Dr. Judith Grant
Wed. 2-5 in GFS 210
Spring 2000

GENDER STUDIES 560
FEMINIST THEORY

Professor Judith Grant, VKC 230C (office), VCK 327 (mailbox)

Email: grantj1@ohio.edu

Phone: (213)740-01685 Fax: 213-740-8893    Website  http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~grantj1

 

This course is the only required class for the Gender Studies graduate certificate. It also counts towards the graduate degrees in Sociology and Political Science.

COURSE GOALS:

1. To outline the history and substance of contemporary feminist theory.

2. To acquaint the student with some major debates in feminist theory.

3. To evaluate feminist political and social theories.

OFFICE HOURS: 1 hour after class and by appointment

GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS:

Thought papers: Over the course of this term you will write 4 short papers on the readings. Papers should not exceed 3 typed pages. The purpose of these papers is to focus the class discussion, and to insure that at least some of the students on any given day will have given very close thought to the texts in question. You will be expected to present the papers orally to the class. They are due in class on the day the readings are to be discussed. Given that the purpose of this assignment is to enhance class discussion, late papers will not be accepted and you must attend the class in order to hand in the paper. I am aware that many of these topics could take far more than 3 pages to discuss fully. Therefore it is important that you keep in mind the point of the assignment. In grading the papers, I will be looking for this rather than for original or elaborate arguments. Given that these are thought papers, you are not required to use outside sources, but you may do so if you are absolutely lost. In that case, be sure to footnote and pay strict attention to rules against plagiarism. Note that I do not want anyone to write a thought paper on my book. The sum total of the grades for all of these papers will be:

Thought papers total 45% of your course grade

Research papers: These should be 25-30 pages in length. Topics must be approved by me in advance and will be presented orally to the class on February 23. Papers must be directly related to the course (i.e., they must be papers about feminist theory). These papers will be graded on originality, scope of research and level of professionalism. We will discuss more about the specifics of these research papers in class. Papers are due on May 2. Late papers will be accepted only under truly extraordinary circumstances that are verifiable as such.

Research paper is 45% of your course grade

Class participation: All readings are required. It is expected that you will come to class prepared to discuss them along with the person(s) presenting their thought papers.

Class Participation is 10% of your class grade

Required Texts:

These should be at the bookstore, but if they are not, they are readily available elsewhere with the exception of Firestone, which is only available on reserve at Leavey. Plan accordingly.

Grant, Fundamental Feminism
Firestone, The Dialectic of Sex
Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex
Kathi Weeks, Constituting Feminist Subjects
Andrea Dworkin Life and Death
Mary Jo Buhle Feminism and Its Discontents
Judith Halberstam, Female Masculinity
Martha Nussbaum Sex and Social Justice Oxford press, 1999
Patricia Williams, The Rooster's Egg

Tentative Reading and Assignment Schedule:

Dates to watch out for:

Feb. 23 - Research paper topics due along with short oral presentations
March 13-18 -- no class, spring break
April 26 -- last class meeting
May 2 -- All papers due. No exceptions.

 

Part I. Overview of Feminist Theory

Jan. 12 ­ introductory remarks

1. Read: Grant

Part II. Early Feminist 20th Century Feminist Theory

2. Read: Firestone (on reserve in Leavey Library. You many only take this book our for one day, so please plan accordingly)

3. Read: Beauvoir

Part III. Some Contemporary Feminist Theory

4. Read: Weeks

5. Read: Dworkin
On reserve, Grant, excerpts from forthcoming, Dworkin and  MacKinnon, in manuscript

Feb. 23 - Research paper topics due, short oral presentations and tutorial for papers

Part IV. Psychoanalysis

6. Read Buhle

7. Halberstam

8. Nussbaum

9. Williams

Copyright 1999 by Judith Grant. This copyright Applies to this syllabus and all lectures. No tape recording. In addition, students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking) notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm.

 

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