WGSS 505: Feminist Perspectives on Globalization (Spring 2012)
Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-11:18
Stillman Hall 240
Dr. Mytheli Sreenivas
Office: Dulles 365
E-mail:
Phone: 247-8057
Office hours: Mondays 10:30-12:00 and by appointment
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE
This advanced undergraduate course examines feminist perspectives on globalization. We begin by conceptualizing the “global.” Do women share common identities or interests across borders and cultures? If not, how might we understand the subject of feminist analysis? The second part of the course is devoted to examine the networks of power and resistance that characterize contemporary forms of globalization, and we will explore issues including neocolonialism and neoliberalism, factory labor and women’s organizing, reproductive health and population control, and women’s agency and writing.
A key objective of the course is to develop students’ capacity for cross-cultural feminist analysis. How, in other words, might we understand the experiences, agency, and resistance of other women? Is sisterhood truly global, and if not, on what basis have women forged feminist or anti-sexist solidarities?
COURSE READINGS
The following books are available at SBX:
1. Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place [Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000].
2. Stanlie James and Claire Robertson, eds., Genital Cutting and Transnational Sisterhood: Disputing U.S. Polemics [University of Illinois Press, 2005].
3. M. Catherine Maternowska, Reproducing Inequities: Poverty and the Politics of Population in Haiti [Rutgers University Press, 2006].
4. Melissa Wright, Disposable Women and Other Myths of Global Capitalism [Routledge, 2006].
5. Medea Benjamin and Elvia Alvarado, Don’t be Afraid, Gringo: A Honduran Woman speaks from the heart [Harper Perennial, 1989].
6. Richa Nagar and Sangtin Writers, Playing with Fire: Feminist Thought and Activism through Seven Lives in India [University of Minnesota, 2006].
Additional materials will be made available through the course Carmen site. You are expected to bring these materials to class, either in electronic or print form.
** All of the books are also on reserve in the library**
COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND GRADES
1. Attendance and Participation [20%]: This is a discussion based course, so please come to class having done the readings and be prepared to discuss your questions and comments with your fellow students. Of course, in order to participate effectively, you will need to attend class regularly. Students absent more than two times will incur a grade penalty.
2. Presentation [10%]: Each student will be required to prepare a presentation about the readings for one class session. Your presentation should not simply summarize the readings. Instead, you should raise questions and points of discussion, draw connections among the texts, and link the reading to broader themes in the course. I will be happy to meet with you if you would like to discuss your presentation in advance.
3. Response Papers [20% each]: I will assign two response papers (4-5 pages each) based on course materials. You will not need to conduct outside research.
4. Final Research Paper [5% proposal, 25% final paper, total: 30%]: The final paper (8-12 pages) will require that you research a topic of your choice that is relevant to the themes of the course. In preparation for writing the paper, you will prepare a research proposal, and are welcome to meet with me individually to discuss your work.
COURSE POLICIES
1. Disability: Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone
292-3307, TDD 292-0901; http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.
2. Academic Misconduct: It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term academic misconduct includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct (http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp). Here is a direct link for discussion of plagiarism: http://cstw.osu.edu/writingCenter/handouts/research_plagiarism.cfm. Here is the direct link to the OSU Writing Center: http://cstw.osu.edu
3. Class Cancellation: In the unlikely event of class cancellation due to emergency, I will contact you via e-mail and request that a note be placed on the door. In addition, I will contact you as soon as possible following the cancellation to let you know what will be expected of you for our next class meeting.
SCHEDULE OF READING AND ASSIGNMENTS
** Readings marked as “CM” are available on the course Carmen site.
March 27
Introduction
Is Sisterhood Global? Approaches to Cross-Cultural Feminist Analysis
March 29
· Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place
· Stephanie Black, dir., Life and Debt (film screened in class)
April 3
· Kincaid, A Small Place
April 5
· Chandra Mohanty, “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses,” in Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity. CM
· Aihwa Ong, “Colonialism and Modernity: Feminist Re-presentations of Women in Non-Western Societies,” in Theorizing Feminism: Parallel Trends in the Humanities and Social Sciences. CM
April 10
· Uma Narayan, “Cross-Cultural Connections, Border Crossings, and “Death by Culture:” Thinking about Dowry Murders in India and Domestic Violence Murders in the United States,” in Dislocating Cultures: Identities, Traditions and Third-World Feminisms. CM
April 12
· Stanlie James and Claire Robertson, eds. Genital Cutting and Transnational Sisterhood: Disputing U.S. Polemics, Introduction, chapters 1, 2, 5
April 17
· James and Robertson, eds. Genital Cutting, chapters 3, 4
· RESPONSE PAPER #1 DUE
Is Globalization Patriarchal? Borders, Boundaries, and the “Disposable Woman”
April 19
· Chilla Bulbeck, “Conclusion: Braiding at the Borderlands,” in Re-Orienting Western Feminisms. CM
· Gloria Analzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera (selections) CM
April 24
· Lourdes Portillo, dir. Senorita Extraviada (film screened in class)
· RESEARCH PROPOSAL DUE
April 26
· Melissa Wright, Disposable Women, Introduction, chapters 1-4
May 1
· Disposable Women, chapters 5-7
May 3
· Cynthia Enloe, Globalization and Militarism: Feminists make the Link [selections] CM
May 8
· M. Catherine Maternowska, Reproducing Inequities, chapters 1, 3, 4
May 10
· Reproducing Inequities, chapters 6, 7
May 15
· Class cancelled today because I have a research presentation scheduled. You are welcome to attend (details TBA).
· RESPONSE PAPER #2 DUE (hand in through the Carmen dropbox)
May 17
· Chela Sandoval, “Dissident Globalizations, Emancipatory Methods, Social-Erotics” CM
· Julie Dorf and Gloria Careaga Pérez, “Discrimination and Tolerance of Difference: International Lesbian Human Rights,” in Women’s Rights/Human Rights. CM
· Rachel Rosenbloom, ed. “Introduction” to Unspoken Rules: Sexual Orientation and Women’s Human Rights. Select two country reports authored by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights commission. Please read both reports, print them out (if possible), and be prepared to speak about them in class: http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/content/publications/reportsandpublications/index.html
Think Globally, Act Locally? Trans-National Feminist Organizing
May 22
· Elvia Alvarado and Medea Benjamin, Don’t be Afraid, Gringo: A Honduran woman speaks from the heart, introduction and pp. 1-83.
May 24
· Alvarado and Benjamin, Don’t be Afraid, Gringo, pp. 85-146.
· Raka Ray, “On Engendering a Better Life,” in Feminist Futures CM
May 29
· Richa Nagar and Sangtin writers, Playing with Fire: Feminist Thought and Activism through Seven Lives in India, introduction, ch. 1, 2
May 31
Nagar and Sangtin writers, Playing with Fire, ch. 5, 6, postcript
June 7: FINAL PAPER DUE (University-scheduled exam date)
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