Feminist Theory
Western New Mexico University
SOC 480
Spring 2013
Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00-5:15
PHELPB 244
Dr. Emma Bailey
Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesdays 12:00-2:00
and by appointment
Phelps Dodge 227
575. 538.6824 (o) / 575.538.5478 (c)
Emma.Bailey@wnmu.edu
Course Description
Feminist Theory introduces students to the theorists and the theoretical schools that undergird feminist
practice. The course is designed to not only give students an understanding of these thinkers and their
ideas, but also to engage them in a creative and critical way. To this end, this course requires a significant
amount of reading, writing, and critical thought.
Required Course Readings
Available at the WNMU Bookstore:
Mann, Susan Archer. 2012. Doing Feminist Theory: From Modernity to Postmodernity. New York:
Oxford University Press.
Kolmar, Wendy K. and Frances Bartkowski. 2010. Feminist Theory: A Reader (3e). Boston:
McGraw-Hill.
Available at the Miller Library Circulation Desk and on Canvas:
Course Pack / SOC 480
Course Requirements
1. Read the assigned materials prior to class and be prepared to discuss them. Both attendance and
preparation are crucial to success in this course. Participation in class is essential.
2. Submit Commentary Notes.
3. Submit five Analytical Papers.
4. Submit two “What is Feminist Theory?” Papers.
5. Submit one “My Feminist Theory” Paper.
Evaluation
Commentary Notes
Analytical Papers
What is Feminist Theory Papers
My Feminist Theory
Grading Scale
100-90
89-80
79-70
69-60
59 and below
A
B
C
D
F
20%
45%
10%
25%
Important Notes
ATTENDANCE--Attendance at class meetings is essential to academic success. Interaction with faculty members and
fellow students provides the best opportunity for learning information and for exercising skills necessary to gain
competencies in the subject. Classroom discussion also enriches understanding beyond the boundaries of the specific
course and develops students' analytical facility and ability to communicate ideas effectively. I expect each student to
take full advantage of his or her educational experience by developing personal responsibility for class attendance.
Writing and thinking are never separate processes; consequently, an integral part of this class relies upon your effort &
mental awareness. I expect punctuality, alertness, and participation in class discussions and exercises. High quality
participation includes listening carefully and responding thoughtfully to classmates' ideas, in addition to expressing
your own ideas about the course material. Attendance is not an option--it is a requirement. For each unexcused
absence after 3, your final grade will be lowered by one letter. Any student who misses 6 class periods will fail the
course.
CELL PHONES--No cell phones are permitted in class.
ACADEMIC HONESTY--Students are required to be aware of WNMU’s academic honesty policy (see the 2012-2013
WNMU catalog).
ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE ON THE STATED DATE—NO EXCEPTIONS
INCOMPLETES—For a variety of reasons, I discourage incompletes. Incompletes are given only for very specific
circumstances. Do not even consider asking me for an incomplete unless you have successfully completed 70% of the
coursework prior to asking.
Please communicate with me through Mustang Express, phone, or text. Do NOT communicate with me via Canvas.
Disability Services at WNMU: Services for students with disabilities are provided through the Academic Support
Center’s Disability Support Services Office in the Juan Chacon Building, Room 220. The Academic Support Center’s
Disability Support Services Office can be contacted by phone at (575) 538-6014 or e-mail at dss@wnmu.edu.
Commentary Notes
Handing in a “commentary note” will be your “ticket of admission” to each and every class. If you do not have your
note, you will not be admitted to class and your absence will be unexcused. The note should be a brief comment,
question, or point of discussion based on the readings for the class, and on your own experience/perceptions that relate
to the topic/readings of the day. It can be as short as a 1-sentence question that you wish to have discussed, or a short
paragraph commenting on, or criticizing the reading of the day. You may also raise related issues from current
happenings or from your own experience. The “catch” is, your commentary note may be chosen for discussion in any
given class. If so, you must be prepared to elaborate on what you wrote and help lead a discussion on the topic. I will
handout index cards that should be used for this assignment. Evaluation is pass/fail.
Analytical Papers
Five Analytical Papers are due this term (February 6, 27, March 27, April 10, 24). Papers are due at the start of class,
must be typewritten, and at least two full pages in length. These papers are required to be free of typing errors,
grammatical mistakes, and spelling mistakes. Each paper must not only cite the readings (using parenthetical
notations) from the corresponding sections but also draw upon previous readings. Questions will be given in the class
prior to the day the paper is due.
