Reading Group on Cultural Studies and Feminist Theory
Stanford University, Winter 1990
Initiators: Antje Wiener (Department of Political Science)
            Heather Zwicker (Department of English)
Sponsor:    Regenia Gagnier (Department of English)

Purpose

     This reading group provides introductory readings to a critical
discussion of feminist theory. It looks at feminist theory in an
interdisciplinary way. We begin by questioning the notion of
feminist theory and methodology, and then look at its particular
manifestations in the discourses of history and political
science, paying attention to the complexities of race and class
as well as gender.

     From there we will look at some of the more radical critiques
mounted from within the discourse, examining arguments that chart
some ways feminist theory might adapt itself to the challenges
posed by postmodernism and poststructuralism.


Participants

From: School of Education, Departments of English, German,
          Latin American Studies, Political Science, Sociology


Syllabus

WEEK ONE: Feminist Theory and Feminist Method

Harding, Sandra (1986), The Instability of the Analytical
     Categories of Feminist Theory, Signs 11, 4, pp. 645 - 664.

------ (1987), Introduction: Is There a Feminist Method?, in
     Harding, Sandra, Feminism and Methodology.
     Bloomington: Indiana UP.

WEEK TWO: The Historical Approach, an Overview

Editorial (1989), Why Gender and History?, Gender and History 1,
     1, pp. 1 - 6.

Bock, Gisela (1989), Women's History and Gender History: Aspects
     of an International Debate, Gender and History 1,
     1, pp. 7 - 30.

WEEK THREE: Gender as a Category for Historical Research (I)

Scott, Joan W. (1988), Gender a Useful Category of Historical
     Analysis, in Scott, J. W., Gender and the Politics
     of History. New York: Columbia UP, pp. 28 - 50.

------ (1988), On Language, Gender and Working Class History, in
     Scott, J. W., op. cit., pp. 53 - 67.

------ (1988), Women in the Making of the English Working Class,
     in Scott, J. W., op. cit., pp. 68 - 90.

WEEK FOUR: Gender as a Category for Historical Research (II)

Nicholson, Linda J. (1986), Toward a Method of Understanding
     Gender, in Nicholson, L. J., Gender and History:
     The Limits of Social Theory in the Age of the
     Family. New York: Columbia UP, pp. 69 - 104.

------ (1986), Gender and Maternity: Reinterpreting the Family,
     the State, and the Economy, in Nicholson, L. J.,
     op. cit., pp. 105 - 132.

------ (1986), Conclusion, in Nicholson, L. J., op. cit.,
     pp. 201 - 208.

WEEK FIVE: Gender as a Category for Historical Research (III)

Brooks-Higginbotham, Evelyn (1989), The Problem of Race in
     Women's History, in Weed, Elizabeth (ed.), Coming
     to Terms. New York/London: Routledge, pp. 122 - 133.

Riley, Denise (1989), Commentary: Feminism and the Consolidations
     of "Women" in History, in Weed, E., op. cit., pp.
     134 - 139.

WEEK SIX: Gender as an Analytic Category in Political Science

Jones, Kathleen B. and Anna G. Jonasdottir (eds.) (1988),
     Introduction: Gender as an Analytica Category in
     Political Theory, in Jones, K. B. and A. G.
     Jonasdottir, The Political Interests of Gender:
     Developing Theory with a Feminist Face. London et
     al.: Sage, pp. 1 - 10.

Pateman, Carole (1989), Feminist Critiques of the Public/Private
     Dichotomy, in Pateman, C., The Disorder of Women.
     Stanford: Stanford UP, pp. 118 - 140.

WEEK SEVEN: Gender as an Analytic Category in Political Science (II)

Pateman, Carole (1989), Feminism and Democracy, in Pateman, C.,
     op. cit., pp. 210 - 223.

Okin, Susan M. (1990), Thinking like a Woman, in Rhode, Deborah
     L. (ed.) Theoretical Perspectives on Sexual
     Difference. New Haven/London: Yale UP, pp. 145 - 159.

WEEK EIGHT: Gender and Beyond

Tiano, Susan (1987), Gender, Work and World Capitalism: Third
     World Women's Role in Development, in Hess, Beth B.
     and Myra Marx Ferree (eds.), Analyzing Gender: A
     Handbook of Social Science Research. London et al.:
     Sage, pp. 216 - 243.

Yanagisako, Sylvia J. and Jane F. Collier (1990), The Mode of
     Reproduction in Anthropology, in Rhode, D. (ed.),
     op. cit., pp. 131 - 144.

Malveaux, Julianne (1990), Gender Difference and Beyond: An
     Economic Perspective on Diversity and Commonality
     Among Women, in Rhode, D. (ed.), op. cit., pp. 226 - 238.

WEEK NINE: Feminist Theory, Another "Traditional" Approach?

Haraway, Donna (1989), A Manifesto for Cyborgs: Science,
     Technology and Socialist Feminism in the 1980s, in
     Weed, E. (ed.), op. cit., pp. 173 - 204.

Crosby, Cristina (1989), Commentary: Allies and Enemies, in Weed,
     E., op. cit., pp. 205 - 208.

Doane, Mary A. (1989), Commentary: Cyborgs, Origins, and
     Subjectivity, in Weed, E., op. cit., pp. 209 - 214.

Scott, Joan W. (1989), Commentary: Cyborgian Socialists? in Weed.
     E., op. cit., pp. 215 - 217.

WEEK TEN: Is There a Change in Feminist Theory?

Alcoff, Linda (1988), Cultural Feminism versus Post-Structuralism:
     The Identity Crisis in Feminist Theory, Signs 13, 3, pp. 405 - 436.

Gagnier, Regenia (1990), Feminist Postmodernism: The End of
     Feminism or the Ends of Theory?, in Rhode, D.
     (ed.), op. cit., pp. 21 - 30.

Fryre, Marilyn (1990), The Possibility of Feminist Theory, in
     Rhode, D. (ed.), op. cit., pp. 174 - 184.

Syllabus contributed by Antje Wiener (AWIENER@CCS.CARLETON.CA)