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YORK UNIVERSITY
GENDER, FEMINIST AND WOMEN’S STUDIES GFWS 6503 6.0
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT SPT 6108 6.0
SOCIOLOGY SOCI 6201
The History and Development of Feminist Theory
Fall/Winter 2013-2014
Meg Luxton
Founders 206 C
416-736-2100 ext. 20933
mluxton@yorku.ca
Office Hours: by appointment
Class Time: Wednesdays 11:30am – 2:30 pm
Location: Founders College 201
This course asks what theory is, what is involved in doing theory and what an in-depth
understanding of theory offers feminist scholarship. It does so by examining key
moments in the history and development of feminist social and political theory in western
European and North American English-language intellectual traditions.
It explores the roots of diverse contemporary analyses of women, sex and gender as they
relate to theories of inequality or oppression and struggles for equality or liberation. The
course weaves together a number of themes of enquiry: the relationship between social
organisations of sex/gender relations and theories of “women;” the development of
various feminist analyses from protest by individual women against their “lot” to the
emergence of collective movements for social and political change; the links between
non-feminist social and political theory and feminist theory; the relationship between
theory and action; whether or not there is “feminist methodology” or “feminist theory;”
the differences among or links between various oppressions - class, race, national origin,
sex/gender, language and sexual identity and orientation in particular.
The main goal is to improve our ability to identify the theories informing the material we
read, to increase our understanding of how theory shapes knowledge production, how the
socio-political context shapes theory, and to be more explicit about the theories that shape
our own work. The course also deals explicitly with issues related to graduate education.
It asks what it means in the current period to be an intellectual, a queer intellectual and
particularly an intellectual woman. How do critical thinking, political engagement and
contemplative thought interact in our scholarship? It explores what it means to do theory
and encourages students to develop their academic skills, particularly critical reading,
writing and doing seminar and conference presentations.
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Part 1. Introduction: How to Read Theory and Issues of Critique
September 11: Introduction
Who are we? What do we bring to the course? What do we want from the course? What
do “feminism” and “theory” mean to each of us? Dealing with course administrivia.
September 18: What is Feminist Theory? Check It Out
Pick one contemporary text book used in undergraduate Gender and Women’s Studies
courses and find out what it says about feminist theory. Do a search of the web for
discussions on what is feminist theory. Come prepared to report your findings in class.
Mann, Susan Archer “Conclusion: Paradigm Shifts in Feminist Thought” Doing Feminist
Theory From Modernity to Postmodernity New York: Oxford University Press, 2012
pp. 400-409
Beauvoir, Simone de The Second Sex London Vintage, 2011 “Introduction” pp. 3-17.
Note: We will use The Second Sex to explore ways of doing academic reading. Keep
notes on your first reading to prepare for class discussions later in the year.
This is available through Google books – students can type “The Second Sex” into the
library search engine and access the Google books link there
(https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2558054 ) or go to
https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=_hywlrNuYvIC&printsec=frontcover&source=g
bs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false
September 25: What is Academic Reading?: Topic vs Argument/ Theory and Politics
de Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex pt1, ch 1 “Biological Data” pp. 21-48
Watkins, Susan and Marisa Rueda Feminism for Beginners London: Allen and Unwin,
1993
or
Phonca, Sophia and Rebecca Wright Introducing Postfeminism London: Icon Books,
1999
Oct. 2: Why feminism? What are the Issues?
Segal, Lynne Why feminism? gender, psychology, politics New York: Columbia, 1999
University Press, 1999 9780745623467 HQ 1154 S348
Library holding https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/1491580
Google books (first 28 pages)
http://books.google.ca/books?id=MS_9irloWp4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=why+femini
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sm&source=bl&ots=oEQUcsuJDA&sig=yhJkNonBo7K4mUC3_xpzEFxzzc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wlJDUJGmO6yf6QGd4DADQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=why%20feminism&f=false
de Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex pt 1 ch 2 “The Psychoanalytical Point of View” pp.
