WOMEN OF IDEAS AND ACTION Massey University Women's Studies Programme 70.102 Women of Ideas and Action. Semester two, 1995 Co-ordinator : Dr. Lynne Alice, Director of Women's Studies at Massey University. Social Sciences Building, Room 8.26 (8th floor) Tel. (06) 350.4938 (via the Women's Studies Secretary, Sharon Nikora) Email : L.C.Alice@massey.ac.nz 70.102 Women of Ideas and Action This course introduces students to some feminist thinkers and activists from a range of cultures. It employs an interdisciplinary approach to the study of their fiction, theory and activism. The women featured are contextualised in their historical and social milieux, and their achievements are studied in relation to the status of women and the development of feminisms in their cultures. In 1995 the women of ideas and action to be studied include: Mary Wollstonecraft; Charlotte Perkins Gilman; Simone De Beauvoir; a selection of Maori feminists: Ngahuia Te Awekotuku; Linda Tuhiwai Smith and Kathie Irwin; and finally, Nawal el Saadawi. `Women of Ideas and Action' provides students (of any discipline) with a serious and scholarly way to become familiar with the achievements and thinking of some important women from a range of cultural contexts. Although its primary focus is specific to a small number of women, the course reflects on the conditions and circumstances affecting the lives of women in various historical and social contexts. Our study will use a range of feminist analyses to shed light on past developments in feminist thinking and envision possible new futures. This is a basic survey course and is intended as an introduction. We will cover a wide range of issues related to the lives of the women featured. The course has three foci that will be addressed as themes for each lecture *It offers an introduction to the lives and achievements of women in a range of cultural milieux whose theorising and activism has prioritised the position of women in those societies. *It provides an introduction to the major social issues and theoretical debates in the historical periods featured. *It emphasises the links between feminist activism and theory in some different cultural contexts. Aims of the Course In this course you will be introduced to a variety of theoretical approaches and social issues which focus on women's lives. The three foci of the course (see above) will provide common threads for lectures, tutorial discussions and your reading. Some of the perspectives, topics, and theorists considered will appeal to you more than others. You will be able to concentrate on your interests in reading exercises and essays. I hope, however, that you will read as widely as possible and explore areas you have not been introduced to previously. The academic aims : *To stimulate your reading and viewing of a range of books, films and commentaries about women's lives and the development of feminisms in societies in which the women featured in the course lived. *To enable you to develop understandings of the assumptions, debates, and standpoints of various feminist perspectives and activism in particular social contexts and times. *To encourage you to be confident and effective communicators in this topic area, and to develop critical capacities, independent viewpoints, and research skills. *To encourage you to think about the ongoing connections between university-based academic studies of women and women's positions in society. *To encourage you to think about the ongoing connections between academically situated feminist theorising and feminist community-based activism. The technical aims : In an introductory course the resourcing of 'learning tools' is also important. Evidence of the development of the following skills is necessary to fulfil assessment requirements. These skills will be assessed through your written work. The course is intended to help you : *To become practised in producing written work to a neat and orderly standard in both format and presentation. (Note : this does not necessarily mean all work must be word processed or typed, but it must be legible.) *To be able to acknowledge accurately the sources of your ideas. *To be able to define the concepts and key phrases you use. *To be able to reference work both according to legal (copyright) requirements and in an acceptable style. *To demonstrate an ability to identify and explain key concepts and relate them to social and biographical materials covered in the course. Practical aims : An expectation of your performance in this course is that certain competencies will be demonstrated in your writing and exchanges (in tutorial or email discussions). These are all related to the academic and technical aims previously outlined. By the end of the course you will have learnt and demonstrated the following: *an ability to work to deadlines *an ability to understand what is required and to produce written work to the requested standards *the willingness to be guided by ethical and legal standards regarding copyright and submission of your own written ideas These competencies will be assessed through the submission of written assignments according to set guidelines and by the due dates. 