State University of New York at Albany Women's Studies Department Introduction to Feminisms/WSS 210P/K Spring 1992 * several professors contributed to this syllabus, however, if you have a question, contact Bonnie Spanier. I. Course Description Why Intro to Feminisms? Introduction to Feminisms provides all students (of any discipline) with a serious and scholarly way to become familiar with a vast body of knowledge that has historically been neglected: the conditions and circumstances affecting the lives of women. Our study will use a feminist analysis to shed light on the past and envision the future. All Women's Studies courses at SUNYA have as their basis: -the examination of sex-based inequities as they affect women of all classses, races, sexual and ethnic identifications; -the creation of strategies for critiquing and changing the existing status of women; -the encouragement for students to integrate these strategies into their lives. This is a basic survey course and is intended as an introduction, as its name implies. We will cover a wide range of issues, many of them controversial. Students who are interested in furthering their study from this perspective can find other Women's Studies courses at this university and can pursue a major in this field. We will be giving you information later in the course about how you can do this and if you are interested, how you can become a member of the teaching collective. How is this course different? Intro to Feminisms is different from the usual university course in several significant ways. First of all it is taught not by a single faculty member but by collective members. Our collective consists of student facilitators and faculty advisors. Student facilitators have completed Intro themselves as well as other Women's Studies courses designated to prepare them to offer presentations and facilitate discussions in this course. Another way in which Intro differs from the usual course is in the amount of class participation expected of you. Group discussion is at the heart of this class. Student facilitators will present material and then facilitate discussion, moving it in an organized and thoughtful way. Discussion guidelines are presented and utilized to promote an atmosphere of respect and support for all class members. One of the most important aspects of these guidelines is the concept of "rotating chair". This is a process unique to Women's Studies. It will be demonstrated as well as described in detail. This process is intended to move discussion from the facilitators to the individual class members, who choose the next speaker, and so on. Besides full-class discussion, we will also utilize small group activities for in-depth exploration of topics and encourage carrying feminist analysis into projects outside of the classroom. II. Required Texts Cochran, Jo Whitehorse, Donna Langstonand Carolyn Woodward, eds. Changing Our Power, Dubuque, Iowa; Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1988. Moraga, Cherrie and Gloria Anzuldua, eds. This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color. New York: Kitchen Table/Women of Color Press, 1984. Fuentes, Annette and Barbara Ehrenreich. Women in the Global Factory. Boston: South End Press, 1983. Stallard, Karen, Barbara Ehrenreich, and Holly Sklar. Poverty in the American Dream: Women & Children First. Boston: South End Press, 1983. Recommended Texts: 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. The New Our Bodies, Ourselves: The Boston Women's Health Book Collective. The Black Women's Health Book: Evelyn C. White, ed. Anzaldua, Gloria (ed.). Making Face, Making Soul (Haciendo Caras): Creative and Critical Perspectives by Women of Color. San Francisco: an Aunt Lute foundation book, 1990. III. Course Requirements 1. Two papers (6-8 pages each) 40% 2. One long project 15% 3. Three journals, 10-15 pages each 30% -two journals must have one short project entry, and one journal must have two short project entries (for a total of four short projects). -for the writing intensive class there will be a two page response paper due once every week (this will be discussed more fully by your facilitators). 4. Class participation, which may include quizzes. 15% 1. Papers This requirement is intended to help each student develop a working understanding of significant topics and to demonstrate or express that understanding. You will be expected to show that you have used readings selected for this course in addition to your own insights and intuitions. Papers will be graded on the basis of clarity as well as the mastery of material. Each student is to attend a conference with their facilitators prior to handing in each paper. 