50-62
Note: Assignment 1 is due in class next week
Oct. 9: Feminist Theory and Interdisciplinarity
Feminist theory, Queer theory, Women’s Studies and Gender Studies are resolutely
interdisciplinary. As a result, there is an on-going debate about the extent to which
contemporary feminist theorists share anything in common, whether it is appropriate to
talk about feminist theory or theories, and what, if anything, might constitute the defining
characteristics of feminist theory. Are there any key authors, concepts, or assumptions
that readers of contemporary theory need to know? This class explores this issue, asking
whether feminist theory rests on any shared theoretical conceptualizations; if not, what
are the implications? If so, what are the consequences?
Sangster, Joan “Introduction Reflections on Thirty Years of Women’s History” in Joan
Sangster Essays on Canadian Women’s History Through Feminist Eyes AU Press:
Athabasca University, 2011: 1-48 Ebook available through the York library – here’s the
link: https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/3003967
de Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex pt 1 ch 3 “The Point of View of Historical
Materialism” pp. 63-72
Assignment 1 due in class this week.
Oct. 16: Critical Theory and Rethinking Elite White Heterosexual Malestream Thought
Parsons, Talcott “The American Family: Its Relations to Personality and to the Social
Structure” in Talcott Parsons and Robert Bales (eds) Family Socialization and Interaction
Processes Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press, 1955: 3-33
Or google books has the first chapter available
http://books.google.ca/books?id=uh0VXFUutmAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Famil
y,+socialization+and+interaction+process,+by+Talcott+Parsons&source=bl&ots=sz
U_bLj7gt&sig=5zR1q6Mu58QS21S28mtTkJjJdcM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SVtDUIHuB
OXk0QHn5IDwCw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Family%2C%20sociali
zation%20and%20interaction%20process%2C%20by%20Talcott%20Parsons&f=f
alse
de Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex pt 2 “History ” ch 1-3 pp. 73-106
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Lola Young “How Do We Look? Unfixing the Singular Black (Female) Subject” in Paul
Gilroy, Lawrence Grossberg and Angela McRobbie (eds) Without Guarantees In Honour
of Stuart Hall London: Verso, 2000:416-429 HM 479 G7 W57 2000
Connell, Raewyn “Transsexual Women and Feminist Thought: Toward
New Understanding and New Politics” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society
2012, vol. 37, no. 4
Brah, Avtar “Difference, Diversity, Differentiation” in Kum-Kum Bhavnani (ed)
Feminism and ‘Race’ Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001:456-478
HQ 111 F44 2001 (on 2 hr reserve at Scott as well as in the stacks)
October 23: Feminist Theory and the Politics of Decolonising
Mohanty, Chandra Feminism without Borders: decolonizing theory, practising solidarity
Durham: Duke University, 2003 “1. Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and
Colonial Discourses” and 9. "Under Western Eyes" Revisited: Feminist Solidarity
through Anticapitalist Struggles" pp. 169-251
Online source – here’s the library link to the ebook (so each student can sign in
themselves)
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2536739
Sunseri, Lina “Dreaming of a Free, Peaceful, Balanced, Decolonized Nation: Being
Again of One Mind” chapter 5 Being Again of One Mind Oneida Women and the
Struggle for Decolonization UBC Press: Vancouver, 2011:151-175 E 99 O45 S86 2011
de Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex pt 2 “History ” ch 4-5 pp. 107-162
October 30: Co-curricular Days – no class
Assignment 1 due in class this week.
Nov. 6: Historical Materialism and Feminist Political Economy
Seccombe, Wally “Labour-Power, Family Forms and the Mode-of-Production Concept”
ch. 1 A millennium of Family Change London: Verso, 1992: 9-36
Ebook available through the York library.