70.102 Internal Course Calendar Extramural students are welcome to attend lectures on campus whenever possible and to participate in the Marae visit. The internal course consists of two one and a half hour lectures a week and a one hour tutorial. Lecture times are Tuesday, 10-11.30 am in SST. 4.44 and Thursday, 10-11.30am in REF 2. July 18 Introduction to the Course July 20 The relations between ideas and action July 25 The shoulders of history: methods July 27 What is feminist research? Aug. 1 The Research Project Aug. 3 Mary Wollstonecraft: Introduction Aug. 8 Reason and women's rights Aug. 10 Sexuality, the family and civic life Aug. 15 Wollstonecraft and feminism Aug. 17 Charlotte Perkins Gilman Aug. 22 Women and Economics Aug. 2 Gilman, Culture and science fiction Sept.5 Gilman and sociology Sept. 7 Simone de Beauvoir: French writer Sept.12 'Women are made, not born' Sept. 14 Film : The daughters of De Beauvoir Sept. 19 Towards the feminism of Luce Irigaray Sept. 21 Maori women's lives in Aotearoa Sept. 26 Linda Tuhiwai Smith Sept. 28 Ngahuia Te Awekotuku Oct. 5 Nawal el Saadawi Oct. 10 Memoirs from the women's prison Oct. 12 Nawal el Saadawi: postcolonial writing Oct. 17 Film: Nawal el Saadawi Oct. 19 Course summary, evaluation and finale Assignments and Assessment Assessment in this course is 100% internal and will require three assignments, one of two short exercises, and two written pieces. 1. A bibliographic OR on-line resources exercise (20%), up to 4 pages : 2. A research essay entitled 'A woman's life'. 3. Discussion the Internal 70.102 Marae visit, using the readings for the fifth module of the course. Note : the marae visit is compulsory. family members are welcome. Textbooks and other reading matters Your Course Reader is a compilation of essential readings for this course, the course textbook also provides important historical materials about some of the women featured. It is assumed that you will read as widely as you can in the course. While you may not be able to read all the prescribed articles, try to keep up with the readings as much as possible, so that you can contribute to class discussions. The following texts will be on reserve in the library. It is not necessary to purchase them, but they are excellent resources and we encourage you to refer to them. Spender, Dale, ed. (1983) Feminist Theorists London: The Women's Press. Grimshaw, Patricia (1987) Women's Suffrage in New Zealand Auckland: Auckland University Press Spender, Dale, ed. (1983) Women of Ideas and What Men Have Done To Them London: Pandora Te Awekotuku, Ngahuia (1991) Mana Wahine Maori : Selected Writings on Maori Women's Art, Culture and Politics Auckland: New Women's Press Tong, Rosemary (1989) Feminist Thought: A Comprehensive Introduction Boulder, Col.: Westview Press The weekly programme 1. Introduction to the Course Readings Bronwyn Labrum (1993) Women's History : A Short Guide to Researching and Writing Women's History (Course Reader) 2. The relations between ideas and action Reading Dann, Christine (1985) Up From Under : Women and Liberation in New Zealand 1970-1985 pp.1-28 Course Reader 3. The study of history: methods Reading Grimshaw, Patricia (1987) Women's Suffrage in New Zealand pp.29-38 Course Reader 4. What is feminist research? Reading Oakley, Ann (1981) Interviewing women : A contradiction in terms pp. 39-70 Course Reader 5. The Research Project Re-read the articles by Acker and Oakley in the Course Reader 6. An Introduction to Mary Wollstonecraft ReadingReading Kramnick, Miriam Brody (1982) Introduction pp.91-158 Course Reader Janet M. Todd (1989) A Wollstonecraft anthology pp. 231-250 Course Reader 7. Reason and women's rights Reading Butler , Marilyn and Janet Todd, eds. (1989) The Works of Mary Wollstonecraft pp.71-90 Course Reader 8. Sexuality, the family and civic life Readings Wollstonecraft, Mary (1976)The wrongs of woman edited with an introd. by Gary Kelly. pp.195-202 Course Reader Wollstonecraft, Mary (1982) Vindication of the rights of woman pp.203-230 Course Reader 9. Wollstonecraft and feminism Reading Poovey, Mary (1984) Man's Discourse Woman's Heart : Mary Wollstonecraft's Two Vindications pp.159-198 Course Reader 10. An Introduction to Charlotte Perkins Gilman Readings Polly Wynn Allen , pp. 251-274 Course Reader Readings Hedges, Elaine R. (1973) Afterword pp. 345-372 Course Reader Gilbert, Sandra M. and Susan Gubar (1979) The Madwoman in the Attic pp. 411-414 Course Reader Shumaker, Conrad (1985) "Too Terribly Good to be Printed pp. 415-426 Course Reader 12. Gilman, Culture, and utopican fiction Reading Ceplair, Larry, ed. (1991) Charlotte Perkins Gilman : a nonfiction reader pp. 275-284 Course Reader 13. Women and Economics Reading Gilman, Charlotte Perkins (1966) Women and Economics pp. 285-344 Course Reader Mallos, Ellen (1980) The Politics of Housework pp. 373-410 Course Reader Prue Hyman (1994) A Brief History of Feminist Critiques of Orthodox Economics, in New Zealand and Overseas, Victoria Economic Commentaries 11/2, Sept., pp 37-48 14. Gilman and sociology Re-read : Allen, Polly Wynn (1988) Gilman's Philosophy of World Improvement Led by Women pp. 251-274Course Reader 15. An Introduction to Simone de Beauvoir Readings Alice Schwarzer (1984) 'I am a feminist' pp.469-488 Course Reader Fallaize, Elizabeth (1988) Biographical Notes pp.463-468 Course Reader Schwarzer, Alice (1984) .c.Alice Schwarzer (1984) 'Being a woman is not enough' Course Reader de Beauvoir, Simone (1959) Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter (On Reserve) de Beauvoir, Simone (1962) The Prime of Life (On Reserve) 16. 'Women are made, not born' Readings de Beauvoir, Simone (1972) The Data of Biology pp. 427-462 Course Reader Winegarten, Renee (1987) Simone de Beauvoir : a critical view pp. 577-592 Course Reader 17. Film : The daughters of De Beauvoir Readings Special Cluster : Simone de Beauvoir pp. 489-576 Course Reader 18. An Introduction to Luce Irigaray Readings Tong, Rosemarie (1989) Feminist Thought pp.609-628 Course Reader Irigaray, Luce. Divine women. pp.593-608 Course Reader Irigaray, Luce. .c.Je, Tu, Nous: Toward a Culture of Difference. ;trans. Alison Martin. London and New York: Routledge, 1993 pp.57-60 Grosz, Elizabeth. Sexual Subversions Three French Feminists. Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1989. pp. 159-162 19. An Introduction to Maori feminisms Readings : Rose Pere (1987) 'To Us the Dreamers Are Important' pp. 629-641 Course Reader Horsfield, Anne and Miriama Evans, eds. (1988) Maori Women in the Economy Course Reader 20 Linda Tuhiwai Smith Smith, Linda Tuhiwai (1992) Some Thoughts on 'Being Constructed' : The view from my grandmother's verandah pp.675-681 Course Reader 21. Ngahuia Te Awekotuku Reading Te Awekotuku, Ngahuia (1992) Mana Wahine : Seeking Meanings for Ourselves pp. 681-690 Course Reader Te Awekotuku, Ngahuia (1991) Maori Women - Mana Wahine : Beginnings of a Maori feminism pp. 691-698 Course Reader 22. Issues about studying Maori women Reading Harawira, Margaret Stewart- (1993) Maori, Who Owns the Definition? The Politics of Cultural Identity pp. 643-651 Course Reader 23. An Introduction to Nawal el Saadawi Readings Nawal El Saadawi, 1980 The Hidden Face of Eve pp.169-183 Course Reader. Mernissi, Fatima (1975) Beyond the Veil pp.699-718 Course Reader El Saadawi, Nawal (1988) Memoirs of a Woman Doctor pp.749-764 Course Reader 24. Memoirs from the women's prison Reading El Saadawi, Nawal (1983) Woman at Point Zero pp.729-738 Course Reader 25. Nawal el Saadawi: postcolonial writing Readings el Saadawi, Nawal (1992) Death of an ex-minister pp.719-728 Course Reader el Saadawi, Nawal(1986)Two women in one pp.739-748 Course Reader el Saadawi, Nawal (1985) The circling song pp.765-782 Course Reader el Saadawi, Nawal (1985) God dies by the Nile pp.783-790 Course Reader 26. Film: Nawal el Saadawi Tarabishi, Georges (1988)Woman against her sex : a critique of Nawal el-Saadawi with a reply by Nawal el-Saadawi pp.791-815 Course Reader .c.Tsehai (1986) Interview with Nawal el Sa'adawi Spare Rib, No.169 August. pp.14-17 This course consists of two, one hour lectures a week and a one hour tutorial. A class Marae visit is compulsory. Copies of Course materials (which contain tutorial questions and lecture outlines and other study exercises) are available from the Women's Studies office PO Box 11-222 Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand : Internal (on campus) Course Reader, Study Guide = NZ$ 60 (incl. postage) Extramural (by mail) Course pack = NZ$90 (incl. postage)