part will discuss the key notions of feminist philosophy and gender theory: sex, gender, sexuality, sexual difference, essentialism, and birth. (3) The third part of the course will be dedicated to the reading and discussion of selected writings of feminist philosophers: (a) Judith Butler, Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory (1988), (b) Seyla Benhabib, Sexual Difference and Collective Identities: The New Global Constellation (1999); (c) Angela Davis, Racism, Birth Control and Reproductive Rights (2003), (d) Nancy Fraser, Mapping the Feminist Imagination: From Redistribution to Recognition to Representation (2005).
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Prerequisites
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None
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
Evaluations of students in this course will be based on: (1) participation, which includes active discussion in class, attendance (80%), class assignments. In case of absence, the student has to communicate it and to ask the professor for any assignments or key discussions concerning the missed lesson. (2) A final paper (2000-3000 words). Additional information will be provided at the beginning of the course.
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Recommended literature
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Alison Stone. Introduction to Feminist Philosophy. Cambridge: Polity Press. 2007.
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Angela Davis. Racism, Birth Control and Reproductive Rights. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 2003.
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Iddo Landau. Is Philosophy Androcentric?. University Parm: The Pennsylvania State University Press. 2006.
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Judith Butler. Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory. Theatre Journal, 40, 4. 1988.
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Nancy Fraser. Mapping the Feminist Imagination: From Redistribution to Recognition to Representation. Constellations, 12, 3. 2005.
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Seyla Benhabib. Sexual Difference and Collective Identities: The New Global Constellation. Signs, 24, 2. 1999.
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