SPRING 2015
Capstone Course for Women’s & Gender Studies Program
Course Information:
SC 593 Advanced Topics
Transnational Feminisms: Weaving Scholarly Perspectives and Narrative Evidence in Assessing and
Understanding the Social and Economic Status of Transnational Women’s Lives.
Time: Wednesday 3:00 - 5:30 PM
Room: McGuinn 415
Contact Information:
Professor Sharlene Hesse-Biber, Ph.D
Department of Sociology
Office: McGuinn Hall 419
Email: hesse@bc.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:00 to Noon and by Appt.
Phone: 617-552-4139
Course Description:
In the 1980’s, Western feminist Robin Morgan envisioned a global sisterhood—a network of women from around
the globe working together toward addressing women’s issues. Yet as the decades progressed, the idea of a global
sisterhood failed to address the profound differences among women with regard to race, class, sexuality, and
nationality, differences that often served to divide rather than unite women. Theoretical conceptualizations of
women’s lived experience tended toward a Westernization of women’s concerns and issues.
Transnational feminism challenges the view of “global/international” feminisms that erases differences within and
between nations. There is a tendency toward a Eurocentric/Colonial viewpoint that melds difference into one
“feminist mold.” Transnational Feminisms highlight the varying contexts of women’s lives looking at multiple
frameworks of difference. Transnational Feminists focus on the link between women’s situated lives and the everchanging relationships in which they are engaged in in terms of movements of people, capital and ideas. This
course will challenge Western feminists to examine their own standpoint within a global system.
Within each text, we will examine the ways in which place, nationality, and culture and other differences impact
women’s lives, as well as analyze the varied ways in which power and social control at the state level enter women’s
everyday lives that impact their sense of identity and well-being.
We hope the course will assist with building theoretical bridges as well as research links across the
global/transnational divide. We will pay special attention to the issues of different women’s standpoints across
geographical and cultural borders, and will also consider the cutting edge research being done in transnational
global issues.
Required Readings: Everyone is responsible for reading the entire book, even if you are not leading a
discussion on the book or writing a book review of the book.
1.
Red Azalea by Min, Anchee
2.
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Kristof, Nicholas D. &
Sheryl Wu Dunn
3.
I am Malala The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Yousafzai, Malala
with Christina Lamb
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4.
Girls Like Us by Lloyd, Rachel
5.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Multicity by Boo, Katherine
6. Flip-Flop: A Journey Through Globalisation’s Backroads. Knowles, Caroline
7. Farewell, Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti by Wilentz, Ann
Required Articles can be assessed through the Course Canvas Website.
Recommended Readings
1.
Telling Stories: The Use of Personal Narratives in the Social Sciences and History by Maynes, M.J.,
Pierce, J..L and Laasett, B.
2.
Scattered Hegemonies: Postmodernity and Transnational Feminist Practice by Grewal, Inderpal & Caren
Kaplan
3.
Third World Women and the Politics of Feminism by Mohanty, Chandra Talpade, Ann Russo, and Lourdes
Torres
4.
Feminist Research Practice: A Primer (2nd Edition) by Hesse-Biber, Sharlene Nagy, Eds.
5.
Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Anzaldua, Gloria
6.
Feminist Genealogies, Colonial Legacies, Democratic Futures (Thinking Gender) by Alexander, Jacqui
M. & Chandra Talpade Mohanty
7.
Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy by Ehrenreich, Barbara & Arlie
Russell Hochschild
8.
Feminism Without Borders: Decolonizing, Theory, Practicing Solidarity by Mohanty, Chandra Talpade.
9.
Women's Activism and Globalization: Linking Local Struggles and Transnational Politics by Naples,
Nancy A. & Manisha Desai, Eds.
10. Dislocating Cultures: Identities, Traditions, and Third World Feminism (Thinking Gender) by Narayan,
Uma
Course Requirements:
20%
35%
15%
30%
1.
Attendance and Leading Two (2) Class Discussions
Canvas Reading Assignments
Book Review
Final Research Project
Class Attendance: You are expected to attend class regularly. If you miss class, you are responsible for
obtaining notes, assignments as well as handouts from another student before the next class meeting. Class
attendance is required and roll will be taken. You are allowed 1 unexcused absence during the semester.
You are responsible for missing class notes. PLEASE NOTE: Two points (2) are deducted from your final
grade for any unexcused absence.
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2.
Reading Completion: You are expected to complete the reading for the day that it is assigned. It is
important not to fall behind in the readings. Your class participation and writing assignments depends upon
keeping up with the reading assignments. Please bring hard copies of the required articles to class.
3.
