Feminist Theories, 7.5 credits
Contents
This course deals with feminist theory and differences within feminist theorizing. Taking
departure from a variety of feminist approaches, the course will address questions such as: What is gender, and what are feminist perspectives?
How have feminists theorized and understood the relationship between gender and power, and other intersecting categories?
The course is divided into three broad themes: 1) sex and gender, 2) feminism and sexuality 3) feminism and coloniality. These themes will be explored through classical texts, lectures, seminar discussions, pedagocial exercises and individual written assignments.
Expected learning outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having completed this course, the students are expected to have the ability to:
Knowledge and understanding:
* understand and explain different feminist perspectives.
* understand and explain how feminist theories conceptualize sex, gender, sexuality, racialization and (post)coloniality.
Skills and abilities:
* independently apply relevant feminist theories on empirical or theoretical problems.
* identify and compare diverging lines between different feminist perspectives.
Judgement and approach:
* In writing, independently present foundational feminist theories within gender studies.
Required Knowledge
Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6/level 2.To be admitted to the course applicants must have completed three semesters of full time studies, equivalent to 90 ECTS, of which at least 15 ECTS must be an independent project or four semesters of full time studies equivalent to 120 ECTS.
Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6/level 2.
Form of instruction
The course is a full-time on-line course in English. The course is taught entirely through an electronic Learning Management System where the student takes part in lectures, mandatory assignments and other learning activities. The studies are characterized by a high degree of independent and active search for knowledge, and critical reflection, both individually and in groups.
The course focuses on active learning, i.e. putting knowledge into practice and critically reflecting upon the knowledge. Different strategies for teaching and learning will be used, such as lectures, and various forms of individual and group exercises on selected topics. To pass the course the student is expected to actively participate in all seminars or complete supplementary written assignments and to pass the final examination.
Examination modes
Examination takes place through fulfillment of two parts:
- Mandatory assignments during the course
- Individual written assignment.
Written assignments may be followed up with an oral review.
For part 1 the grades are Fail (U) or Pass (G). For part 2, as well as for the whole course, the grades are Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG). The grade for the whole course in based on the examination of part 2. The whole course is not graded until both parts are fulfilled.
A re-examination can be offered at the earliest ten days and at the latest three months after publishing information about the first examination. One more examination will be offered within the next year. A student who has passed the examination is not eligible for a new examination to raise grades. The option of a re-examination based on the original course syllabus will be available for at least two years after a student registered for the course. All in all, a student is given five chances of fulfilling the course examination. A student has the right to change examiner after failing two examinations for a course module, unless there are strong arguments against this.
Transitional provisions
Students have the right to apply to have a previous education or experience evaluated for transfer of credits. For more
information, see: www.umu.se/utbildning/antagning/tillgodoraknande/
Literature
Valid from: 2025 week 25
Abu-Lughod Lila
Do Muslim women really need saving? Anthopological reflections on Cultural relativism and its Others.
Ingår i: American Anthroplogist, 104(3) pp. 783-790. 2003. :
2003 :
http://org.uib.no/smi/seminars/Pensum/Abu-Lughod.pdf
Mandatory
Butler Judith
Subjects of Sex/Gender/Desire
Included in:
Feminisms
Oxford :
Oxford University Press :
1997 :
xii, 599 s. :
278-85 pages
Mandatory
Collins Patricia Hill
Black feminist thought
: knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment
Rev. 10th anniversary ed. :
New York :
Routledge :
2000 :
xvi, 335 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: The Politics of Black Feminist Thought, pp 1-20.
Crenshaw Kimberle
Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color
Included in:
Stanford law review.
Stanford, Calif. :
School of Law :
1948- :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp. 1241- 1299
Dueling dualisms
Included in:
Sexing the body
Second paperback edition, Updated edition. :
New York, NY :
Basic Books :
2020 :
xi, 594 pages :
Mandatory
Introduction
Included in:
Feminist postcolonial theory
New York :
Routledge :
2003 :
pdf (xi, 754 s.) :
Mandatory
Lorde Audrey
The Master´s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master´s House
Included in:
This bridge called my back
2. ed., 2 pr. :
New York :
Kitchen Table :
1983 :
xxvi, 261 s. :
Mandatory
Feminist Studies: A Guide to Intersectional Theory, Methodology and Writing (Routledge advances in feminist studies and intersectionality ; 1)
Lykke Nina, Max Novick
Routledge :
Mandatory
MacKinnon Catharine A
Sexuality
Included in:
The second wave
New York :
Routledge :
1997 :
414 s. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp. 158-180
Mohanty Chandra Talpade
Under western eyes. Feminist scholarship and colonial discourses.
Included in:
Feminist review.
London,c 1979- :
1979- :
61-88 pages
Mandatory
Norlander Kerstin
Empathetic reading. The art of reading a text in its own terms
Swedish Secreteriat for Gender Research :
2013 :
Gender Studies Education and Pedagogy
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp. 10-13
Key concepts in gender studies
Pilcher Jane, Whelehan Imelda
2nd edition. :
2017 :
194 pages :
ISBN: 9781446260289
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Rubin Gayle
Thinking sex
Included in:
The Lesbian and gay studies reader
New York :
Routledge :
1993 :
666 s. :
3-44 pages
Mandatory
Virgins or whores? Feminist critique of sexuality
Included in:
Sexuality
Oxford :
Oxford University Press :
2008 :
151 p. :
Mandatory
Reading instructions: pp. 49-74
Vuolajärvi Niina
Governing in the Name of Caring—the Nordic Model of Prostitution and its Punitive Consequences for Migrants Who Sell Sex
Included in:
Sexuality research & social policy : journal of NSRC : SR & SP
2004- :
16 :
151-165 pages
Mandatory
Doing gender
West Candace, Zimmerman Don H.
Included in:
Gender & society.
Newbury Park, Calif. :
Sage :
1987- :
Mandatory
Reference literature
Butler Judith
Who's afraid of gender?
[London] UK :
Allen Lane, an imprint of Penguin Books :
2024 :
308 pages :
ISBN: 9780241595824
Search the University Library catalogue
Reading instructions: pp. 3-36 and 134-228
Mansfield Nick
Subjectivity
: theories of the self from Freud to Haraway
New York :
New York Univ. Press :
2000 :
ix, 198 s. :
ISBN: 0-8147-5651-4 (hft.)
Search the University Library catalogue
Reading instructions: pp. 51-65
"Sexual traffic. Interview"
Rubin Gayle, Butler Judith
Included in:
Feminism meets queer theory
Bloomington, Ind. :
Indiana Univ. Press :
cop. 1997 :
341 s.a (xiii, 341 s.) :
Reading instructions: pp. 68-108
Rubin Gayle
The traffic in women: Notes on the ´Political Economy´of sex
: I: Reiter R.R. (ed.), Towards an Anthropology of Women. New York: Monthly Review Press, s. 157-210.
1975 :
Reading instructions: pp. 157-210
Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy
[Stanford, Calif.] :
Stanford University :
c1997- :
Online access for UMUB
Reading instructions: Feminist Perspectives on Power: https://plato.sydney.edu.au/archives/fall2008/entries/feminist-power/#radi