Course Description
This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the social processes and structures which shape women’s lives. Beginning with an introductory review of feminist movements and theoretical perspectives, the course will survey a range of contemporary social issues in Canada. It will also explore changes in women’s experiences and perspectives within a dynamic and increasingly global context.
Course Content
Theoretical Foundations of Women’s Studies
This section addresses primary theoretical perspectives of Women’s Studies as they have emerged, historically and recently. It includes all or some of:
- A history of Women’s Studies and women’s movements, within Canada and/or globally
- Social constructionism as a theoretical framework
- Essentialism within feminist theorizing and activism
- Creation/enforcement of norms and margins; moving margins to center; privilege and oppression; defining hegemony
- Theoretical perspectives: anti-racist, Marxist, socialist, liberal, radical, cultural, standpoint, and anarchist feminisms and womanism
- Feminism as a critique of binary thinking
- Integrating race, class, sexuality, colonialism, (dis)ability, and gender.
From Theory to Praxis
This section applies a feminist theoretical lens to contemporary social and political issues. Topics covered may include all or some of:
- Women and education, science, and technology
- Women, health care, and medicine
- Language as a site of oppression, power, and resistance
- Violence against women
- Women and the media: body representations
- Globalization and poverty
- Women and the arts
- Women in prison.
Expanding Horizons and Breaking Boundaries
This section explores social change, social movements, and acts of resistance. Liberation struggles may be discussed, at both individual and societal levels in sites ranging from the body to the arts to political domains to civil disobedience. Topics covered may include all or some of:
- Women and the body: sexual scripts and their transgression
- The racialization of women’s sexuality
- Lesbian and queer theories of gender
- Violating gender roles: subversive strategies and identity politics
- Social change strategies and counter-resistance to social change
- Creating community and creating culture: art, language, performance, literature, and music.
Learning Activities
The course will employ a number of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some or all of the following:
- Lecture
- Audio-visual presentations
- Small group discussions
- Seminar presentations
- Classroom discussion
- Guest lectures.
Means of Assessment
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Ƶ policy and will include both formative and summative components. Evaluation will be based on some or all of the following assignments and projects.
| Class Participation and/or Presentations |
10% |
| Exams and Quiz |
60% |
| Group Workshops including discussion and presentations |
5% |
| A Research Portfolio integrating creative art, research skills, and academic analysis |
10% |
| Term Paper, Essay or Written Assignments |
15% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the successful student should be able to:
- Evaluate the relevance of feminist approaches for understanding and improving the quality of women’s lives;
- Explain and evaluate the issues, context and consequences of the women’s movement, and the changing situation of women, especially within a Canadian context;
- Discuss the varied perspectives of feminist theories and apply these to contemporary issues;
- Explain and evaluate the ways in which gender is constructed and perpetuated through social processes, organizations, and institutions;
- Explain the ways in which women’s interests are represented by social policy and assess the potential for the feminization of policy;
- Recognize and identify the diversity in women’s situations and perspectives;
- Explore and integrate academic approaches with artistic representation within the context of contemporary feminist issues;
- Explain the global dimensions of gender issues;
- Demonstrate the relevance of course materials to their own lives and experience.
Textbook Materials
A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.
A standard Women’s Studies textbook, such as:
- Crow, B., & Gotell, L. (2000). Open Boundaries: A Canadian Women’s Studies Reader. Toronto: Prentice-Hall Canada.
and/or
A course reader with materials to be drawn from such primary sources as:
- Lorber, J. (1998) Beyond the binaries: Depolarizing the categories of sex, sexuality and gender. In M. F. Rogers (ed.), Contemporary feminist theory (pp. 15-25). Boston: McGraw-Hill
- Agnew, V. (1995). Race, class, and feminist theory (Chapter 3). Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
- Bear, S. with the Tobique Women’s Group. (1991). “You can’t change the Indian Act?” In J.D. Wine & J. L. Ristock (eds). Women and Social Change: Feminist Activism in Canada (pp. 198-220). Toronto: James Lorimer and Company.
- Kinsley, C.H. (1993). Questions people have asked me. Questions I have asked myself. In C. Camper (ed.), Miscengenation Blues (pp. 113-132). (Toronto: Sister Vision Press).
- Monture, P. (1995). Ka-Nin-Geh-Heh-Gah-E-Sa-Nonh-Yah-Gah. In The Chilly Collective (eds.), Breaking Anonymity: The Chilly Climate for Women Faculty (pp.265-278). Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier Press.
- Siegel, R.J., & Cole, E. (1997). Celebrating the lives of Jewish Women. New York: The Haworth Press.
- De Castell, S., & Bryson, M. (1997). Radical inventions: Identity, politics, and difference/s in educational praxis. Albany: State University of new York Press.
- Kelm, M. (1998). Colonizing bodies. Vancouver: UBC Press.
- Hoodfar, H. (1992). The veil in their minds and on our heads: The persistence of colonial images of Muslim women. Resources for Feminist Research, 21, 5-18.
- Bannerji, H. (1993) Returning the gaze: Essays on racism, feminism, and politics. Toronto: Sister Vision Press.
- Faith, K. (1993). Unruly women: The Politics of confinement and resistance. Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers.
- Atkins, D. (1998). Looking queer: Body image and identity in lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender communities. The Hawthorn Press.
Reading materials will be updated periodically.