Deadlines: In order to be fair to everyone, I will stick to deadlines. Late assignments will be graded
down a half a letter grade per day late. Please let me know early in the semester if a problem should
arise or if you have any special needs.
4.
Office Hours: Please take advantage of my office hours. I would like each of you to stop by early in the
semester so we can talk about the course and I can get to know you. If you cannot come during my office
hours, you can always set up an appointment to see me.
Assignment Details:
Reading Responses (35%)
Length: 200-300 words per entry
You are required to respond weekly to a question posted to the course’s CANVAS site. The questions will
invite you to specifically engage with the readings on a meaningful and critical level. You will be asked to
consider the ideas presented by specific authors, the ways that you have integrated the readings into your
thinking, and the ways in which your personal experiences relate to the issues raised in the readings.
Questions will be posted to Canvas by Thursday evening at 5pm and you will be expected to respond
by 9 am sharp the following Tuesday morning .
Leading Class Discussion (Part of your 20% participation grade)
In keeping with feminist pedagogy, each student will lead TWO (2) classroom discussions of course
material this semester as part of an individual or group assignment. Classroom discussion can be organized
in several ways, but all discussants should be sure that there is equity in participation from class members.
You are expected to provide discussion questions for the class session as well as handouts and/or a short
powerpoint that touches on some issues you want to raise about the week’s readings.
Discussion Tips:
You might begin by reviewing the week’s readings. This should not be a summary, but if you choose to
summarize don’t spend more than 3 minutes doing so. Be certain to raise the critical questions and issues in
each reading. How are these readings connected? Compare and contrast readings, etc. Come to class with a
handout that outlines your overall class discussion plans and provide enough copies to give out to all
students.
All students are expected to bring the readings to class, and you should refer to specific passages of text
where applicable. Textual focus is essential to class discussion. Discussion means discussion, not
lecturing. The discussion should move towards a very clear understanding of each reading and its complex
context.
The role of the discussion leader is to move the discussion along and on topic, making sure all of the
readings get covered. Be sure to create an open environment where all points of view can be heard and
students can feel safe to express their opinions. Do not favor one discussant over another. The discussion
leader must take a strong role to ensure that the discussion covers the material and that there is equity and
continuity in the discussion. Be sure discussion stays on the readings.
Book Review (15%)
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Length: 4 to 5 Pages
You will be expected to complete a book review and present on one of the assigned texts. In 4-5 pages, you
will be asked to critically evaluate the text, drawing parallels to the topics and issues raised in class. You
will then have the opportunity to give a short class presentation on your review and prepare some
discussion questions around the issues it raises.
Extra Credit Opportunity:
You will have the option of completing an additional book review and presenting on a book of your
choosing that is related to the course content or you can choose to write a review of a book we are reading
in this class. If you choose a different book, you will first need it to be approved by the instructor.
You will be asked to prepare a short summary and an excerpt of the book one week prior to your
presentation so that your instructor and classmates are familiar with the text. You will then prepare a 3 - 4
page review in which you critically evaluate the text and draw parallels to the topics and issues raised in
class, as well as give a short presentation.
Final Research Paper (35%)
Length: 15-20 pages
Due Wednesday, April 29th. You will be expected to prepare a final research paper on a topic of your
choosing related to transnational and global feminisms, 15-20 pages in length. You will be expected to
engage critically with secondary sources and will submit a short abstract and annotated bibliography
mid-semester.
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Class Schedule and Assignments:
Date
Week 1:
Jan. 14th
Discussion
Leaders:
Sharlene HesseBiber
Topic(s)
o
o
o
Week 2:
Jan. 21st
Discussion
Leaders:
Sharlene HesseBiber
o
o
Introduction to
1)
interdisciplinary and
transnational
approaches to
2)
Women’s Studies
Readings and Assignments Due
1. Grewal, Inderpal & Caren Kaplan. “Introduction” in
Scattered Hegemonies. (Pgs. 1-36)
2. Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. “Cartographies of Struggle:
Third World Women and the Politics of Feminism.” Third
World Women and the Politics of Feminism. (Pgs. 1-47)
Theories of
Globalization versus
3) 3. Maynes, M.J., Pierce, J..L and Laasett, B. Telling Stories:
Transnationalism
The Use of Personal Narratives in the Social Sciences and
History. Cornell University Press. (Introduction: The Use
The power of
of Personal Narratives in the Social Sciences and History)
Narratives as
Evidence
Studying Women’s
Lives: Feminist
Research
Methodologies and
Methods
How do women go
about studying
subjugated
knowledge/women’s
lives?
