Syllabus: Philosophy and Feminism
Washington State University
Tu, Th 9:10-10:25 am, Bryan 402
Professor: Dr. Claudia Leeb
Email: claudia.leeb@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-335-8701
Office Hours: Tu, Th 10:45-11:45 am, and by appointment
808 Johnson Tower
Books:
You need to purchase the following three books (available at Bookie).
1.Simone De Beauvoir, The Second Sex, Constance Borde, and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier (2011, Random House)
2. Feminist Theory Reader: Local and Global Perspectives 2nd ed., edited by Carole McCann and Seung-Kyung Kim (2010, Routledge), (in short: FTR)
3. Sally Scholz, Feminism: A Beginner’s Guide (2010, Oneworld Publications)
Articles:
All articles listed in the syllabus that are not included in the books, are available on-line on Angel. You need to download, print and bring these texts to class.
Course Schedule
Tu:Jan 8; Course Introduction
Th:Jan 10; Overview I
“What is Feminism?,” Sally Scholz, pp. 1-1
Tu:Jan 15; Overview II
“Schools of Feminist Thought,” Sally Scholz, pp. 14-36
Th:Jan 17; Historical Perspective I
“Social, legal and economic rights for women: the first wave,” Sally Scholz, pp. 37-64
Tu:Jan 22; Historical Perspective II
“Expanding the Sphere of Influence: the second wave”: Sally Scholz, pp. 66-106
Th:Jan 24; Historical Perspective III
“Language, thought and cultural Production: the third wave,” Sally Scholz, pp. 107-132
Tu:Jan 29; General Theoretical Framework
Iris Marion Young, “Five Faces of Oppression,” in her Justice and the Politics of Difference, pp. 39-65 (online)
Th:Jan 31; Simone De Beauvoir: Introduction
Movie: Two Interviews, 90 minutes, Release: 2012
Tu:Feb 5; Simone De Beauvoir: Femininity as Socially Constructed I
Movie continued, The Second Sex "Introduction," pp. 3-17
(guest lecturer for one of the sessions on De Beauvoir)
Tu:Feb 5; First Essay is Due!
Th:Feb 7; Simone De Beauvoir: Femininity as Socially Constructed II
The Second Sex “Myths,” chapter 1 (pp 159-213), and chapter 3 (pp 266-274)
Tu:Feb 12; Simone De Beauvoir: Female stages of life I
The Second Sex “Childhood,” pp 283-340
Th:Feb 14; Simone De Beauvoir: Female stages of life II
The Second Sex “The Girl,” pp 341-382
Tu:Feb 19; Simone De Beauvoir: Female stages of life III
The Second Sex “The Married Woman,” pp 439-523
Th:Feb 21; Simone De Beauvoir: Independent and dependent women I
The Second Sex “Woman’s Situation and Character,” pp 638-664, and “The Woman in Love,” pp 683-708
Tu:Feb 26; Simone De Beauvoir: Independent and dependent women II
The Second Sex “The Independent Woman,” pp 721-751
Th:Feb 28; French Feminism
Monique Witting, “One is Not Born a Woman,” FTR pp 244-249
Luce Irigaray, “This Sex Which is Not One,” FTR pp 384-389
Tu:Mar 5; Standpoint Epistemologies:
Nancy C.M. Hartsock, “The Feminist Standpoint: Toward a Specifically Feminist Historical Materialism”, FTR pp 316-331
Donna Haraway, “Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective,” FTR 370-381
Tu:Mar 5; Second Essay is Due!
Th:Mar 7; Black Feminist Thought
Patricia Hill Collins, “Defining Black Feminist Thought,” FTR pp 341-356
bell hooks, “Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppression,” FTR pp 51-57,
Audre Lorde, “I am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities,” FTR pp 276-280
No classes Mar 11-15, spring break
Tu:Mar 19; Postcolonial Feminist Theory
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, “Under Western Eyes’ Revisited: Feminist Solidarity through Anticapitalist Struggles,” FTR pp 446-462
Lila Abu-Lughod,” Orientalism and Middle East Feminist Studies,” FTR pp. 203-211
Th:Mar 21; Movie: Simone De Beauvoir (Interviews)
Tu:Mar 26; Feminism and Class Oppression I
Heidi Hartmann, “The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism: Towards a More Progressive Union,” FTR pp. 169-183; Rhacel Salazar-Parrenas, “Servants of Globalization: Women, Migration, and Domestic Work,” FTR pp 184-202
Th:Mar 28; No class, Dr. Leeb participates in the Western Political Science Association Conference in Hollywood, LA
Tu: Apr 2; Feminism, Masculinity and Class Oppression II
R.W. Connell, “The Social Organization of Masculinity,” FTR pp 232-243
Mrinalina Sinha, “Gender and Nation,” FTR pp 212-232
Th: Apr. 4; Feminism and Class Oppression III
Claudia Leeb, “Marx and the Gendered Structure of Capitalism,” (online)
Tu:Apr 9; Chicana Feminism
Gloria Anzaldua, “La Conciencia de la Mestiza: Towards an New Consciousness,” FTR pp 254-262
Th:Apr 11; Feminism and Post-Structuralism I
Sandra Lee Bartky, “Foucault, Femininity, and the Modernization of Patriarchal Power,” FTR pp 404-418
Tu:Apr 16; Feminism and Post-Structuralism II
Sharon Marcus, “Fighting Bodies, Fighting Words: A Theory and Politics of Rape Prevention,” FTR pp 431-444
Th:Apr 18; Feminism and Post-Structuralism III
Judith Butler, “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory,” FTR pp 419-430
Tu:Apr 23; Third Essay is Due and Presentation of Third Essay!
Th:Apr 25; Conclusion
We:May1; Final exam from 10:10-12:10 in the classroom where the class meets for instruction.