Feminist Philosophy
| Module title | Feminist Philosophy |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL3041 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Christine Hauskeller (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
Feminist philosophy introduces you to philosophical theories of justice, equality and epistemology in feminist theory. We start with an introduction to the beginnings of feminist theory in the 18 th Century suffrage movement and the sex-difference theories of Enlightenment philosophers, reading some works by the most famous feminist authors, and will then concentrate on 20th Century feminism in the 1970s and 1980s.
The approaches developed in feminist philosophy have shaped the reflection and judgment in other social debates including racial and ethnic diversity and local and global economic diversity and ecology. We discuss theories including constructivism, stand point theory, care ethics, and theories of difference. While developed philosophically in the context of the feminist movement these theories are fundamental for reflecting more widely on justice, equality and the perception of truth. The identity of the modern individual as it is defined and re-configured in social relations and theories and how features such as sex or race are becoming crucial and defining aspects of the self and social roles are inherent themes in the history of feminist philosophy.
This course in philosophy engages with present day moral and societal questions, including the new feminist and anti-discrimination movement present in the new media. It also discusses issues of cultural diversity, economic and legal equality, and the gap between formal rights and the ability to demand their enactment in everyday life.
Main requirements are an interest in the themes addressed in the course and that you are prepared to do the readings and contribute actively in the seminars. The course is open as an option module in philosophy to students in social sciences and other disciplines. As introductions to the topic you might want to read Betty Friedan’s book The Feminine Mystique and watch the recent 3-part BBC 2 documentary Suffragettes Forever! by Amanda Vickery.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to
- teach you theories of difference and equality
- provide you with an understanding for the historical development of feminist theory and practice
- engage you in current debates about discrimination and equality, biology and difference
- develop your skills in analysis, argument, discussion, and writing
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theories and problems discussed in the course
- 2. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the methodological and conceptual problems of critique
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Demonstrate a high level of understanding of the interrelation between theories, values, and political conditions
- 4. Demonstrate sound knowledge of different types of philosophical social and political analysis
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Conduct research independently and to discuss complex present-day issues
- 6. Demonstrate a high level of ability in writing reflective academic essays
- 7. Present your own analyses of the implications theories have on the kinds of arguments which people put forth as convincing in political debates
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- The beginnings of feminist theory in the 18th and 19th Century
- The developments in 20th Century and current Feminism
- Feminist Epistemology
- Theories of Difference
- Standpoint Theory
- Feminist Ethics
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning activity | 11 | 11 x 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning activity | 11 | 11 x 1 hour seminar |
| Guided independent study | 66 | 6 x 11 hrs weekly reading and working through assigned articles and books |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Preparing presentation and handout |
| Guided independent study | 42 | Independent research and writing of course essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay plan | 1 page | 1-7 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual presentation and handout on a course reading | 30 | 10 minutes, 500 words | 1-5, 7 | Oral and written |
| Essay | 70 | 3,500 words | 1-7 | Oral and written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation and summary/seminar handout | 1000 word essay on a course reading | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (3,500 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
The reading list and seminar texts for the course can be found on the ELE page. Basic readings include the following sources:
- Angela Davis: Women, Race and Class, 1983
- Sandra Harding (ed): The feminist theory standpoint reader: Intellectual and political controversies (2004) New York: Routledge
- Harriet Taylor-Mill: The Enfranchisement of Women, (1851), in: Ann Robson: Sexual Equality, A John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor Mill, and Helen Taylor Reader (1994), Toronto University Press. See reference at http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/awrm/doc15.htm .
- Mary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) online at: http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/pdfs/wollstonecraft1792.pdf .
- A Companion to Feminist Philosophy, Alison Jaggar and Iris M. Young (eds), Blackwell, Cambridge, 1998
- Nancy Fraser, Fortunes of Feminism, Verso 2013
And sections/chapters from
- Judith Butler ‘Gender Trouble
- Tom Digby (ed) Men Doing Feminism, Routledge 1998
- Sandra Harding: Postcolonial and Feminist Philosophy of Science and Technology (2009)
- Carol Gilligan: In A Different Voice (1982), Harvard University Press.
- Seyla Benhabib, Judith Butler, Drucilla Cornell and Nancy Fraser: Feminist Contentions: A Philosophical Exchange (Thinking Gender) (1995), Routledge.
- Cressida Heyes, Feminist solidarity after queer theory: The case of transgender, Signs, Summer 2003, 28(4), pp. 1093-1120
- Uma Narayan and Sandra Harding (eds.): Decentering the Center: Philosophy for a Multicultural Postcolonial and Feminist World (2000), Indiana University Press.
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 05/01/2015 |
| Last revision date | 25/09/2017 |
