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Feminism: Theory and Practice

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Course Type Course Code No. Of Credits
Discipline Core NSUSIGE001 4

Course Coordinator and Team:                  SES Faculty

Email of course coordinator:                       pcbabed@aud.ac.in 

Pre-requisites:                                               No

Course Description:

This course provides an in-depth exploration of feminist theory and its application in political science. It covers the historical evolution of key feminist theories and contemporary debates within feminism. The course also examines the practical implications of feminist theory in political activism, policy-making, and global issues.

Course Objectives:

  • Understand the historical development and key concepts of feminist theory.
  • Analyse different feminist theoretical frameworks.
  • Evaluate the impact of feminist movements on political processes and policies.
  • Apply feminist theories to contemporary political issues and debates.
  • Develop critical thinking and analytical skills through engagement with feminist texts and case studies.

Course Outcomes:

  • Gain a thorough understanding of the foundational theories of feminism and their evolution over time.
  • Critically examine how gender intersects with other social categories, such as race, class, sexuality, and nationality, to produce and sustain power dynamics.
  • Apply feminist theories to analyse and address contemporary social, political, and economic issues, considering how feminist approaches can inform policy and practice.
  • Think critically and reflect on their own positionalities and biases, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of feminist theory and practice.
  • Engage in informed debates on gender issues, articulating well-reasoned arguments that incorporate feminist perspectives and theoretical frameworks.

Brief description of Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Feminist Theory

This module will provide a historical overview of the feminist movement, highlighting the key phases and their distinctive characteristics.

  • The first wave: Suffrage and political rights
  • The second wave: Social and legal inequalities
  • The third wave: Diversity and intersectionality
  • The fourth wave: Digital feminism and global perspectives

Module 2: Key Concepts in Feminist Theory

This module explores fundamental concepts that are central to feminist theory and provide a basis for understanding feminist analysis and critique. By introducing the concept of intersectionality, the module will explore how various forms of discrimination (race, gender, class, sexuality) intersect and compound, shaping unique experiences of oppression and privilege.

  • Gender vs. sex
  • Patriarchy and its structures
  • Intersectionality

Module 3: Feminist Theories

This module provides an overview of various feminist theories, each offering different perspectives on the causes of and solutions to gender inequality.

  • Liberal Feminism, Radical Feminism, Marxist and Socialist Feminism, Postcolonial Feminism
  • Black Feminism
  • Queer Feminism

Module 4: Feminism in Practice

This module examines the practical applications of feminist theories through activism, policy-making, and contemporary debates.

  • Feminist Political Activism: Case studies of feminist movements, Strategies and outcomes of feminist activism
  • Feminism and policy-making
  • Contemporary Debates: The #MeToo movement and sexual harassment, Debates on sex work and pornography

Assessment Structure

Assessment

Weightage

Assignment 1: Engagement with the educational resources. This involves in-class quizzes and short response notes

30%

Assignment 2: Assignments and/or presentations

30%

Assignment 3: End-term assessment

40%

References

  • Rosemarie Tong, Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction, Westview Press, 2009.
  • Beauvoir, S. de. (1949). The Second Sex.
  • Hooks, Bell. (1981). Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism.
  • Audre Lorde, "Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches", Penguin Publishing Group, 2020.
  • Hooks, Bell. "Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center", London: Pluto Press, 2000.
  • Mohanty, C. T. (1988). "Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses."
  • Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity.
  • Crenshaw, K. (1991). "Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color."
  • Amrita Basu (Ed.), "Women's Movements in the Global Era: The Power of Local Feminisms", New York: Routledge, 2018.
  • Linda Nicholson (Ed.). "The Second Wave: A Reader in Feminist Theory", New York: Routledge, 1997.
  • Spivak, G. C. (1988). "Can the Subaltern Speak?"
  • Haraway, D. (1988). "Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective."
  • Fraser, N. (1997). Justice Interruptus: Critical Reflections on the "Postsocialist" Condition.
  • Enloe, C. (2000). Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics.
  • Ahmed, S. (2017). Living a Feminist Life.
  • Online feminist journals and blogs
  • Documentaries and films on feminist movements/issues
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