2. Long Project Your facilitators will distribute a list of suggested long projects. The list will include a description of each project and our guidelines for fulfilling the class requirement. In addition, you may discuss other project ideas with your facilitators. You will be expected to report on your long projects each time you hand in your journal. In your final journal entries you are to hand in three page summary of your project. 3. Short Projects Students are required to complete four short projects and include written reports on them within their journals. Throughout the semester, there will be a variety of short projects from which to choose. If you have an idea for a short project, discuss it with your facilitators. 4. Journals Journals are a useful forum to record personal reactions to material presented in class and on the readings you can explore a new insight, work on uncomfortable feelings, or use the space to organize your ideas for papers and discussion. Entries can be very diverse: poetry, art work, newspapers clippings, etc. Express yourself, be creative! Journals must reflect your work on short and long projects but should not be limited to these topics. However, reactions to the assigned readings should also be recorded. Journals will not be graded for content but will be evaluated in terms of your having met the requirements. *** A Note on Attendance*** Attendance is mandatory for this course. Attendance will be taken every day. Students are allowed only two absences due to illness or other reasons beyond control. Absences beyond that limit will result in a lowering of the grade you would have otherwise earned. This course relies on student participation and group discussion. Your presence is vital to your grade, your learning experience, and to the class as a whole. Timetable for Journals and Papers February 20 Journals due March 17 First paper due March 31 Journals due April 23 Journals due April 30 Second paper due Schedule of Classes TH Jan. 23: Introduction to Feminisms Women in the Global Factory must be read by Feb. 6. TU Jan. 28: Herstory/Types of Feminisms/Definitions & Critique of Women's Movement Using 'Isms BRIDGE: A Black Feminist Statement, Combahee River Collective, p. 210-218; Asian Pacific American Women and Feminism, Mitsuye Yamada p. 71-75; Letter to Ma, Merle Woo, p. 140-147. CHANGING: Real Women and the Cult of True Womanhood, Carolyn Woodward, p. 61-75; The Growth of the Modern Women's Movement, by Carolyn Woodward, p. 84-102; Reclaiming Our Pasts, Carolyn Wooodward, p. 43-45. TH Jan. 30: Intro to Socialization/Education CHANGING: Patriarchy and Privilege, Carolyn Woodward, p. 25-33. BRIDGE: Invisibility is an Unnatural Disaster: Reflections of an Asian American Woman, Mitsuye Yamada, p. 35-40. RESERVE: Women and Higher Education: Gender Differences in the Status of Students and Scholars, Mary Frank Fox; Claiming an Education, Adrienne Rich; Taking Women Students Seriously, Adrienne Rich; Toward a Woman Centered University, Adrienne Rich. TU Feb. 4: Socialization/Language BRIDGE: I Am What I Am, Rosario Morales, p. 14-15. FACE: Journeys of the Mind, Anne Waters, p.159. RESERVE: Sexism in the English Language, Karen Adams & Norma Ware. TH Feb. 6: Capitalism (Imperialism) Poverty in the American Dream, Karen Stallard CHANGING: Staying Alive, Nancy Hartsock, p. 290-298. REC'D: "The Pverty Industry: do Government and Charities Create the Poor?", Theresa Funiciello, MS. Magazine, Nov/Dec 1990, p.33-40. TU Feb. 11: Media CHANGING: Confessions of a Sitcom Junkie, Sarah Schuyler, p. 366-371. RESERVED: Sexual Subjects of the Media Gloria Josef; Disinformation Advertising, Alice Walker; Faith Healers & Holy Oil: Inside the Cosmetics Industry, Naomi Wolf. TH Feb. 13: Racism (Imperialism) CHANGING: Steadily, One-by-One, Pulling Our-Selves Out, Jo Whitehorse Cochran, p. 187-194; Something About the Subject Makes it Hard to Name, Jenny Yamato, p.3-6; Racism and Women's Studies, Barbara SMith, p. 7-9. BRIDGE: Read the following pages: 5-11, 79-84, 91-93, 232-237. FACE: Notes From a Fragmented Daughter, Elena Tajima Creef, p. 82-84; For the white person who wants to know how to be my friend, Pat Parker. RESERVE: White Privilege, Peggy McIntosh; On Privilege and Prejudice, Karen Russel. TU Feb. 18: Beauty, Body & Self-Image, Ableism, Ageism BRIDGE: When I