Feminist Philosophy (Phil 303)
Professor: Dr. Willia=
ms
Office:
Office Phone: 597-490=
7
Email: WilliamsNM@wof=
ford.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday=
and
Thursday 2:20-3:30; Wednesday 1:30-2:30 or by appt.
Class Time/Location: =
TR
1:00-2:20,
Course Description
In this course, we wi=
ll
examine some of the philosophical interpretations regarding the social and
personal realities that shape women’s lives. Topics include, but are =
not
limited to, gender socialization, sexuality, feminist ethics, sexist langua=
ge,
violence against women, family, and work. The course culminates with a
conscientious debate about whether feminism discriminates against men.
Required Texts/Readings
●Frye,
Marilyn, The Politics of Reality: E=
ssays
in Feminist Theory, The Crossing Press, 1983.
●Saul, Jennifer=
, Feminism: Issues and Arguments, Ox=
ford
University Press, 2003.
●Sterba, James =
and
Warren Farrell, Does feminism
discriminate against men?, Oxford University Press, 2008.
●Additional required readings=
on e-reserve
Learning Objectives
Students are expected=
to:
●critically ana=
lyze the
social and personal significance of gender in contemporary life by way of
diverse philosophical perspectives;
●speak and write
skillfully about feminist/gender issues;
●increase their=
knowledge
of theorists and key concepts in gender theory;
●conduct resear=
ch on a
course related topic.
Methods of Evaluation
●Reading presentations/Discussion leader: You will lead two class
discussions on the assigned readings. In your presentations, you must: (1)
identify the thesis of the article; (2) summarize the main points; (3) spec=
ify
one point that made you think and explain your thoughts on it; and (4) prov=
ide
one discussion question for the class. All presentations need to be typed, =
double-spaced,
12 pt. font with standard margins, and 1-2 pages. No exceptions. You may not
read your presentations. They will be graded on clarity, organization, and =
the
quality of the discussion question.
●Current “event” report: It is important to recognize the issues that pertain to women in the media and the community. You will s= tart noticing these issues in newspapers, magazines, television, movies, advertisements, and even campus and community events. You will do one repor= t on women’s issues in current media or the community. You will present it= to the class in a brief oral report. Summarize the coverage of the event/artic= le, tell how it relates to feminist philosophy, and give your response to it in= one typed page. If the “event” is in print, include a copy of the article. For your oral report, you will take 3-5 minutes to present your summary and response. You may use notes, but you may not read your paper to= us. The report will be graded on relevant content, clarity, and organization. <= o:p>
●Mid-term Paper: The 5-7 page paper should present some original
analysis of the course material. You will have the opportunity to improve t=
he
grade on this paper by a maximum of ten points by rewriting. The original p=
aper
and my comments must be turned in with the rewrite. The rewrite is due one =
week
after the original paper has been returned. A late rewrite will not be
accepted. Further information about paper requirements, topics, and grading
policy will be presented in class.
●Final Research Paper: Your final is a 7-10 page research paper.=
The
research should expand on the readings and/or class discussions. The topic =
of
the paper requires my approval and an outline. You will have the opportunit=
y to
present your outline to the class. These presentations will provide you with
critical feedback from your classmates. Outlines and presentations are not
graded.
●
● Current
“event” report: 15%
● Mid-term Pape=
r: 30%
● Final Researc=
h Paper:
35%
Grading Scale (percentage): A =3D100-94; A- =3D 93-90; B+ =3D=
89-87; B
=3D86-84; B- =3D83-80; C+ =3D 79-77; C =3D76-74; C- =3D73-70; D =3D69-60; F=
=3Dbelow 60
All work is due at th=
e beginning
of class. For every day an assignment is late, one letter grade will be
deducted. Handwritten work will not be accepted under any circumstances<=
/u>.
Extra credit work will not be given.
Attendance is require=
d in this
class. You are allowed TWO absences with no grade reduction, thereafter thr=
ee
points off your final grade for every absence. I will record attendance at
every class meeting. You are required to arrive at class on time and remain=
for
the entire period in order to be counted as present.
Academic dishonesty w=
ill be
handed in accordance to Wofford’s honor code, which can be found at
http://www.wofford.edu/studentlife/honor_code.pdf
If you have a disabil=
ity that
requires my attention please let me know as soon as possible so that I may
accommodate you.
Reading Schedule=
*=
Week 1 – Oppression
and Sexism
9/2 T –Introduc=
tion
9/4 TR – Frye “Oppression” and
“Sexism”
Week 2 – Gender
Socialization
9/9 T – E-Reserve: Lois Gould’s =
220;X-
A Fabulous Child’s Story” and Nancy Holmstrom’s &=
nbsp; “Do
Women Have a Distinct Nature?”
9/11 TR – Saul: Chapter 5 “Feminine
Appearance” (Video: Slim Hope=
s 3)
Week 3 –Violence
and Sexuality
9/16 T – E-Reserve: Carole Sheffield’=
;s
“Sexual Terrorism” and Susan Griffen’s “Rape: The A=
ll- American Crime”
9/18 TR –E-Reserve: John Stoltenberg’=
;s
“Rapist Ethics”
Week 4 – Sexist
Language
Week 5 – Gender
and Race
9/30 T – E-Reserve: Elizabeth V. Spelman&#=
8217;s
“Gender and Race: The Ampersand Problem in Feminist Thought” and Frye: “On Being White: Thin=
king
Toward A Feminist Understandi=
ng of
Race and Race Supremacy”
10/2 TR – Saul: Chapter 9 “Feminism =
and
‘Respect for Cultures’”
Week 6 – Lesbian
Philosophy
10/9 TR – E-Reserve: Marylyn Frye’s
“Willful Virgin or Do You Have To Be A Lesbian To B=
e A
Feminist?”
Week 7 – Work
and Family
10/16 TR- E-Reserve: Rhona Mahony’s
“A Traditional Marriage”
Week
8– Feminist Epistemology and =
Ethics
10/21 T – Saul: Chapter 8 “Feminism,
Science, and Bias” and E-Res=
erve:
Gloria =
Steinman’s
“If Men Could Menstruate”
10/23 TR – Saul: Chapter 7 “Women’s
‘Different Voice’”
Week 9 – Eco-Feminism
10/28 T – E-Reserve: Marti Kheel’s
“From Heroic to Holistic Ethics: The Ecofeminist Challenge”
10/30 TR – E-Reserve: Carol
Week 10 – Does
Feminism Discriminate Against Men?
11/ 4 T – Farrell and Sterba: Debates: 1, 2=
, and
4
11/6 TR- Farrell and Sterba: Debates 6 and 8
Week 11 –
11/11 T- Farrell and Sterba: Debates: 9, 10, and 11
11/13 TR - Farrell and Sterba: Debates: 12 a=
nd 13
Week 12 – Living
with a feminist consciousness
11/18 T – E-Reserve: bell hooks’ =
220;To
Love Again, The Heart of Feminism” pp. 101-118 &nbs=
p; and
Frye: “A Note On Anger&#=
8221;
and “On Separatism and Power”
11/20 TR – Curr=
ent event
presentations
Week 13 –
11/25 T – Stude=
nt presentations
11/27 TR THANKSGIVING=
BREAK
Week 14 –
12/2 T – Student
presentations
12/ 4 TR – Stud=
ent
presentations
*Subject to change. <= o:p>