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/1068848
Maroney, Heather Jon and Meg Luxton Feminism and Political Economy Women’s
Work, Women’s Struggles Toronto: Methuen, “Editors’ Introduction” 1987: 1-3
HQ 1154 F45 1987
Maroney, Heather Jon and Meg Luxton “Gender at Work: Canadian Feminist Political
Economy Since 1988” in Wallace Clement (ed) Understanding Canada Building on the
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New Canadian Political Economy Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queens University
Press, 1997:85-117 Ebook available through the York library
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2233071
Nov. 13: Situated Sisterhood and Solidarity? The Challenge in Canada
Descarries, Francine “The Hegemony of the English Language in the Academy: the
Damaging Impact of the Socio-cultural and Linguistic Barriers on the Development of
Feminist Sociological Knowledge, Theories and Strategies” Current Sociology
November, vol. 51, no. 6, 2003:1-13
Permalink
http://resolver.scholarsportal.info.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/resolve/00113921/v51i0006/6
25_thotelfsktas
Link in the library holdings
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/muler6553
Massaquoi, Notisha “An Unsettled Feminist Discourse” in Notisha Massaquoi and Njoki
Nathani Wane (eds) Theorizing Empowerment Canadian Perspectives on Black Feminist
Thought Toronto: Innana Publications, 2007:75-94
HQ 1453 T467 2007 (also on reserve at Scott)
Or Toronto Public Library
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM1810089&R=1810089
de Seve, Micheline “Women’s National and Gendered Identity: The Case of Canada”
Journal of Canadian Studies Summer vol. 35, no. 2, 2000:61-79
library holding for the journal:
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/muler21389
the link to the article
http://pao.chadwyck.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/articles/displayItem.do?QueryType=ar
ticles&ResultsID=138ECDCACFF1A09809&filterSequence=0&ItemNumber=1&journa
lID=h123
Luxton, Meg “Feminism as a Class Act: Working-Class Feminism and the Women’s
Movement in Canada” Labour/le Travail 48 Fall, 2001:63-88
HD 8102 L3
Library holding:
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Search/Results?lookfor=labour%2Fle+travail&type=Al
lFields&submit=Go
Article:
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/docview/218793842/138ECE1380C7
4BE0329/1?accountid=15182
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Part 2: Challenges to Formal Knowledge: From Classical Greece to the European
Enlightenment: The Rise of Liberalism, the Emergence of Capitalism and the Politics of
Resistance
November 20: Feminist Theorising Before Feminism
Rowbotham, Sheila Women, Resistance and Revolution London: Penguin: 1972
“Introduction” and “chapter 1 Impudent Lasses” pp. 11-35
HQ 1154 R77 1972 (Only available at Nellie)
any of the excerpts of the writings of any three of the writers (except Mary
Wollstonecraft) in either of these books:
Ferguson, Moira First Feminists: British Women Writers 1587-1799 Bloomington:
Indiana University Press, 1985
PR 1111 F57 1985 (only at Nellie)
Goodreads link where people can get a kobo copy:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2460250.First_Feminists?auto_login_attempted=t
rue
or
McDonald, Lynn (ed) Women Theorists on Society and Politics Waterloo, Ontario:
Wilfred Laurier University Press, 1998
H 83 W65 1998 (only at Nellie)
Google Books:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=GKY0D_NxQFMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&
q&f=false
November 27: Protest and Revolution in the 17th and 18th Centuries
Wollstonecraft, Mary A Vindication of the Rights of Woman [1792] Norton: New York
1967 (any edition)
library holding:
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2510075
Ebook version:
http://gerritsen.chadwyck.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/fullrec/fullrec.do?area=document
s&id=Gerritsen-G3153&DurUrl=Yes
Google books:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=hxwEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=a+vindic
ation+of+the+rights+of+women&source=bl&ots=lDGqHhtaRr&sig=qRa7rZpkcabiHa5a
nzy2MR2_GMc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4XFDUMTjA9KH0QG1qoCYDw&ved=0CDMQ6
AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Rowbotham, Sheila Women, Resistance and Revolution London: Penguin: 1972
“chapter 2 Utopian Proposals” pp. 36-58
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Dec. 4: The Critiques of Capitalism and Utopian Alternatives in the 18th and 19th
Centuries
Thompson, William Appeal of one half of the Human Race, Women, against the
pretensions of the Other half, Men, to retain them in Political and thence in Civil and
Domestic Slavery London: Virago, 1983
On reserve:
JF 851 T5 1983
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/178103
https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=VNEunEHMJe4C&printsec=frontcover&source
=gbs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false )
Rowbotham, Sheila Women, Resistance and Revolution London: Penguin: 1972 “chapter
3 Dialectical Disturbances” pp. 59-77
December Break!
