WMST 4100/5100: Feminist Theory
Mondays 2:00 – 4:50pm
Curry Hall, room 322
Course Website: http://learn.unt.edu (Blackboard)
Instructor: Maia Cudhea, M.S.
Email:
***Email is, by far, the quickest and easiest way to contact me- I do not have a phone in my office.
Office: GAB 462
Office Hours: Fridays 10:00am – 1:00pm, or by appointment
Department of Women’s Studies Office: GAB 467, (940) 565-2098
***The department office is a good point of contact if you need to leave something for me (I have a mailbox there) or if you need something urgent at the last minute (they have my cell # and can call me for you if necessary).
Alternate Office: Room 135, North Texas Student-Athlete Academic Center, Mean Green Village; (940) 369-7146
Alternate Office Hours: By appointment only
I myself have never been able to find out precisely what Feminism is: I only know that people call me a
Feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute.
–Rebecca West, in The Clarion, November 14, 1913
But one did not do feminist theory, as such, in those days,
not only because male academic discourse did not recognize such a term,
but especially because the women's movement did not either.
– Teresa de Lauretis, in Displacing Hegemonic Discourses: Reflections on Feminist Theory in the 1980's
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course students should be able to:
1. Explain a variety of frameworks for analyzing the nature of and solutions to gender inequality
2. Describe both the continuity and diversity of feminist theories
3. Identify and articulate the importance of social location in theorizing
4. Improve their skills in critical thinking, observation, analysis, communication, and self-awareness
Text & Readings:
Required Text:
Mann, Susan Archer. Doing Feminist Theory: From Modernity to Postmodernity. New York: Oxford, 2012. (ISBN 978-0-19-985810-1)
Additional readings are also assigned, from a variety of texts and journal articles. These readings are posted on Blackboard for students to print on their own. Full citation information for these readings is provided in the Course Bibliography posted on Blackboard). Please note that these readings are just as required as those from the texts.
Each class meeting will cover and expand on the assigned selection of readings for that week. Students are responsible for reading all of the assigned material before our class meetings and should come prepared to discuss, question, and build upon the assigned material. Failure to do so will make preparing for and completing assignments very difficult (and likely reduce your grade), as well as decrease the quality (and fun!) of class discussions.
Optional/Recommended Text:
Our Bodies, Ourselves, 9th edition. By Boston Women's Health Book Collective
Available from: http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/publications/default.asp
This book doesn’t really have that much to do with feminist theory (in an obvious sort of way). But if you don’t have it, you should!
Course Assignments/Components:
Class Participation (REQUIRED): Since this is a seminar-style class, the success of this course depends in large part on quality participation from all students. Every student is expected to participate fully, thoughtfully, and regularly in classroom discussions. I do realize that for some students, participating in class discussion may be difficult. If this applies to you, you need to make a special effort to push yourself to participate. If speaking in class is overwhelming, you can find alternative ways to supplement your participation (emailing me additional written comments or questions before class, posting on our course Blackboard discussion boards, etc.), but you will still need to participate in class some times. On the other hand, if you normally participate in class discussions a lot, you may need to check yourself to limit your speaking, making sure that you are leaving space open for others to participate in. If you have any questions or concerns about your participation, please contact me individually.
Weekly Discussion Questions (REQUIRED): Each student is responsible for submitting a reading-based discussion question (before class) every week this semester. Discussion questions should be submitted to me via email () as plain text into your email (not as an attachment) before midnight every Sunday. Please make sure that you are writing discussion questions, not exam questions! Discussion questions ask us to think critically about the course material, apply course concepts to a new situation, or in some other way require a thoughtful engagement with course readings (rather than recall of the course readings). The answers to discussion questions can never be simply yes/no, and have neither “right” nor “wrong” answers in the textbook. You should come to class prepared with a thoughtful answer to your own question. Grades for discussion questions will be posted regularly on Blackboard. If you are receiving sub-par grades and do not understand how you need to improve, it is your responsibility to come see me for assistance.
Take-Home Mid-Term (REQUIRED): Each student will respond in detail to several questions/prompts distributed in a Take-Home Mid-Term. Students will have some selection over which questions/prompts they discuss. Responses will be expected to reflect comprehension of course material (as well as through grounding in it – including specific references/quotes/citations with page numbers), the ability to engage with/apply the material using higher-level thinking, and critical self-reflection. Use of outside sources is not required, but is allowed (full citations must be provided if outside sources are used). Length is not a primary evaluative criteria for this assignment. More details on this assignment and a rubric (grading criteria) will be posted on Blackboard; the Mid-Term is due before midnight on Friday, March 13th (before Spring Break).
Final Project (REQUIRED): Each student will have a choice between several final options (e.g. analysis paper, praxis project, take-home exam, etc). Final project options will be discussed over the initial weeks of the course, and detailed options will be finalized and posted on our course Blackboard website after Spring Break. A (brief) Final Project Proposal is due Monday, April 13th.
Online Discussion Boards (OPTIONAL): There are several online discussion forums for this class. The first, “Kitchen Table”, will be open from day one of the course and is available for any and all course material related discussions. (Note, this is not a place to ask questions about course assignments or requirements – those should be emailed to me, or addressed in the “housekeeping” time at the beginning of class meetings.) The remaining discussion boards will become available on several dates throughout the semester (2/10, 2/17, 3/3, 3/10, 3/24, &4/21) as we move through the material which provides the background for them. These forums provide specific prompts for discussion, around which students can engage with each other in an extended fashion. Participation in these discussion forums is not required & will not be graded. However, participating is a good way to continue classroom conversations, deepen your understanding of course material, and expand your learning experience. In addition, substantial and thoughtful participation in the discussion forums is the only opportunity to “make up” for missing classroom discussion.
