Hist. 237 History of Feminism

Up-to-date Syllabus on-line at http://faculty.oxy.edu/horowitz/courses/courses.html

Hist. 237 History of Feminism MWF 9:30-10:25 a.m. Core: INTERCULTURAL This course will trace the development of feminism in Europe and the United States and will consider policy issues in applications of feminism in contemporary American law and within the global human rights movement. In early modern times, popular conceptualizations of the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and class divided women from each other just as feminism emerged from a debate on woman’s nature to a debate on opportunities for women: to be educated, to write, to speak out, to preach, to express one’s individuality in dress and demeanor, to work in one’s chosen occupation. For the transformation in political theory from Lockean family representation to Suffragette individual representation in the state, we shall explore the literature on “rights” from Wollstonecraft to United Nations declarations on Women’s Rights. Participating in contemporary feminism, students will debate alternative viewpoints on issues such as abortion, violence against women, and discrimination; and we shall also experience together a diversity of feminist films.

Instructor
Prof. Maryanne Horowitz
Class Meets: Mon.Wed. Fri 9:30-10:25 a.m. Location: Johnson 209
Office: Swan 316 323-259-2583 Hours: Mon. 12:30-2:30 and Wed. 10:30-11:20 and by appointment
Horowitz Homepage

Campus mail to Horowitz mailbox,
Hist. Dept., S. Swan

e-mail horowitz@oxy.edu

Wendy Kolmar and Frances Bartkowski, Feminst Theory: A Reader, 3rd edition (McGraw Hill, 2010)

Nancy Levit & Robert R. M. Verchick, Feminist Legal Theory: A Primer (New York University Press, 2006)

Robert M. Baird & Stuart E. Rosenbaum, ed., Same-Sex Marriage: The Moral and Legal Debate (Amherst N.Y: Prometheus Books, 2004) OR

Robert M. Baird & Stuart E. Rosenbuam, ed., The Ethics of Abortion: Pro-life vs. Pro-choice, 3rd. edition (Amherst N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2001)

20% each: 1) In-class Exam on Unit 1 & part of Unit 2 2) Final Exam on Unit 2 & 3 ) Class Attendance and Oral Participation 4) paper focused on Feminist Theory 5) paper on controversial issue: either Abortion or Same-Sex Marriage

Unit 1: European feminist debates before Wollstonecraft. Unit 2: Feminist Theory in Europe and USA from 1790s to 2010 Unit 3. Feminist action through law in U.S.A. today.

For any class missed (whether medical note or not), you should pass in by the Friday following the missed class your detailed reading notes of readings discussed that day. The purpose is to keep up with the class and not fall behind. students will discuss and debate issues and respond to students' papers.

Papers. Typed on a computer, double space, Times New Roman. Each paper is 6-8 typed pages plus endnotes in Univ. of Chicago styles. Pass in 2 copies. http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/history/footnotes.html http://departments.oxy.edu/library/research/help/citingsources.htm. Cite the specific author and article within the controversy book before citing the book. After the first reference to the book, condense to the short title (Same-Sex Marriage or The Ethics of Abortion), but always cite the specific author and article first before citing the book.

Paper 1: Critically analyzing at least 10 selections in Feminist Theory in either a historical or philosophical paper. If you need to, you may cite other books or articles also. A historical paper will focus on your recognition and contextual explanation of a noteworthy historical transformation in feminist debate which occurred over several decades. A philosophical paper will analyze and respond today to one of the debates listed in Lexicon of debates via your formulation of the issue.

Paper 2.Either argue your position on a specific aspect of the issue (considering counter-arguments) or analyze and evaluate multiple positions on the overall controversy to clarify current state of the debate. Use University of Chicago endnotes, citing the specific author and article within a book. Include reference to Feminist Legal Theory. You are not required to use any other sources, but you may if properly cited.

If you have specific physical or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to Linda Whitney, Coordinator of Academic Support Services, Center for Academic Excellence.

Extra Credit for participation attending or creating feminist happenings on campus or in Los Angeles especially during March: Women's Herstory Month. 1) announce event ahead in class or via class email 2) afterwards pass in a page analysis of the event within a week after event. For example, see Happenings on-campus at Center for Gender Equity, and off-campus at:

Schedule: Bring Lerner on Mon., Feminist Theory on Wed. Lectures usually on Friday.
READINGS BY WEEK

1) Read Lerner, Introduction. Read Feminist Theory Preface, Table of Contents, browse Lexicon

F Jan 22 Bring Feminist Theory--pick l or 2 categories in Lexicon that interest you to discuss briefly (browse pp. 34-55). Class chose especially

Bodies, Language, Power, Race/Class/Gender/Global. Individual interest in Psychoanalysis and in Social Construction. There will be sign-ups a week ahead for individual selections: an individual will summarize, analyze and argue with the author's points before full class discusses the ideas.