1. Begin reading: Boo, Katherine. Behind the Beautiful
Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.
(Pgs. 3-132).
2. Maynes, M.J., Pierce, J..L and Laasett, B. Telling Stories:
The Use of Personal Narratives in the Social Sciences and
History. Cornell University Press. (Introduction: The Use
of Personal Narratives in the Social Sciences and History.
Chapter 5. Making Arguments Based on Personal Narrative
Sources)
3. Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. “Under Western Eyes:
Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses.” Feminism
Without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing
Solidarity. (Pgs. 17-42).
4. Hesse-Biber, Sharlene. “An Invitation to Feminist
Research.” Feminist Research Practice: A Primer, 2nd
Edition. (Pgs. 1-26)
5. “The Practice of Feminist In-depth Interviewing.” (Pgs.
111-148)
Week 3:
o
Decentering
5
Jan. 28th
Western Feminism:
What is
Transnational
Feminism compared
with Global
Feminism?
Discussion
Leaders:
1. Boo, Katherine. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life,
Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.
(Pgs. 135-234).
2. Chatterjee, Partha. "Colonialism, Nationalism, and
Colonialized Women: The Contest in India."
American Ethnologist 16(4) (Pgs. 622-633)
3. Deniz Kandiyoti, Deniz. 1988. “Bargaining with
Patriarchy.” Gender and Society 2(3): (Pgs. 274-290)
Week 4:
Feb.4th
o
Overview: The
Status of Women in
a Transnational
Context
1. Kristof, Nicholas D. & Sheryl Wu Dunn. Half the Sky:
Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
o
Studying Women’s
Lives: Critical
Agency and the
Claiming of
Selfhood
1. Min, Anchee. Red Azalea (Entire book)
Discussion
Leaders:
Week 5:
February 18th
Discussion
Leaders:
Note: The next several
weeks will focus on a
range of aspects
regarding the role that
violence plays across the
diversity of women’s life
cycle in the Third world
Week 6.
February 25th
o
Discussion
Leaders:
SPRING
VACATION!
Week 7:
March 11th
Discussion
Leaders:
The Role Violence
Plays in Young
Girls Lives: One
Lived Experience
1. Malala Yousafzai, I am Malala. (Entire book)
2. Begin Reading: Loyd, Rachel. Girls Like Us: Fighting for
a World Where Girls are not for Sale: A Memoir.
No Class
o
The Business of
Violence against
Women: Trafficking
in Women’s
Bodies—
International Sex
Abstract and Annotated Bibliography Due!
1. Loyd, Rachel. Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where
Girls are not for Sale: A Memoir. (Pgs. 133-268)
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o
Week 8:
March 18th
o
Discussion
Leaders:
Trade in the New
Global Restructuring
2. Agustin, Laura. “Migrants in the Mistresses House: Other
Voices in the ‘Trafficking’ Debate.” Social Politics 12. (Pgs.
96-117).
Take a look at the
website,
www.catwinternatio
nal.org, come
prepared with some
observations and
discussion points
The Business of
Violence against
Women: Discourses
and Dilemmas
across National
Borders.
3) Kempadoo, Kamala. “Women of Color and the Global
Sex Trade: Transnational Perspectives.” Meridians 1(2).
(Pgs. 28-51)
1. Shelley, Louise. Human Trafficking: A Global
Perspective. “The Business of Human Trafficking.” (Pgs.
112-140)
2. Mungello, D.E. Drowning Girls in China: Female
Infanticide in China since 1960. “Female Infanticide” (Pgs.
1-6) and “Female Infanticide in Modern China” (Pgs. 117126)
3. Narayan, Uma. Cross-Cultural Connections, BorderCrossings, and ‘Death by Culture’: Thinking about DowryMurders in India and Domestic-Violence Murders in the US.
(Entire Readings)
Recommended Reading:
1) Shelley, Louise. Human Trafficking: A Global
Perspective. “Asian Trafficking” (Pgs. 141-173), “Human
Trafficking in Eurasia and Eastern Europe” (Pgs. 174200),“Trafficking in Europe” (Pgs. 201-228), and “Human
Trafficking in Latin America and Africa” (Pgs. 265-294)
Week 9:
March 25th
o
Discussion
Leaders:
The Global
Economy: Third
World Women and
the Politics of
Development
1. Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. “Women Workers and
Capitalist Scripts: Ideologies of Domination, Common
Interests, and the Politics of Solidarity.” Feminist
Genealogies, Colonial Legacies, Democratic Futures. (Pgs.
3-29)
2. Narayan, Uma. “Contesting Cultures: ‘Westernization,’
Respect for Cultures, and Third-World Feminists.”
