Please choose two of the following six questions. Make sure your choice demonstrates your breadth and depth of knowledge in your specialization.
1.
State violence against women is a key target of feminist theory and activism. In this essay, map feminist approaches to addressing this issue, noting differences by race and class where relevant.
2.
Trace the history of feminist and anti-racist movements in the U.S. from slavery to the present. What lessons from this history can you distill for the present and future of feminist activism?
3.
What is imperialism, and how have feminists (including Third World feminists): a) Contributed to imperialism? b) Challenged imperialism?
4.
The mantra to conduct “intersectional analysis” has become an almost perfunctory way to do feminist analysis yet some have argued that the approach itself has limitations. Provide a clear genealogy of the term “intersectional analysis” within feminism, what it attempts to do and what it has achieved. What are the main criticisms of intersectional analysis and do you find them convincing?
5.
“White liberal feminism, as practiced within the western academy, continues to play lip service to the central importance of race as a foundational category of analysis and structuring dimension of contemporary society”. Critically evaluate this statement.
6.
Third World (and women of color) feminists argue that conventional understandings of gender are narrow because they almost always build from the experiences of middle class, straight, white women. Apply that critique to one of the three areas in the sociology of gender: a)
Sexuality b)
Reproductive rights c)
Citizenship