W. Jan 27 Bring Feminist Theory for discussion of "Reading Feminist Theory," The Feminist Dictionary, Walker, Bunch, Lorde, Lugones and Spelman, hooks.

Read Feminist Theory, Part I Lexicon of the Debates pp. 34-56 (note references to reading selections). Indicate in class the debates that interest you the most for possible paper topic. Sign up for individual reading for next week.

Read and analyze in Feminist Theory, minimum 6 articles that interest you 1792-1920 (Part II) from following articles: 8 Wollstonecraft, 12 Truth, 13 Truth, 14 JS Mill, 15 Butler, 16 Anthony, 20 Cooper, 25 Goldman.

W Feb. 10 Bring Feminist Theory to discuss individual articles. Introduction to North Country and assignment.

Th Feb. 11 8 pm- 10:30 pm. Room room 124 first floor of Library for Film North Country scheduled to be seen in full. North Country 123 minutes. North Country was based on the book Class action: the story of Lois Jensen and the landmark case that changed sexual harassment law by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy. Record from a 2010 Oxy perspective as a witness to harassments experienced by the female miners (quid pro quo, sexual, gender) record individual and group diverse efforts to rectify "the hostile environment" (film replaces Feb. 12)

5) Reader Lerner, chs. 8 & 9 Creativity; right to learn, teach and define Read on reserve Marie de Gournay, "Equality of Men and Women"

Read and analyze in Feminist Theory, minimum 4 articles that interest you 1920-1963 (Part III): 29 Sanger, 32 Woolf, 34 Mead, 35 Beauvoir

W. Feb. 17 Pass in a copy of your notes during the film; discuss the landmark case and why miners varied in responses. Bring Feminist Theory to discuss readings.

F. Feb. 19 Lecture: Women take up the Pen to Defend Women: Christine de Pizan and Marie de Gournay

6) Reader Lerner, chs. 10 & 11 & Conclusion. Female networks, search for women's history.

Read and analyze in Feminist Theory, 4 articles that interest you 1963-75 (Part IV); 36 Friedan, 37 Douglas, 40 Millett, 44 Murray, 47 Orner, 49 Cixous, 50 Mernissi

F. Feb 26 Lecture: 18th Century enlightenment: scientist Emilie du Chatelet and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft

Start bringing Feminist Legal Theory on Monday, and on Friday when a lecture is scheduled on the book. Continue bringing Feminist Theory Wed..

7) Read and analyze in Feminist Theory, 6 articles that interest you 1975-85 (Part V): 51 Rubin, 54 Collective, 55 Irigaray, 56 Chodorow, 57 Daly, 58 Frye, 59 Lorde, 60 Wittig, 61 Rich, 62 Hartmann, 63 Yamada, 65 Gilligan, 66 Mohanty.

M. March 1 Mid-Term Examination, especially on Lerner, class work for Unit 1, and Unit 2 through Part III.

Read and analyze in Feminist Theory, 6 articles that interest you 1985-95 (Part VI): 68 Haraway, 71 Anzaldua, 74 Scott, 76 hooks, 77 King, 78 Mackinnon, 79 Alarcon 80 Butler , 82 Davis, 84 Bordo, 85 Bejing Declaration.

M. March 15 Bring Feminist Legal Theory and Feminist Theory By evening, email a list of 10 selections you will include in you paper due March 26.

F. March 19 No class. Instead, meet Thurs. March 18, 8 p.m., check out from circulation to video room 124. If these walls could talk 2 scheduled to be seen in full. 1961: Vanessa Redgrave; 1972 hippies, communes; 2000 Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Stone. 97 minutes.

Read and analyze in Feminist Theory, 4 articles that interest you 1995-2008 (Part VII): 88 Crenshaw, 90 Narayan, 92 Halberstam, 93 Encloe, 94 Fausto-Sterling, 96 Grewal and Kaplan, 97 Garland-Thomson, 100 Mahmood.

Registration week M March 22 Pass in a few sentences about your topic and list of articles. If there are any, list any other books or articles you intend to use. Discussion of student selections picked. Bring Feminist Theory

F March 26 Paper due in 2 copies critically analyzing at least 10 selections in Feminist Theory on either your recognition of a noteworthy historical transformation in feminist debate over several decades OR on your analysis and responses to one of the debates listed in Lexicon of debates. If you need to, you may cite other books or articles also. (Unit 2)

Lecture: Feminist Legal Theory chs. 3 & 4: Methods and Workplace Discrimination

M. March 29 (Passover starts) Lecture Feminist Legal Theory chs. 6 & 7 Gender and the Body; Marriage and the Family

F. April 2 (Good Friday) Student presentation on issues concerning same-sex marriage. Lecture/discussion on Education and Sport ch. 5.

11) April 5-9. No class meetings.. Prof. Horowitz at conference, available via email. Work on Issue Paper.