“What Is Feminist Theory?” Papers
Two “What Is Feminist Theory?” papers are due this term (January 21 and March 11). This assignment is highly
reflective. Students can answer the question, “What is Feminist Theory?,” in a personal or academic way. This
assignment, in addition to the Analytical Papers, is intended to prepare the student for the “My Feminist Theory” Paper.
With each paper, students should take stock of where they are in their own journey of understanding the topics
discussed in this class and seek to answer the question, What is Feminist Theory? Students must cite course readings
using parenthetical notations. Each paper should be a minimum of two full pages and a maximum of four. Papers are
due at the start of class and must be typewritten. These papers are required to be free of typing errors, grammatical
mistakes, and spelling mistakes. Evaluation is pass/fail.
“My Feminist Theory” Paper
One “My Feminist Theory” Paper is due this term (Friday, May 3). This assignment is the “culmination” of the
student’s thinking, development and written work on Feminist Theory and could aptly be called a Statement of
Feminism. This paper should include your interaction with at least two types of feminisms as well as lay claim to your
own feminism. Your position should be clearly articulated, argued, supported and documented. Papers must be
typewritten, free of typing errors, grammatical mistakes, and spelling mistakes. A works cited page (using ASA Style)
must be included. The paper should be a minimum of eight full pages and a maximum of ten (excluding the works
cited page).
Course Outline
Week One
January 14--Course Intro
January 16
Doing Feminist Theory 1-30
Week Two
January 21--no class
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
~”What Is Feminist Theory?” Paper Due~
LIBERAL FEMINISMS
January 23
Doing Feminist Theory 33-41
“Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Women”—Sarah Grimké in Feminist Theory
“Declaration of Sentiments”—Elizabeth Cady Stanton in Feminist Theory
“Ain’t I a Woman?”—Sojourner Truth in Feminist Theory
“Keeping the Thing Going While Things Are Stirring”—Sojourner Truth in Feminist Theory
Week Three
January 28
Doing Feminist Theory 41-51
“A Vindication of the Rights of Women”—Mary Wollstonecraft in Feminist Theory
“The Subjection of Women”—John Stuart Mill in Feminist Theory
“Speech after Arrest for Illegal Voting”—Susan B. Anthony in Feminist Theory
January 30
Doing Feminist Theory 51-57
“Utilization of Women in City Government”—Jane Addams in Coursepack
“A Room of One’s Own”—Virginia Woolf in Feminist Theory
“Sex and Temperament”—Margaret Mead in Feminist Theory
Week Four
February 4
Doing Feminist Theory 57-69
“Statement of Purpose”—National Organization for Women in Feminist Theory
“The Problem That Has No Name”—Betty Friedan in Feminist Theory
February 6
Doing Feminist Theory 69-77
“The Sexual Dilemma”—Lillian Rubin in Coursepack
“Images of Relationship”—Carol Gilligan in Feminist Theory
~Analytical Paper Due~
Week Five
MARXIST, SOCIALIST, and ANARCHIST FEMINISMS
February 11
Doing Feminist Theory 112-119
“The Origins of the Family”—Frederick Engels in Feminist Theory
“Women and Economics”—Charlotte Perkins Gilman in Feminist Theory
February 13
Doing Feminist Theory 119-125
“The Traffic in Women”—Emma Goldman in Feminist Theory
“Girl Slaves of the Milwaukee Breweries”—Mother (Mary) Jones in Feminist Theory
“Working Women and Mother”—Alexandra Kollontai in Feminist Theory
Week Six
February 18
Doing Feminist Theory 125-132
“Birth Control—A Parents’ Problem or Woman’s?”—Margaret Sanger in Feminist Theory
“The Second Sex”—Simone de Beauvoir in Feminist Theory
February 20
Doing Feminist Theory 132-141
“The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism”—Heidi I. Hartmann in Feminist Theory
“The Sexual Sociology of Adult Life”—Nancy Chodorow in Feminist Theory
Week Seven
February 25
Doing Feminist Theory 141-152
“The Feminist Standpoint”—Nancy C.M. Hartsock in Coursepack
“Women’s Experience as Radical Critique of Sociology”—Dorothy E. Smith in Coursepack
