Feminist Philosophy

Philosophy 3395, Fall 1995

Professor Cynthia Freeland

Unit I Outline

[All readings in Women and Values, ed. Pearsall]

  • M Aug 28 Introduction and Discussion of "feminism" and "theory"
  • W Aug 30 Historical Background on Feminist Philosophy (Lecture)
  • M Sept 4 No Class ‹ Labor Day
  • W Sep 6 Reflection paper Due on either:

    Flax,"Women Do Theory," pp. 3-7; or

    Lugones and Spelman, "Have We Got a Theory for You!" pp. 18-29

    Read both articles. Then write a short (one-page) reflection paper on what is meant by "theory" in one of these articles.

    If your student number ends in 0-5, write on Flax.

    If your student number ends in 6-9, write on Lugones and Spelman.

    Use the assignment sheet as a guide to writing your reflection paper. These will be the basis for assigned small group discussions and class reports.

  • M Sep 11 Hartsock, "Feminist Theory and the Development of Revolutionary Strategy," pp. 8-17.

    Hooks, "Black Women: Shaping Feminist Theory," pp. 165-73.

  • W Sep 13 Reflection paper due on Bartky, "Foucault, Femininity, and the Modernization of Patriarchal Power," pp. 151-64.

    Write a short (one-page) reflection paper asking two questions about Bartky's article. Make one question a question of clarification: What does she mean or what is she talking about in a passage that you find confusing? Make the second question a more substantial one: Is she right in a certain passage, or, Is her argument a convincing one? Try to expand each of your questions into a short paragraph. This paper will be the basis for class discussion on September 11. If you wish, relate this paper to the discussion of Pocohantas .*

  • M Sep 18 Discussion/Assessment of Feminist Theory
  • W Sep 20 Position Paper Due (5-7 pages) on the question of Unit One: "What is Feminist Theory?"
  • BEGIN UNIT TWO

    * Prof. Freeland will moderate a Women's Studies Panel Discussion, "POCAHANTAS: History v. Hollywood," with panelists Professor Steve Mintz (History) and Professor Beth Olson (RTV), Brown Room, 5th Floor Library, 1:30 p.m. Friday Sept 1. Students are urged to attend if possible; it should be fun and informative.


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    Feminist Philosophy Main Page

    cfreeland@uh.edu

    March 26, 1996