GNDR 290
Gender and Feminist Theory
Spring 2005

 

Professor: Valerie Lehr
Office: 84 Park Street, #203
Phone: 229-5677
email: vlehr@stlawu.edu
office hours: W 3:15 – 4:15 and by appointment.

Course description: This course examines theoretical explanations of gender, gender difference and gender inequality in society. The course includes introductions to some of the questions that shape contemporary feminist theory, feminist writings in multiple disciplines and feminist movements inside and outside the academy. Most centrally, we will explore how an awareness of intersections of race, class, sexuality, gender and ethnicity is vital for disciplinary and interdisciplinary study in feminist theory. Theoretical works are drawn from the humanities, arts and literature and the social sciences.

Studying theory requires that you pay close attention to both the arguments that an author makes and how that author makes the argument. As you read, you should ask yourself the following: What assumptions are the starting point for her/his argument? Does s/he justify these assumptions? What theoretical traditions share the assumptions made by the author? Does the author make assumptions that others working in roughly the same theoretical tradition would question? Does the author explicitly reject other theoretical perspectives? What implications might the author's arguments have for practical decision-making and policy making? Finally, as you respond to the author (whether in writing or in your mind), you should ask similar questions of yourself.

Required Texts:

Feminist Theory: A Reader, 2nd edition, edited by Wendy Kolmar and Frances Bartkowski, McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution, Adrienne Rich, WW Norton, 1986.

Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice, Jael Silliman, Marlene Gerber Fried, Loretta Ross, and Elena Gutierrez, South End Press, 2004.

In addition, each of you will read one additional single-authored feminist theory text. You will choose this text about 2/3 through the semester. As you read, keep track of authors whom you find particularly interesting and would like to explore in greater depth.

Course requirements:

1) Four 3-4 page analysis papers. We will use these papers in a variety of ways in order to begin class discussion. Your paper will focus on one or two selections for a particular class, though you should try to make connections between these readings and prior class discussions. Dates will be assigned during the first week of class. Each is worth 10% of your final grade.

2) Midterm Exam -- 20%

3) Exam #2 -- 20%

4) Paper on Reproductive Freedom -- 20%

Please note: When I calculate final grades, I will only round up grades within .1 of the next highest grade. I will only do this if you have missed no more than 2 classes. If you have missed more than 2 classes, I will deduct .2 for each additional absence. I will give you a couple of extra credit alternatives throughout the semester. You may do one extra credit assignment worth 5 points.

 

Reading Assignments:

1/20

1/25

1/27

2/1

2/3

2/8

2/10

2/15

2/17

2/22

2/24

3/1

3/3

3/8

3/10

3/22

3/24

3/29

3/31

4/5

4/7

4/12

4/14

4/19

4/21

4/26

4/28

 

Kolmar and Bartkowski, pp. 1-41.

Kolmar and Bartkowski, pp. 42-60.

Group 1: K & B, pp. 62-79 (Hadley, Diana, Erica); Group 2: K & B, pp.80-98. (Julia, Daisy, Betsy)
Group 1: K & B, pp. 100-114 (Kim C, Mayleigh, Sasha). ; Group 2: K&B, pp. 117-133. ( Jessica, Tahire)
K & B, pp. 136-156. (Kim H., )

K & B, pp. 157-187. (Rachel, )

K & B, pp. 196-221. (Daisy, Hadley)

K & B, pp. 222-242. (Kim C.)

K & B, pp. 243-288. (Kim H., Diana

K & B, pp. 289-321. (Julia, Rachel, Erica)

K & B, pp. 322-355. (Mayleigh, Tahire, Jessica)

K & B, pp. 356-379. (Sasha, Betsy)

Exam #1 (This will be an in-class exam).

K & B, essays 76, 78, 86, 87, 92, 93. (Diana, Kim C., Julia)

K & B, essays 77, 79, 80, 82, 90, 91, 94 (Daisy, Tahire)

K & B, essays 81, 83, 84, 85, 88, 89. (Mayleigh, Betsy, Jessica)

K & B, pp. 530-560. (Sasha, Rachel)

K & B, pp. 561-598. Exam #2 questions handed out. (This will be a take-home exam due on 4/5).
Rich, New introduction and pp. 11-20. (Hadley)

Rich, pp. 21-83. (Erica, Kim H.)

Rich, pp. 84-155. (Rachel, Tahire, Mayleigh)

Rich, pp. 156-217. (Hadley, Julia, Diana)

Rich, pp. 218-256. (Kim C., Jessica)

Silliman, Fried, Ross, and Gutierrez, pp. 1-86. (Kim H., Betsy, Sasha)

Silliman, Fried, Ross, and Gutierrez, pp. 87-156. (Erica, Daisy

Silliman, Fried, Ross, and Gutierrez, pp. 157-240.

Silliman, Fried, Ross, and Gutierrez, pp. 241-305.