Thurs. April 8 8 pm. Check out from circulation and see in Video room 124.What's Cooking? 1 videodisc (109 min.) Focuses on multi-ethnic LA during Thanksgiving and race/class/gender/sexuality issues between young adults and their parents. Do still recommend seeing on your own She's the Man for students who have not seen it.

12) Feminist Legal Theory, ch.. 5 Education and Sport and ch. 8 Sex and Violence.

Mon. April 12 Discussion of What's Cooking? Discussion of She's the Man. Contrast presentation in 2 films of gay issues with If these walls could speak. Individuals suggest approach each is taking to paper assignment.

Wed. April 14 Another Student discussion of additional articles on Abortion

Fri. April 16 Another Student discussion of additional articles on Same-Sex Marriage

13) Articles in Feminist Theory to be assigned: Handout for this week and next. No. 87, 95 Third Wave Feminism ; 74, 82 Impact of Post-Structualism; Global Feminist Action 85, 86, 93.

Mon. April 19 Lecture/discussion all of ch 7. Marriage and the Family: Marriage and its Alternatives Divorce and Child Custody

Fri. April. 23 Lecture/Discussion Feminist Legal Theory all of ch.8 Sex and Violence: rape, domestic violence and legal intervention

14) Feminist Legal Theory, ch. 9. Global issues. Part VII of Feminist Theory: No. 90, 100 international misunderstandings, 97 disabilities ; 88, 92 variations in lesbian sexualities; Butler 99 new possibilities. .

Mon. April 26 Discussion of ch. 9 and of no. 85 "Beijing Declaration" in Feminist Theory. Student Evaluations

Final Exam especially on Feminist Legal Theory and Feminist Theory, class notes and films (Units 2 & 3). No books or notes or downloading allowed in exam room.

Mon May 3 8:30-11:30 in Computer Room. Essay questions might focus on

1) history of lesbians in U.S.A. since 1950s according to If These Walls Could Talk, What's Cookin' , and 4 authors in Feminist Theory representing a variety of viewpoints Browne # 30, Charlotte Bunche, #. 3 & # 45, Racalesbians, # 48, Frye # 58, Wittig, # 60, Rich # 61, Anzualdua # 71, DeLombard, # 88. See editors on pp.7,12,15-16, 35, 51-52 and Feminist Legal Theory pp. 29-31, 71, 82, 116, 194-195.

2) changing U.S. law on workplace discrimination, wages, and welfare with discussion of 2 cases: film North Country (http://www.sexualharassmentsupport.org/JensonVsEvelethMines.html ) and Sears case (retrospective in no. 74 by Joan Scott).

3)Education and sports, as well as sex and violence (For more examples and feminist viewpoints, see Index at back of Feminist Theory, 3rd ed. for Violence and for Rape)

4) changing U.S. law and controversies among feminists on gender and the body and on marriage and the family. Essay would focus on surrogacy, pornography, divorce or separation from marriage or domestic partnerships, and child custody.

2 questions assigned, and 3rd is choice among 2. .

New Dictionary of the History of Ideas, ed. Maryanne C. Horowitz (on-line through OASYS, hardcopy volumes at CB9 N49 2005 6 vols at Main Floor Reference Be sure to cite author and give page numbers in NDHI "Machismo," "Mestizaje," "Identity, Multiple, Overview," "Identity Multiple: Asian-American," Identity Multiple: Jewish," "Women's Studies," "Feminism: Overview," "Feminisms: Africa and African Diaspora," "Feminism: Chicana Feminisms," "Feminism: Islamic Feminism," "Feminism: Third World U.S. Movement" "Womanism," "Anti-Feminism" "Family Planning," "Sexual Harassment" "Human Rights/Women's Rights" "Philosophies Feminist, Twentieth Century," "Equality: Gender Equality," "Sexuality: Overview," "Sexuality: Islamic Views," "Sexuality: Sexual Orientation, "Gender: Overview," "Gender: Gender in the Middle East," "Gender Studies," "Gender, History of," "Gay Studies,""Queer Theory," "Women and Femininity in U.S. Popular Culture," and "Men and Masculinity."

Recommended: See Reference section HQ1111-HQ1904, especially Women's Issues HQ1115W6425 1997 3 vols. and Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories HQ1190 E63 2000. Richard D. Mohr, The Long Arc of Justice: Lesbian and Gay Marriage, Equality and Rights 142 pages (R).

GenderWatch (ProQuest)
Full-text database of articles reports, pamphlets, papers and conference proceedings devoted to women's and gender issues.

Prof. Maryanne Horowitz
History of Feminism
History 237 (Spring 2010)

MWF 9:30-10:25 Johnson 209

Prof. Maryanne Horowitz History of Feminism History 237 (Spring 2010)

MWF 9:30-10:25 Johnson 209

Prof. Maryanne Horowitz
History of Feminism
History 237 (Spring 2010)