Was Growing Up, Nellie Wong, p.7-8. FACE: In Magazines (I Found Specimens of the Beautiful), Ekua Omo Supe, p. 169. RESERVED: Beauty Secrets, Kim Chapkis, Chapter 2; Fed Up and Hungry TH Feb. 20: Continued CHANGING: Disability, Sexism, and the Social Order, Debra Connors, p. 34-42. RESERVED: Abuse of Women with Disabilities, Rebecca S. Grothaus; "Finding Ourselves", "This Body I Love", Debra Abbott. TU Feb. 25: Continued CHANGING: Women and Aging, Karen Fredriksen, p. 164-166; The Women in the Tower, Cynthia Rich, p. 167-173. RESERVED: Voices on Becoming Old Women, Baba Copper; Growing to be an Old Woman, Shevy Heley; When I'm 65, Mary Suh. TH Feb. 27: Sexuality CHANGING: Female Sexuality, Carolyn A. Livingston, p. 310-315; Pubescence at 39, Vickie L. Sears, p. 320-321. TU Mar. 3: Lesbian Existence CHANGING: The Trouble With Normal Is It Always Gets Worse: An Essay on Lesbianism, Jo Whitehorse Cochran, p.103-108; A Lesbian Theme, Jo Whitehorse Cochran, p. 326-327. BRIDGE: Lesbianism: An Act Of Resistance, Cheryl Clarke, p. 128-137. RESERVED: A Lesbian Family Revisited, Lindsey Van Gelder. FACE: I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities, Audre Lorde, p. 321-325. TH Mar. 5: Romantic Ideas of Love/Heterosexism CHANGING: Re-read p. 108. BRIDGE: La Guera, Cherrie Moraga, p. 27-34; Homophobia in the Black community, Barbara and Beverly Smith, p. 124-127. RESERVED: The Fairy Tales, Andrea Dworkin; Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence, Adrienne Rich. TU Mar. 10: Marriage and Motherhood BRIDGE: ...And Even Fidel Can't Change That!, Aurora Levine Morales, p. 53-56. RESERVED: Out of the Stream, Shirley Glubka; Daughters and Mothers: Three Generations, Evelyn Torton Beck; ManChild, Audre Lorde; Mammys, Matriarchs, and Other Controlling Images, Pat Hill Collins; Motherhood and Working Mothers, Natalie J. Sokoloff. TU Mar. 17: Classism (Imperialism) CHANGING: Tired of Playing Monopoly?, Donna Langston, p. 141-149; Women and Work: Two Jobs for the Price of One, Donna Langston, p. 128-140; Women and Poverty, Constance Faulkner, p. 174-180. BRIDGE: read the following pages: 46-52, 63-64, 68-70, 113-127. TH Mar. 19: Sexual Harassment CHANGING: Sexual Harassment: Definitions Issues, and Challenges, by Lois Price-Spratlen, p. 240-244. RESERVE: The Little Rapes, Andrea Medea & Kathleen Thompson; Sexual Harassment: The Link Joining Gender Stratification, Sexuality, and Women's Economic Status, Susan Ehrlic Martin. TU Mar. 31: Pornography CHANGING: Coming Apart, Alice Walker, p.250-256. RESERVE: The Propaganda of Misogyny, Beverly LaBelle; Playboy Isn't Playing, Laura Lederer. TH Apr. 2: Rape CHANGING: The Rape Culture, Dianne Herman, p. 260-273. RESERVE: Sexual Terrorism, Carole J. Sheffield, p. 3-19; Violence Survey: What You Told Us, Brenda Seery & Michelle Clossick. TU Apr. 7: Sexual Abuse/Incest CHANGING: Sexual Abuse: Smashing the Silence, Vickie L. Sears, p. 229-237; I Am Laughing, Jo Whitehorse Cochran, p. 282. BRIDGE: Dreams of Violence, Naomi Littlebear, p. 16-17. RESERVE: Breaking Silence, Aliza Moldofsky. TH Apr. 9: The Battering of Women CHANGING: For Battered Women, Janice Taylor, p. 274-279. RESERVE: A Day in the Life, Rebecca Walker. TU Apr. 14: Politics of the Law CHANGING: Coalition Politics: Turning the Century, Bernice Johnson Reagon, p. 299-306. RESERVE: Abortion: The Controversial Choice, Nadean Bishop; The Legal Revolution, Jo Freeman. REC'D: The Constitution. TU Apr. 21: Religious Institutions/Witches CHANGING: Namaste, Jo Whitehorse Cochran, p. 377-379; Ester's Story, Emily Warn, p. 181-184; From Prye to Hearth, Nancy Gray & Carolyn Woodward, p. 48-54. RESERVE: Black Women "Together and in Harness" Women's Tradition in the Sanctified Church, Cheryl Gilkes; Withchcraft and Women's Culture, Starhawk; Out of Order: Critical Perspectives On Women in Religion, Martha Reineke. TH Apr. 23: Anti-Semitism RESERVE: Jap Baiting on the College Scene; Some Notes on Jewish Lesbian Identity, Melanie Kay; Resisting and Surviving in America, Irena Klepfisz; Hers, Letty Cottin Pogrebin; From Kike to Jap, Evelyn Torton Beck. TU Apr. 26: Medical Establishment/Women as Healers CHANGING: Reproductive Rights, the Seattle Reproductive Rights Alliance, p. 316-318. RESERVE: Women, Health, and Medicine, Barbara Katz Rothman; From Healing Herbs to Deadly Drugs, Marti Khel. TH Apr. 30: Reclaiming Ourselves: Spirituality and Creativity BRIDGE: billie lives! billie lives!, Hattie Gosset, p. 109-112. CHANGING: read the following pages: 287-289, 336-365.