Dr. Valerie Lehr
84 Park St., Rm. 203
229-5677
vlehr@stlawu.edu
Office Hours: Monday, 2-3:30
Thursday, 2-3:00
During this semester, we will explore how and why feminism has developed in response to the gender formations that are present in society. Central to our investigation will be the following questions: Are there really two sexes or two genders? If not, why do we cling so tightly to the belief that there are? How are ideas about gender inscribed in the bodies of people? How are ideas about gender reflected in knowledge, even scientific knowledge? How do ideas about what gender is and how many genders there are influence political activism intended to challenge particular understandings of gender and society? Finally, how does feminism fit in a world where gender is conceived as multiple and complex?
Required Texts:
Anne Fausto-Sterling, Sexing the Body
Estelle Freedman, No Turning Back
Lois Weis and Michelle Fine, Construction Sites
In addition, there will be a few readings on reserve in ODY.
Course Requirements: I expect each of you to be an active participant in the
class. In order to play such a role, you need to be present. If you miss more
than 3 classes, your final grade will be lowered .25 for each additional absence.
If you miss more than 8 classes without a documented reason, you will automatically
receive a 0 in the course. If you must miss class for athletics, talk to me
during the first two weeks of the semester so that we may make reasonable modifications.
1. Question/Quote/Response Journal -- Reading: In order to facilitate your participation,
for most class sessions, you must write a question or identify a quote that
you find interesting. You should begin by identifying a quote that you find
particularly interesting in the reading for Monday, 9/2 and briefly writing
about why you find it interesting. You should always bring your journal to class;
I will periodically collect them. If you do not have it on two days that I ask
you to hand it in, you will receive a 0 for this portion of your grade. -- 20%
2. On the 6 days when you have group discussions, you must write a brief response,
indicating how you thought the discussion went, what you contributed, and what
questions remained for you when the discussion concluded. All discussions take
place on Friday, and responses must be submitted to me by email by Sunday at
6:00 p.m. so that I may plan for Monday's follow-up discussion. – 10%
3. Papers: One 5-6 page paper. You will have a choice of four topics, each of
which will also be a Friday discussion topic. Papers will be due in class one
week after the group discussion. They may not be turned in late under any circumstances.
– 15%
4. Project: You will work with one other person to explore a topic of interest
(but connected to gender studies). As a pair, you should post a 7-10 page essay
or a creative project on our blackboard page and run a 25 minute class discussion
of your topic. Project discussions will take place in the last 3 weeks of the
semester, but all essays or projects must be posted on Blackboard by Friday,
11/22. I’ll provide more information about what will be acceptable, but
I strongly encourage you to use your skills to create something that is both
engaging and informative. – 20%
5. Final exam: As we proceed through the semester, we will identify and discuss
critical terms. Your final exam will ask you to identify and discuss some of
these terms and to write an essay. – 25%
6. Outside events: You must attend two outside events and write responses to
them. These may be speakers, films, etc, but they must connect to our study
of gender. One of these must be completed and turned in by November 1st. The
second must be turned before the last class of the semester. However, all responses
are due within one week of the event. – 10%
7. Participation – I expect that each of you will listen well and participate
in class, following the ground rules that we establish during the first two
classes. You will have many opportunities for participation, from small group
discussions during class, to Friday discussion meetings, to large class discussions,
to co-facilitating a discussion. My hope is that we will all learn more about
how to talk with one another about complex, and often controversial topics.
I will not grade your participation, however, I will do the following:
1. Ask that your small group have a speech rhetoric mentor come to either your first or second meeting and provide feedback to you and to me about how the conversation went and what might have helped to make it better.
2. At midterm I will give you written comments about your class participation. If you want to, please come and talk with me about my perceptions.
Reading Assignments: The following should be read before you come to class:
9/2 Freedman, pp. 1-15. Note: You must begin writing your responses today.
See Requirement #1 above.
9/4 Omi and Winant, McIntosh -- See Blackboard for links to these essays.
9/6 Freedman, pp. 17-42
9/9 Fausto-Sterling, pp. 1-29
9/11 Fausto-Sterling, pp. 30-77
9/13 Group Discussion #1.
9/16 Fausto-Sterling, pp. 78-114
9/18 Fausto-Sterling. pp. 115-145
9/20 Fausto-Sterling, pp. 146-194
9/23 Fausto-Sterling, pp. 195-255
9/25 Myers and Tronto -- See Blackboard for link.
9/27 Group Discussion #2. Note: You may not write your paper on this discussion.
9/30 Freedman, pp. 45-94
10/2 Freedman, pp. 95-119
10/4 Freedman, pp. 123-144; Watch With Babies and Banners over the vide network.
10/7 Freedman, pp. 145-169; Watch The Global Assembly Line over the video network.
10/9 Group discussion #3.
10/11 Fall Break
10/14 Freedman, pp. 170-199
10/16 Freedman, pp. 203-228
10/18 Fine and Weis, pp. 121-139 and pp. 235-250.
10/21 Freedman, pp. 229-253; Fine and Weis, pp. 26-50.
10/23 Fine and Weis, pp. 100-120.
10/25 Group Discussion #4.
10/28 Sex Education in the Netherlands -- Reading will be on reserve.
10/30 Freedman, pp. 253-275; Fine and Weis, pp. 84-99.
11/1 Delombard from Walker, “Femmenism” and Pratt, “Border”
– Reserve
11/4 Freedman, pp. 276-302.
11/6 Freedman, pp. 305-325; Fine and Weis, pp. 180-195
11/8 Group Discussion #5.
11/11 Fine and Weis, pp. 211-235 and pp. 274-293
11/13 Freedman, pp. 326-347.
11/15 Feminist Poetry -- Reading will be provided.
11/18 Running a Discussion
11/20 Group Project -- Come prepared with a response to the Blackboard posting.
11/22 Group Discussion #6 – Preparation for the Final
12/2 Group Project -- Come prepared with a response to the Blackboard posting.
12/4 Group Project -- Come prepared with a response to the Blackboard posting.
12/6 Group Project -- Come prepared with a response to the Blackboard posting.
12/9 Group Project -- Come prepared with a response to the Blackboard posting.
12/11 Wrapping up
12/13 Group Project -- Come prepared with a response to the Blackboard posting.