Theory Précis (OPTIONAL): A précis (pronounced “prā – sē”) is a short summary of a piece of writing. The précis is valuable because it helps a student to express a thesis in his or her own words, and provides a quick reference for complex material. A recommended précis format for our bodies of feminist theory is provided on Blackboard. These are not required and you will not turn them in for grading. However, keeping up with these will make it significantly easier to organize and complete your work on the Mid-Term Exam and Final Project. It may help you generate and organize your Discussion Questions. It will provide a valuable reference that you can use in the future (especially for graduate students!). If you would consider yourself a serious student of feminist theory, I strongly recommend completing these.
Course Grades:
Your grade is made up of the following components:
Discussion Questions (10 points each x 14 due dates) 140 points
Attendance (4 points per class x 15 classes) & Participation (90 points) 150 points
Take-Home Mid-Term Exam 150 points
Final Paper/Project Proposal 10 points
Final Paper/Project 150 points
Total Possible Points = 600 points
Figuring your grade is very simple- you just add up the points. I do not average, divide, or do any “weird math”; I just add up the points. As such, any extra credit/bonus points awarded can be added to any assignment you like; points are points are points and it does not matter how you add them up. I will simply sum your total and assign the grade as indicated in the chart below.
Points Earned / Grade Earned540 and over / A
480 – 539 / B
420 – 479 / C
360 – 419 / D
359 and under / F
Extra Credit: There is only one way that you can count on to earn Extra Credit in this course – you may earn the Attendance Bonus of 10 points, by missing no more than 2 classes all semester (for any reason). If an opportunity for out-of-class learning occurs during the semester, extra credit may be offered, at the instructor’s discretion, to the entire class. Please note, that ***extra credit opportunities will NOT be given to individuals because of a need to improve their grade ***
Graduate Students: Graduate students do not have any additional course requirements. However, for each course requirement, grading standards for graduate students will be elevated (details for these standards will be available on each grading rubric).
Course Policies:
Americans With Disabilities Act: As an instructor, I am committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation. Students who require accommodation or who have any other special needs (regardless of documentation status) that require consideration should let me know (in writing, such as email or by providing a copy of an ODA accommodations letter) as soon as possible (within two weeks) so that I can make any necessary adjustments If you are not sure what constitutes a documented disability, whether you qualify, or how to request appropriate accommodation, please see http://www.unt.edu/oda for more information or contact the Office of Disability Accommodation at (940) 565-4323.
“The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at (940) 565-4323.”
Attendance Policy: Be here, fool. Regular and punctual class attendance is required of all students in Women’s Studies courses and will be considered in determining the student’s semester grade. Per departmental policy, three (3) unexcused absences will result in a failing grade (F) for the course; this policy is rigorously enforced. Excused absences will be given for university-authorized activities only. University policy requires that you provide your instructor with an official notification card issued by the university to explain your absence and to submit any makeup work while you were involved in university-authorized activities. Absent extreme extenuating circumstances (such as an illness worthy of hospitalization), all other absences will be considered unexcused (even if you have a note from the student health center, documentation of your flat tire, etc.).
Late Assignments: Late assignments are not acceptable. All assigned work is due by the due dates indicated on our Weekly Class Agenda and on Blackboard. Missed Discussion Questions may not be made up. Late Major Assignments (Take-Home Mid-Term, Final Proposal, Final Project) will be heavily penalized. If you miss a deadline for one of these, you need to contact me immediately.
Academic Dishonesty: Allow me to be clear- all of the work that you submit must be your own, original composition. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism includes copying from a classmate, cutting and pasting from websites, allowing others to copy your work, and failure to cite/document your sources appropriately. Plagiarized work will not receive credit for the assignment. Students will also face action according to University guidelines for academic dishonesty. A detailed explanation of UNT’s policy on academic dishonesty can be found on UNT’s website http://www.vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm.
Withdrawals & Incompletes: See http://essc.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/scheduleclass.html for the last day to drop this course. If you are ever questioning whether you should consider dropping this course, please contact me by email or during office hours; I am always happy to discuss your progress and prognosis. Incompletes are the student’s responsibility to request and are only given in cases of extreme and documented situations. In order to receive a grade of incomplete, at the time of the student’s request, a student must have completed the majority of the coursework and be passing.
Classroom Expectations:
· Punctuality is a sign of respect and commitment; please be on time to class. If you must arrive late or leave early, please do so with as little disruption to the class as possible.
· Please turn off all electronics, including cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, Blackberries, Palm Pilots, or any other personal communication device that may disrupt class. Other disruptions that indicate disrespect (including background conversations while others are talking, packing up early, or working on material for other classes) are also unacceptable.
· Use of laptops is not permitted in the classroom. If you have a physical condition or other special circumstances requiring the use of a laptop, please see me ASAP to make appropriate accommodations.
· The nature of this course dictates that we will be discussing topics that some students may find personally disturbing, controversial, or otherwise difficult to handle. Students are expected to demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity, sensitivity, and respect in their language and behavior. You are under no obligation to agree with authors, other students, or the instructor. Rather, your obligation is to demonstrate comprehension and thoughtful consideration of perspectives you may not share. Critical thinking, a willingness to explore ideas, and respect for others are essential.