“The Woman Question in Science”—Sandra Harding in Feminist Theory
February 27
Doing Feminist Theory 152-159
“Development, Ecology and Women”—Vandana Shiva in Feminist Theory
“The Ecology of Feminism and the Feminism of Ecology”—Ynestra King in Feminist Theory
“Scientific Revolution and The Death of Nature”—Carolyn Merchant in Coursepack
~Analytical Paper Due~
Week Eight
March 5--no class
Spring Break
March 7--no class
Spring Break
Week Nine
RADICAL FEMINISMS
March 11
Doing Feminist Theory 78-86
“Petition to Parliament”—Josephine Butler in Feminist Theory
~”What is Feminist Theory?” Paper Due~
March 13
Doing Feminist Theory 86-104
“The Dialectic of Sex”—Shulamith Firestone in Coursepack
“Not for Lesbians Only”—Charlotte Bunch in Feminist Theory
“Redstockings Manifesto” in Feminist Theory
“SCUM Manifesto”—Valerie Solanas in Feminist Theory
Week Ten
March 18
“Woman-Identified Woman”—Radicalesbians in Feminist Theory
“The Traffic in Women”—Gayle Rubin in Feminist Theory
“”Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Experience”—Adrienne Rich in Feminist Theory
March 20
“Some Reflections on Separatism and Power”—Marilyn Frye in Feminist Theory
“Theory of Sexual Politics”—Kate Millet in Feminist Theory
Week Eleven
March 25
“The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm”—Anne Koedt in Feminist Theory
“Sexuality”—Catherine A. Mackinnon in Feminist Theory
March 27
Doing Feminist Theory 104-111
“The Metapatriarchal Journey of Exorcism and Ecstasy”—Mary Daly in Feminist Theory
“Why Women Need the Goddess”—Carol P. Christ in Coursepack
~Analytical Paper Due~
Week Twelve
INTERSECTIONALITY THEORIES
April 1
Doing Feminist Theory 160-172
“The Status of Women in America”—Anna Julia Cooper in Feminist Theory
“Lynching and the Excuse for It”—Ida B. Wells-Barnett in Feminist Theory
April 3
Doing Feminist Theory 172-189
“A Black Feminist Statement”—Combahee River Collection in Feminist Theory
“The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House”—Audre Lorde in Feminist Theory
“Age, Race, Class, and Sex”—Audre Lorde in Feminist Theory
“Black Feminist Thought”—Patricia Hill Collins in Feminist Theory
Week Thirteen
April 8
Doing Feminist Theory 189-199
“Outcast Mothers and Surrogates”—Angela Y. Davis in Feminist Theory
“”La Conciencia de la Mestiza”—Gloria Anzaldúa in Feminist Theory
“Intersectionality and Identity Politics”—Kimberlé Crenshaw in Feminist Theory
“La Güera”—Cherrie Moraga in Coursepack
April 10
Doing Feminist Theory 199-208
“Theory as Liberatory Practice”—bell hooks in Feminist Theory
“Chicana Feminism”—Anna Nieto Gomez in Feminist Theory
“Mothers of Our Nations: Indigenous Women Address the World”—Winona LaDuke in Feminist Theory
~Analytical Paper Due~
Week Fourteen
POSTMODERNISM, POSTSTRUCTURALISM, QUEER, and TRANSGENDER THEORIES
April 15
Doing Feminist Theory 211-230
“Reconstituting the Subject”—Susan Hekman in Coursepack
“Foucault, Femininity, and the Modernization of Patriarchal Power”—Sandra Lee Bartky in Coursepack
April 17
Doing Feminist Theory 230-233
“The Laugh of Medusa”—Héléne Cixous in Feminist Theory
“This Sex Which is Not One”—Luce Irigaray in Feminist Theory
Week Fifteen
April 22
Doing Feminist Theory 233-248
“Beside Oneself: On the Limits of Sexual Autonomy”—Judith Butler in Feminist Theory
“Should There Be Only Two Sexes?”—Anne Fausto-Sterling in Feminist Theory
April 24
Doing Feminist Theory 249-255
“Send in the Clowns”—Kate Bornstein in Coursepack
“Transgender Liberation: A Movement Whose Time Has Come”—Leslie Feinberg in Coursepack
~Analytical Paper Due~
Week Sixteen
THIRD WAVE FEMINISMS
April 29
Doing Feminist Theory 256-290
May 1
“Third Wave Manifesta”—Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards in Feminist Theory
“Riot Grrrl Philosophy”—Bikini Kill in Feminist Theory
“Femmenism”—Jeannine DeLombard in Feminist Theory
“When Sexism and Racism Are No Longer Fashionable”—Guerrilla Girls in Coursepack
“Becoming the Third Wave”—Rebecca Walker in Coursepack
May 3
~”My Feminist Theory” Paper Due~
Finals Week
Day and time to be determined by class