Syllabus for Feminist Philosophy, Spring 2010
http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/courses/FemPhil/Syllabus.html
Dr. Cynthia Freeland
Phil. 3356, section 34331 / Phil. 6356, section 34332
TuTh 1:00PM - 2:30PM AH Room 7
Agnes Arnold Room 511; 713 743 3206
Office Hours MW 10:30-11:30 and by appt.
Overview
This course is an advanced survey of feminist philosophy. We will consider the roles of women in the history of philosophy, liberal vs. radical feminism, accounts of the body in feminist philosophy, recent controversies over “difference” vs. “sameness” feminism, feminist views on science and epistemology, and feminist challenges to more traditional philosophical views about autonomy and the self.
No philosophy background is assumed, but there will be regular reading assignments and students new to the discipline may find some of these readings more dense and abstract than what they are used to. The class will involve roughly 50% lecture and 50% class discussion, sometimes in small groups; grading will reflect the requirements of regular reading, writing, and group participation. For details, see below.
Learning Outcomes
This course aims to give you a better understanding of definitions of gender and sex, feminist ethical theories and epistemologies, disputes about essentialism, and the role of women in the history of philosophy.
You will improve your analytic, speaking, and writing skills by participating in class discussions that bring out key points in the readings; by doing writing assignments that encourage your own independent critical reaction to topics in feminist philosophy; and by completing assigned papers and take-home exams that require you to analyze abstract discussions and apply the results to particular examples.
Advisory Note
Some students may find the topics dealt with in this class personally challenging, since feminist philosophy addresses controversial topics concerning the body, sexuality, race, religion, disability, etc. Some of the course material discusses issues such as domestic violence, anorexia and bulimia, breast cancer, rape, and the use of pornography. These could be upsetting for a variety of reasons. While some class discussion and personal writing about these topics is appropriate, keep in mind that this is not a self-help course and the professor is not a qualified therapist. All class discussions must be kept respectful! Remember that the university counseling services are available to all students free of charge.
Course Schedule http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/courses/FemPhil/Outline.html
There will be five units in the course, covering different varieties of philosophical approaches to and bases for feminism (see the list below). A unit outline will be distributed via the course website with the schedule of readings and assignments for each unit. A more detailed overall schedule is available on-line and each unit schedule will be distributed in class at the start of that unit.
Weeks 1-3 Part One: Feminism, Canons, and Methods in Philosophy: An Overview
Weeks 4-6 Part Two: Liberal Feminism and Equality
Weeks 7-9 Part Three: Radical Feminism and Revolution
Weeks 10-12 Part Four: Difference Feminism and the Body
Weeks 13-15 Part Five: Feminism, Nature, and Science
Grading & Requirements
Grading will involve the following components; all due dates will be available on the on-line course schedule. The schedule is subject to revisions in case of professor illness, absence, and/or weather emergencies, so please check it often!
Graduate student requirements: The essays for the take-homes and feminist critiques will be expected to be longer; each graduate student must also lead a class discussion on an assigned essay. Topics and dates will be worked out in advance with the professor.
Take-Home #1 30%
Take-Home #2 30%
Comments: Each take-home will each involve two essay questions, with each question worth 15 points or 15% of your final grade. The topics will be announced one week in advance. There will be some choice of topics. Essays will be graded on the basis of content as well as style and the correct use of grammar, punctuation, etc. All essays must be typed, double-spaced. The length guide is roughly 2 pages per essay, or four pages total. All essays will be submitted to the course website on Blackboard Vista using turnitin.com.
Discussion Papers 10 x 2 points each = 20%
Comments: The topic will be suggested in advance in class; it will involve some reaction to one or more of the readings for that week. These papers may be informal and hand-written; the length guide is 1-2 pages each. no late discussion papers accepted; e-mail is acceptable; some extra credit will be assigned later in the semester to allow for make-ups.
Feminist Analysis or Critique 2 x 5 points each 10%
Comments: The topic will be suggested in advance; it will involve writing a feminist analysis or critique of something in the news or the media (film, TV show, etc.). Note that the second critique must involve a topic that is related to Unit Five on feminism in science and/or ecofeminism. The critique should be typed; the length guide is 1- 2 pages. The critique can assume an informal tone (like a blog entry) but it should use correct grammar, spelling, etc.
More Information on the Feminist Critique
Attendance
5%
Class Participation 5%
Based on a combination of quantity and quality of contributions.
Absences and Late Work:
Excused absences or late assignments will be accepted only in cases of a genuine emergency (illness, family death, hospitalization, child or parent care emergency); documentation must be supplied. Note that car trouble, holiday plans, athletic competitions, musical and theatrical performances, job interviews, out-of-state weddings, and/ or computer trouble do not constitute genuine emergencies; plan ahead to get the work submitted on time!
Plagiarism
All work submitted for this course must be your own. Plagiarism is a violation of the university’s Academic Honesty Policy. Plagiarism includes use of sources without proper citation, including paraphrasing without credit. The penalty for a plagiarized assignment will be a zero grade on that assignment.
Disability
If you have a disability, please supply the supporting documentation to the professor immediately so that appropriate accommodation can be made.
Textbooks
Required
THIS SEX WHICH IS NOT ONE 
Luce IRIGARAY Cornell
AFTERMATH: VIOLENCE and the REMAKING OF A SELF Susan BRISON
CAL-PRINCE
COLONIZE THIS! Daisy HERNANDEZ et al. TRANS VEND
FEMINIST THOUGHTRosemarie TONG PERSEUS D
Recommended
FEMINISM+PHILOSOPHY Nancy TUANA PERSEUS D
FEMINIST THEORY:READER Wendy
PRINCESS+THE PHILOSOPHER Andrea NYE RLPG
ECOFEMINISM Margaret MIES VHPS
E-Books (Available on-line in UH Library)
Sara Ahmed, Differences that Matter: Feminist Theory and Postmodernism http://library.uh.edu/record=b2986125
Jane Flax, Thinking Fragments http://library.uh.edu/record=b3022571
Sandra Harding, ed., Feminism & Methodology Social Science Issues http://library.uh.edu/record=b1856215
Alison Jagger and Iris Young, eds., A Companion to Feminist Philosophy http://library.uh.edu/record=b2987772
Andrea Nye, Feminism and Modern Philosophy http://library.uh.edu/record=b3461918
Iris Young, On Female Body Experience: Throwing Like a Girl and Other Essays
http://library.uh.edu/record=b3605567
On-Line Essays
Peggy McIntosh, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” (pdf format)
http://www.case.edu/president/aaction/UnpackingTheKnapsack.pdf
Charlotte Witt, “How Feminism Is
Re-writing the Philosophical Canon”
http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/SWIP/Witt.html
Relevant Websites
Society for Women in Philosophy http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/SWIP
Feminist Philosophers Blog http://feministphilosophers.wordpress.com/