January 8: The Contradictions of Liberal Theory
Mill, John Stuart The Subjection of Women (1869) and Mill, Harriet Taylor The
Enfranchisement of Women (1851) London: Virago, 1983
(Note: the John Stuart Mill essay is widely available. The Harriet Taylor Mill is not.
There are to my knowledge only two editions which include her essay).
HQ 1596 M52 2001
Google books
https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=ahfS8QWMh2EC&printsec=frontcover&source=
gbs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false
The Harriet Taylor one is on reserve at
HQ 1154 M4473 1983
And it’s an eresource at
http://gerritsen.chadwyck.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/fullrec/fullrec.do?area=document
s&id=Gerritsen-G1937.1&DurUrl=Yes
Rowbotham, Sheila Women, Resistance and Revolution London: Penguin: 1972
“chapter 4 Dreams and Dilemmas” pp. 78-98
Jan. 15: Marxism and “The Woman Question”
Engels, Frederick The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State New York:
International Publishers, 1972
HQ 504 E613 1972B
Ebook:
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2910949
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http://solomon.soth.alexanderstreet.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/cgibin/asp/philo/soth/sourceidx.pl?sourceid=S10020698
Marx, Karl and Frederick Engels The Communist Manifesto any edition
HX 39.5 A5213 2012
Ebook
https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2475380
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/ehost/detail?sid=8429b868-a1ef-44f89b3fd9814fc30131%40sessionmgr13&vid=1&hid=18&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ
%3d%3d#db=nlebk&AN=329629
Note: An abstract of your final paper is due in class next week.
Jan. 22: Psychoanalysis and Theories of Sex Differences
Sigmund Freud “Female Sexuality” vol. 21 1931: 223-243 and
“Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality” vol. 7 1905:125-245
in Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works London: Hogarth Press and
Institute of Psycho-Analysis BF 173 F6253 1973
Note: An abstract of your final paper is due in class this week.
Jan. 29: Locating Women’s Activism
Rowbotham, Sheila Women, Resistance and Revolution London: Penguin: 1972, chapters
5-8 pp. 99-247
Davis, Angela Women, Race and Class New York: Random House, 1981
HT 1521 D38
Google books
https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=fEOxH13o6HoC&printsec=frontcover&source=
gbs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false
Part 3. Foundations of Twentieth Century Feminism
Feb. 5: Material Conditions, Social Location, Identity and Subjectivity
Kollontai, Alexandra Sexual Relations and the Class Struggle: Love and the New
Morality Bristol: The Falling Wall Press, 1972
HQ 1154 K6513 (Nellie)
HQ 1154 K6513 (Scott Reserves)
RDC 398 (Scott Special Collections)
Goldman, Emma "The Traffic in Women" in Alix Kates Shulman The Traffic in Women
and Other Essays on Feminism Ojai. California: Times Change Press, 1970
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HQ 1426 G64 1990
HQ 1426 G64 1970
(if people want to download it on to kobo
www.goodreads.com/book/show/239448.The_Traffic_in_Women_and_Other_Essays_on
_Feminism )
Shulman, Alix Kates "Dancing in the Revolution: Emma Goldman's Feminism" in Penny
Weiss and Loretta Kensinger (eds) Feminist Interpretations of Emma Goldman
University Park, Pennsylvania: Pensylvania University Press, 2007 pp. 241-253
HX 843.7 G65 F56 2007
Giddings, Paula When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex
in America New York: William Morrow, 1984 chapters 2 and 3
E 185.86 G49 1985 (Nellie, Scott and Scott Reserves)
Feb. 12: Simone de Beauvoir: Analysis in a Period of Reaction
de Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex London: Jonathan Cape, 2009/Vintage 2011
except vol. 1 part 3 “Myths” pp. 163-288
Note: come to class prepared to discuss the strategies of reading and rereading.
