Autumn 2000
Mon./Wed 1:15-3:05, rm 200-02
Professor Estelle Freedman
History 200-07, 3-4951
T.A.s: Catherine Bae, Manishita Dass, Cari Sietstra

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of feminist scholarship, which seeks to understand the creation and perpetuation of gender inequalities. After tracing the historical emergence of feminist critiques, the course surveys contemporary feminist issues, particularly work and family, health and sexuality, creativity and politics. Each section draws on historical analysis and pays close attention to the variety of women's experiences. Along with the focus on the U.S., the course attempts to incorporate international perspectives on women and feminism.

No prior course work is required to take FS101, but a sincere commitment to understanding feminism and a willingness to complete all course assignments are essential. Beyond the presumption that gender inequality is unjust, the course takes no single political perspective. A major goal is to train students in analytical skills that will help them think critically about gender in the past, the present, and the future. This course fulfills the Gender Studies GER. It is NOT available pass/no credit. Additional units for public service internships are available by application through the Program in Feminist Studies during any quarter.

Lectures are on Mondays and Wednesdays. Films can be viewed individually at the library or at group showings, TBA. Sections meet for one hour (usually Thursday or Friday). Small groups can meet at any time that all members can regularly attend; if the group cannot meet at any other time, Tuesdays or Fridays 1:15-3:00 are default times.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS (See assignments for due dates and small groups)

1. Attend ALL lectures, and do not arrive late!

2. Complete all reading, including required Web-links, and view each required film.

3. Participate in all meetings of your discussion section and submit all ungraded required assignments on time.

4. Submit all required graded essays and final on time. For summary of assignments, see end of syllabus.

5. Participate in at least 7 small group meetings and submit a 5-6 page paper (ungraded) evaluating small group sessions (due Dec. 5 before the last class). Journal keeping, though not required, is highly recommended to help produce this paper. Students must participate in all small group meetings.

SECTION AND SMALL GROUP (attendance, on time, participation, and response papers) ACCOUNT FOR 25 % OF YOUR FINAL GRADE.

All written work must be printed, double spaced, 12 point font, with one inch margins; all written work must be submitted on the due date, by the time deadline. Late papers will be downgraded a full grade per day and will not be accepted after one day. Extensions and incompletes will not be granted EXCEPT in the case of medical or family emergencies (in these cases, please contact T.A. or instructor as soon as possible).

9/26: INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS FEMINIST STUDIES?
Muriel Rukeyser, "Myth," COURSE READER (hereafter RDR)
Audre Lorde, "The Masters Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House,"
(We will discuss these readings in sections later during the quarter)
Begin reading Emecheta, THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD

A one-two page reading response (ungraded) on Emecheta, THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD, is due at the first section meeting next week (guidelines provided in lecture).

10/1: Origin Stories: Nature and Culture
Ruth Hubbard, "The Political Nature of 'Human Nature'," RDR
Evelyn Nakano Glenn, "The Social Construction and Institutionalization of Gender and
Race," RDR
Section lists will circulate in class; changes must be made by Wednesday.

10/3: Gender and Power Cross-Culturally
WIC: Sei Shonagon, 131-133; Buddhist nuns, 41-45; Baba of Karo, 319-321; Canton resistance, 325-29
Emecheta, THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD (response due in section)
RECOMMENDED FILM: "Nu Shu"
RECOMMENDED WEB: http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~orie/ (Nu Shu)

Small group lists will circulate in class today.
First sections meet this week.

A 5 page (graded) paper on Woolf, THREE GUINEAS (pp. 3-84, 99-117, 143-44) is due next week in section. (Guidelines provided in lecture). Short document analyses due in section this week.

10/8: Origins of European Feminisms: Liberal, Socialist, Maternalist/Radical
WIC: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, 251-255; Olympe de Gouge, 265-67; Huda Sh'arawi, 302-303; Alexandra Kollontai, 258-259
Recommended reading: Mary Wollstonecraft (RDR)
RECOMMENDED WEB: Wollstonecraft, Seneca Falls, Socialist feminism

U.S. Women's rights timeline

10/10: Race, Gender and Identity in "First" and "Second Wave" U.S. Feminisms
WIC: Ida B. Wells, 380-83; Anna Julia Cooper, 429-431; Jo Carillo, 281-83
Estelle Freedman, "Separatism as Strategy," RDR
Combahee River Collective Statement, RDR
RECOMMENDED WEB: Sojourner Truth; Asian American Feminists; Chicana Feminism
RECOMMENDED film: "Some American Feminists"

Small groups begin meeting this week. Please read directions on course web page and short historical documents in RDR: Pam Allen, "Free Space;" Irene Restikis, "Resistance to CR," Lynet Uttal, "Nods That Silence."

exoticize my fist!