Dislocating Cultures: Identities, Traditions, and Third
World Feminism (Thinking Gender). (Pgs. 1-40)
3. Ramamaurthy, Priti. “Material Consumers, Fabricating
Subjects: Perplexity, Global Connectivity Discourses, and
Transnational Feminist Research” in Cultural Anthropology
(online). 18(4). (Pgs. 524-550).
Week 10:
April1st
Discussion
o
Part II The Global
Economy:
Transnational
Women as Workers
1. Grewal, Inderpal. “Traveling Barbie: Indian
Transnationalities and the Global Consumer.” Transnational
America: Feminisms, Diasporas, Neoliberalisms. (Pgs. 80120).
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Leaders:
and Consumers
2. Barndt, Deborah. “Whose ‘Choice’?: ‘Flexible’ Women
Workers in the Tomato Food Chain.” Women Working the
NAFTA Food Chain: Women, Food and Globalization.
(Entire Reading)
3. Parreñas, Rhacel Salazar. “The Care Crisis in the
Phillippines: Children and the Transnational Families in the
New Global Economy.” Global Woman: Nannies, Maids,
and Sex Workers in the New Economy. (Pgs. 39-54)
RECOMMENDED:
4) Brennan, Denise. “Selling Sex for Visas: Sex Tourism as
a Stepping-stone to International Migration.”Global Woman:
Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy.
(Pgs. 154-168)
5) Thai, Hung Cam. “Clashing Dreams: Highly Educated
Overseas Brides and Low-Wage U.S. Husbands.” Global
Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New
Economy. (Pgs. 230-253)
Week 11:
April 8th
o
The Politics of
Western-Led
Development and
Aid: Role of NGO’s
and Charitable
Organizations
1. Ann Wilentz, Farewell, Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti
(Entire Book)
o
Women’s Health
Dilemmas and
Issues in
Transnational
perspective
1. Pande, Amrita. “Commercial Surrogacy in India:
Manufacturing a Perfect Mother-Worker.” (Pgs. 969-992)
Discussion
Leaders:
Week 12:
April 15th
Discussion
Leaders:
2. Corrêa, Sonia. “From Reproductive Health to Sexual
Rights: Achievements and Future Challenges.” Reproductive
Health Matters, Vol. 5, No. 10. (Pgs. 107-116)
3. George, Sabu. “Female Infanticide in Tamil Nadu, India:
From Recognition Back to Denial.” Reproductive Health
Matters. (Pgs. 124-132)
4. Carpenter, Laura M. “Gender and the Meaning and
Experiences of Virginity Loss in the Contemporary United
States.” Gender & Society. (Pgs. 345-365)
RECOMMENDED:
5. Higgins, Jenny A., Susie Hoffman, & Shari L. Dworkin.
“Rethinking Gender, Heterosexual Men, Women’s
Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.” American Journal of Public
Health. (Pgs. 435-445)
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6. Hunt, Paul & Judith Bueno de Mesquita. “Reducing
Maternal Mortality: The Contribution of the Right to the
Highest Attainable Standard of Health.” (Pgs. 3-15)
Week 13:
April 22rd
o
Transnational
Consumption
Patterns : The
Political Economy
of Oppression
o
Challenges and
Possibilities of
Transnational
Feminisms &
Women’s
Organizing within
and across borders.
Discussion
Leaders:
Week 14:
April 29th
Discussion
Leaders:
Flip-Flop- A Journey Through Globalisation’s Backroads.
Caroline Knowles.(entire book)
Final Papers Due!
1. Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. ‘ “Under Western Eyes”
Revisited: Feminist Solidarity through Anticapitalist
Struggles.’ Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society
2(2) (Pgs. 499-535)
2. Naples, Nancy A. & Manisha Desai, eds. Women’s
Activism and Globalization: Linking Local Struggles and
Transnational Politics. READ: “The Challenges and
Possibilities of Transnational Feminist Praxis.” (Pgs. 263278), Fukumura, Yoko & Martha Matsuoka. “Redefining
Security: Okinawa Women’s Resistance to U.S. Militarism.”
(Pgs. 235-262), Mendez, Jennifer Bickham. “Creating
Alternatives from a Gender Perspective: Transnational
Organizing for Maquila Workers’ Rights in Central
America” (Pgs. 121-141)
Recommended Reading:
3. Weber, Clare, “Women to Women: Dissident Citizen
Diplomacy in Nicaragua.” In WAG Ch. 4, (Pgs. 45-63)
Friday, May 6th
Final Meeting & party!
Be prepared to talk informally about your final paper!
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