Feb. 19 : Co-Curricular Week – no classes
Feb. 26: Theories of Formal Equality with Men: Liberal Feminism
Friedan, Betty The Feminine Mystique New York: Dell, 1962
HQ 1420 F7 1963
HQ 1420 F7 2001
Google books
https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=Xg6NEVBTM6IC&printsec=frontcover&source
=gbs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false
Report of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada Ottawa: Information
Canada, 1970
HQ 1457 C375 (Nellie)
CAN2 P2.8 ST28 1967 (Frost)
Mar. 5: Theories of Patriarchy and Male Dominance: Radical Feminism
Rowland, Robyn and Renate Klein “Radical Feminism: History, Politics, Action” in
Diane Bell and Renate Klein (eds) Radically Speaking: Feminism Reclaimed London:
Zed Books, 1996:9-36
HQ 1190 R33 1996
Google book
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https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=K22CrjaKYsYC&printsec=frontcover&source=g
bs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false
Firestone, Shulamith The Dialectic of Sex New York: Morrow, 1970
HQ 1426 F68 (Nellie)
HQ 1426 F68 1971 (Scott)
or
Millet, Kate Sexual Politics New York: Avon, 1969
HQ 1154 M5 1978 (Nellie)
HQ 1154 M5 1990 (Scott)
Google books:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Ig1WNVW18xoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=sexual+po
litics&source=bl&ots=ocXOcx5IFW&sig=0bUrp9iyXWgHkPuiZscjmcoA28&hl=en&sa=X&ei=K4VDUO3KFsPE0QGuoYGADQ&ved=0CDA
Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=sexual%20politics&f=false
Note: March 8 is International Women’s Day. Plan to attend the Toronto Rally and
March and come to class next week prepared to discuss the current demands and how
they relate to the material we have covered in class.
Mar. 12: Feminism and Psychoanalysis
Benjamin, Jessica The Bonds of Love: psychoanalysis, feminism and the problem of
domination. New York: Pantheon Books, 1988
BF 692.2 B46 1990 (on reserve and in the stacks)
Mar. 19: Theories of Sex/Gender and Class: Marxism/Socialist Feminsm
Rubin, Gayle "The Traffic in Women: Notes on the "Political Economy" of Sex" in
Rayna Reiter (ed) Toward an Anthropology of Women New York: Monthly Review,
1975: 157-185
GN 294 T68 (Nellie, Frost, Scott)
In a different book
https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=BMlJREYViwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ViewAPI#v=onepage&q&f=false
Armstrong, Pat and Hugh Armstrong "Beyond Sexless Class and Classless Sex: Towards
a Feminist Marxism" in Caroline Andrew et al (eds) Studies in Political Economy:
Developments in Feminism Toronto: Women's Press, 2003 pp. 11-50
HQ 1381 S78 2003
Ebook
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/lib/oculyork/docDetail.action?docID=101
91725
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Luxton, Meg and June Corman Getting By in Hard Times Gendered Labour at Home
and on the Job Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001 "1. A World Turned Upside
Down: Working Class Lives in Hamilton, 1980-1996" pp. 3-35 HD 8039 I52 C36 2001
Part 4: Locating Ourselves as Theory Practionners
Note: The last class or last two classes will be a Mock Congress at which students will
present their final papers. The format and date will be determined in class depending on
the number of people in the class on either Mar 26 or Apr 2 or both
Workload
On a weekly basis the course involves four main activities: reading and thinking about
the assigned material, typically a book or about 5 articles a week; participating in class
discussions; preparing the various assignments, and presenting your work in class. Most
weeks’ preparation includes reviewing the questions circulated (on the preceding
Thursday) by the seminar leader and the critical reading commentaries circulated (the day
before class) by students who selected that class as one of their three critical reading
assignments.
One of the concerns of the course is academic reading and writing. Students are asked to
pay attention to their experiences of reading, writing and theorising as we will discuss
these in class on a regular basis.
Assignments and Grading:
Note: Papers handed in on time will be returned with detailed comments. Papers handed
in after the deadline will be graded but may not get comments.