10/15: The Politics of Location and Transnational Feminisms
WIC: Taj Al-Saltana, 277-280; Kusunose Kita, 367-370; Qui Jin, 493-495; Domitila Barrios de la Chungara, 117-120, 420-423;
Rich, "Notes Toward a Politics of Location," RDR
Chandra Mohanty, "Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses," RDR
REQUIRED FILM: "Beyond Beijing;"
RECOMMENDED film: "A Veiled Revolution"
RECOMMENDED WEB: Beijing 1995; Global Feminism (browse IGC or GFW); RAWA (Afghan Women); "The Taliban's Bravest Opponents"
Feminist commentary on the WTC attack: Robin Morgan on World Trade Centre attack; Rosalind Petchesky, "Phantom Towers: Feminist Reflections on the Battle between Global Capitalism and Fundamentalist Terrorism"; Arundhati Roy, "The Algebra of Infinite Justice"

10/17: Resistance, Alliances, and Coalitions
WIC: Cherríe Moraga, 449-52
Peggy McIntosh, "White Privilege, Male Privilege," RDR
Blood, Tuttle, and Lakey, "Understanding and Fighting Sexism: A Call to Men," RDR
Bernice Johnson Reagon, "Coalition Politics" RDR
Audre Lorde, "The Masters Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House," RDR
RECOMMENDED WEB PAGES: "How Men Fit In," Third Wave

Five-page paper (graded) due in section this week exploring how several feminists we have read would respond to THREE GUINEAS.

Five page policy paper (graded) due in class November 5th (guidelines in lecture)

10/22: The Family Economy and Traditional Women's Work
WIC: Mary Collier, 134-138; Nannie Stillwell Jackson diary, 323
Om Naeema, "Fisherwoman," RDR
Pat Mainardi, "The Politics of Housework," RDR
Cynthia Enloe, "It Takes More Than Two," RDR
REQUIRED WEB: Valuing Women's Work
RECOMMENDED WEB: Homemakers Bill of Rights

10/24: Industrialization and the Transition to Wage Labor
Sonia, "I Never Have Time to Sit Down" RDR
Miriam Ching Louie, "Immigrant Asian Women," RDR
REQUIRED FILMS: "The Global Assembly Line" and "Sin City"
RECOMMENDED WEB: Equal Pay

Fairwear

New!
Made in China

10/31: Social Welfare Policies
WIC: Maria Curter, 139-142
Eva Feder Kittay, "Welfare, Dependency, and a Public Ethic of Care," RDR
RECOMMENDED WEB: Welfare Warriors, Microcredit; Fair Wear, Prison Data, Women & Welfare Data
RECOMMENDED FILM: "Through Chinese Women's Eyes"

11/5: Representing the Body
REQUIRED FILMS: "Mirror, Mirror;" "Beyond Killing Us Softly," in class
REC FILM: "Slaying the Dragon"
Five page policy paper due in class today.

11/14: Sexualities
WIC: Ann Lister, 46-49; Fatima Mernissi, 82-84; Audre Lorde, 97-101; Carolyn Mobley, 56-57, Mab Segrest, 152-154
REQUIRED FILM: "Girls Like Us; " REC FILM: "Choosing Children"
RECOMMENDED WEB: Anna Koedt, "Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm;" "Woman-Identified
Woman"

11/21: Sex and Violence II: Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
WIC: Abigail Abbot Bailey, 232-36
bell hooks, "Violence in Intimate Relationships: A Feminist Perspective, " RDR
Joy Harjo, "I Give You Back" (in class, and web)
REQUIRED WEB: Domestic Violence Facts
REQUIRED FILM: "No Longer Silent"

NO SECTIONS - THANKSGIVING BREAK

PLEASE SUBMIT A 1-2 PAGE RESPONSE TO READINGS AND FILM ON VIOLENCE IN CLASS 11/21. (UNGRADED BUT REQUIRED)

11/26: Spirituality, Language, Creativity
WIC: Sumangalamata et al, 41-45; Jarena Lee, 177-82; Laura Geller, 59-63; Samman, 84-86
Muriel Rukeyser, "Myth," RDR
Gloria Anzaldúa, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," RDR
Ursula LeGuin, "On the Mothertongue," RDR
RECOMMENDED WEB: Mary Daly, Lilith; Islamic feminism

12/3: Politics

12/5: Education and Course Summary
Remaining small group action project reports in class.

Small group evaluation/course summary papers due at beginning of class today; last sections meet this week.

Take home final distributed in class today (identifications plus choice of an essay topic); due in History Department Office by Friday, Dec. 14th, 2 p.m.