This course provides an overview and analysis of feminist theories and practices as they have emerged within the United States. In particular the course will explore the ways the intersections of race, gender, class and sexuality as well as the politics of difference have shaped feminist theories and activisms. The course emphasizes understanding feminist theory within the political, historical and cultural contexts in which they were developed and taking into account the ways such theories address practical questions and debates regarding strategies for social change and women's lived experiences. Thus we will also explore the ways that feminist theories have engaged, emerged from or shaped different forms of political activism and debates from the abolitionist movement and pornography to gay marriage and antiviolence organizing.

Required Readings
Linda Nicholson, editor, The Second Wave: A Reader in Feminist Theory (1997)
Amber Hollibaugh, My Dangerous Desires: A Queer Girl Dreaming Her Way Home (2002)
Assata Shakur, Assata
A Reading Packet

All books are available at Food for Thoughts Books
The Reading Packet is available at Copy Cat
All required readings, including the reading packet, are also available at the Library on reserve

Assignments and Grades
Your grade will be based on an engagement, understanding and analysis of the readings, films and class conversations. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate such knowledge through two (5-7 page) analytical papers that respond to questions handed out in class. Each paper will count as 20% of your grade (40%total) with the first due week 7 and the second due near the end of term, exact date tbd. 8 (1 page) weekly response papers due at the beginning of each Thursday class. Each response paper will count as 5% of your grade (40% total) and should directly address the readings in a thoughtful manner, although creativity and making connections to broader issues is definitely welcomed. Late response papers will not be accepted.The final 20% of your grade will rest on class participation. Your participation grade will be based on regular attendance and active engagement in class discussions, breakout session, activities etc. More than 3 unexcused absences will result in a lowering of your overall grade.

Summary
2 (5-7 p.) analytic papers 20% each
8 (1 p.) response papers 5% each
Class participation 20%

Sept.4: Logistics and Overview of Course

Sept. 9: Why Does Theory Matter? Why does feminist history matter?
Discussion of Week 1 readings

Sept 11: First Wave feminism and the debates over inclusion.
Response papers due, can also hand in response paper for week 1

Lisa Lowe, "Preface" and "Immigration, Citizenship, Racialization" in Reading Packet
M.A. Jaimes Guerrero, "Exemplars of Indigenism" in Reading Packet
Antonia I. Castaneda "Sexual Violence in the Politics of Conquest"
Narayan, "Contesting Cultures" in The Second Wave, p. 396-414

Sept 16: Theorizing Women's experiences under U.S. Imperialism

Sept 18: Discussion of readings

Sept 23: Science and constructions of difference

Sept. 25: Discussion of readings

Sept. 30: Understanding women's politics in the 1940s and 1950s

Oct 2: Discussion: Why a Second Wave? Is it a useful framing?

Oct. 7: Social movements, the sixties and the grounding of 2nd wave feminism

Oct 10: Discussion: What questions have shaped debates over women's oppression?

Oct 14: First paper due at start of class. Analyzing the relationship between Capitalism and Women's Oppression.

Oct 16: Discussion: Does capitalism create women's oppression? What does it mean to be a woman worker?

Oct 23: Discussion: Examining power and desire

Oct 28: The relationship between gender, sexuality and sex in feminist theory

Oct 30: Discussion: What does social construction really mean? Is essentialism dead?

Nov. 4: Legislating change, battles won and lessons learned

Nov 6: Discussion plus: Do we need to define feminist activisms and issues?

Nov 11: No Class, Hey its a chance to get ahead on readings

Nov 13: Discussion plus: Identity and Politics, Can feminist build at the intersections?

Nov.18: Domestic violence and antiviolence organizing

Nov. 21: Controversial solutions to violence against women, discussion

Nov. 25: Feminist and policing/prisons the politics and problems

Nov. 27: No Class

Dec. 2: Film

Dec. 4: Discussion: How has constructions of gender, sexuality and race shaped
government and activists responses to HIV and AIDS?

Dec. 9: Discussion of readings

Dec 11: Final Class wrap-up