Assignment 1: due: 9 October, 2013 worth: 10%
Pick one of the following feminist journals: Atlantis, Resources for Feminist Research,
Canadian Woman Studies, Feminist Theory, Feminist Review, Feminist Studies, Signs,
Feminist Economics, Differences, Agenda, Feminist Africa, Caribbean Review of Gender
Studies, The European Journal of Women’s Studies, Gender and Society, Manushi: A
Journal about Women and Society, Women’s Studies International Forum, Asian Journal
of Women's Studies, Review of Women’s Studies (Philippines).
Pick one theoretical article published in the past two years. Prepare a report that
summarizes the argument of the article by identifying its thesis, its central concepts and
the supporting evidence and/or arguments. What assumptions does the argument rest on?
What do readers need to know in order to follow, and assess the argument? In particular,
what previous writers and concepts does the author assume readers are familiar with?
Come to class prepared to discuss your findings and to explain the basis on which you
decided the article is “theoretical”.
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Hand in the report and a copy of the article.
Assignment 2: Seminar Presentation
worth: 10 %
Each student will lead the seminar discussion for one week. On the Sunday preceding the
class (at the latest), the presenter will circulate a question or questions which will be the
focus of the class discussion. The seminar leader will begin the class discussion by
presenting a critique of the readings (not a summary) that includes a discussion of the
following questions: what is the main theoretical framework shaping the text(s), what are
the key concepts employed? how coherent is the argument? what kinds of analysis does
it require? invite or preclude?
Assignment 3: Critical reading assignment
Due: one day before the class
worth: 10% each for a total of 30%*
For any three classes (excluding the class for which you are doing a seminar
presentation), prepare a critical review that weaves together all the readings for the week
to show how the readings contribute to an analysis of the topic. What are the main theses
or arguments, to what extent are they similar, in what ways do they differ from, or
disagree with each other? what are their central concepts and what supporting evidence
and/or arguments are developed? Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments.
Show how the readings relate to other material covered in the course. Note: be careful to
present a critique, not a summary.
At least one day before the class, send your review by email to everyone in the class.
Your paper will be graded and returned in the next class.
*One of the main goals of the course is to help students improve their writing. The three
weekly reading assignments will be marked out of ten. This grading system does not
allow for significant differentiation so each paper will be given letter grades. If anyone
gets less than a B+ once the final grade is calculated, they can choose to have the reading
assignments calculated out of 25 (instead of 30) and have the additional 5% added to the
final paper. Students who choose this option must indicate their choice on the final paper
when they hand it in.
Assignment 4: Class Participation
worth: 10%
A substantial portion of the grade is allocated to participation because a lot of learning
occurs in class time; in fact, a class develops continuity, a sense of community and a
collective consciousness through the experience of meeting together. The participation
grade is not based on the number of times a student speaks, but reflects an assessment of
their overall preparation, informed contribution to class discussions (i.e. evidence of
having done the readings and of having thought about them before class), and
responsiveness to the presentations and comments of other students. This grade
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recognises work that is not specifically graded, and offers a way to appreciate those
students who make a special contribution to building the class as a community.
Assignment 5: Final Paper
due 30 April 2014
worth: 40 %
Based on the material covered in the course:
Pick one major theorist and analyse their theory of gender relations and sex/gender
systems.
or
Pick an issue in feminist theory and do a critical review of the literature relevant to this
issue.
This paper should conform to the format of a journal article, that is, about 25 pages
(double spaced) or 6-8,000 words.
Note: The last one or two classes, 26 March and 2 April 2014, will involve a Mock
Congress. Students will present their work to date on their final paper.
An abstract of this paper is due in class 22 January 2014.
Readings
Note: I have not included any suggested readings on this outline. I will be pleased to
suggest further readings for any topic if asked.
All readings are on reserve in the Scott Library. A copy of each article and of the
Rowbotham and Segal books is available in the Nellie Library and in my office. Most of
the books are available in the public library system. There are a number of second hand
bookstores near the University of Toronto, especially on Harbord Street west of Spadina.
They often have copies of the out of print texts. Students are expected to make sure they
obtain all required materials in enough time to allow them to read the material before
class. The citations include the ISBN and Scott call numbers.