Poli 369 WOMEN AND POLITICS Suresht Bald

TTh 1:40-3:10 Walton 236 Spring 1996

Course description and objectives:

Vickie Randall, a British political scientist has argued that political science and feminism "have a lot to learn from each other." While feminism can challenge political science to re-evaluate the way politics is defined, political scientists can focus feminists' attention on the state, political economy, public policy, and constitutional and extra-constitutional forms of resistance for effecting change.

The main objective of this course is to provide you with a structure and a forum to study and discuss the relationship between gender and politics, so that you may understand and appreciate how one defines and shapes the other. In addition, the format and assignments are designed to help you clarify your own thinking and express your thoughts persuasively; to enhance your abilities to conceptualize, analyze, synthesize, and question the material you read; and to strengthen your reading, writing, oral communication, and research skills.

This course will rely heavily on class discussion. You will be responsible for your own and your peers' learning, for I will expect thoughtful and well-informed interaction among the class members. My role in the class will not be to "teach" but to encourage you to learn, to develop your ability to think for yourself, to question what you read, and to write thoughtful analyses in a clear and coherent manner. Since the class will be discussion-based it is imperative that you come to class well prepared. This means completing the readings prior to the class, identifying the key issues in the readings, forming reasoned opinions on those issues, and being ready to explain and defend your opinions. I would like you to maintain a "class log" in which you can record your responses to your readings. This class log will serve as an indicator of your intellectual development through the semester.

Assignments and grading:

1 quiz ...............................................50 pts.

2 short (6-8 pages) papers (100 pts each) ...........200 pts.

1 long (15 pages approx.) research paper ............200 pts.

Class participation .................................100 pts.

The grade for participation will be based on:

1. the rigor of your analyses;

2. the clarity of your presentations;

3. your willingness to contribute;

4. occasional written reports on readings;

5. class log; and

6. attendance.

Late papers will be marked down.

Plagiarism: "Copying or imitating the language, ideas, or thoughts of another author and passing off the same as one's own original work." (The American College Dictionary, New York: Random House, 1955, p.925) Plagiarism can be grounds for expulsion; it is taken very seriously by the faculty and administration. Please credit the source from where you obtain your material.

Required readings

See course schedule. Remember to complete assigned readings before the corresponding class meetings so that you can participate in class discussions.

Available for purchase at the Bookstore

C. Mackinnon, Feminism Unmodified

C. Enloe, Bananas, Beaches, and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics

P. Williams, The Alchemy of Race and Rights

M. Marchand & J. Parpart, Feminism, Post-Modernism, Development

C. Mohanty, A. Russo & L. Torres, Third World Womwn and the Politics of Feminism

Additional readings will be placed on reserve at the Mark O. Hatfield Library.

Course Schedule

Jan. 16 T. Introduction to the course.

Women's world and feminist theorizing

18 Th. MacKinnon, Feminism Unmodified, Introduction, and pp. 21-45.

23 T. MacKinnon, pp. 46-92.

25 Th. MacKinnon, pp. 117-124.

Sneja Gunew, "Feminist Knowledge: Critique and Construct" in S. Gunew (ed.) Feminist Knowledge (on reserve).

30 T. Nancy Hartsock, "Gender and Power" in Hartsock, Money, Sex, and Power pp.155-185 (on reserve)

Ana Maria Alonso, "Gender Power and Historical Memory" in Judith Butler & Joan Scott (eds.) Feminist Theorize the Political (on reserve).

Feb. 1 Th. Gayle Rubin, "The Traffic in Women: Notes on the 'Political Economy' of Sex" (on reserve).

6 T. Mohanty, Third World Women and the Politics of Feminism, pp. 51-80.

bell hooks, Yearning, pp. 41-49, 57-64.

8 Th. Mohanty, pp. 51-80.

13 T. Quiz (50 pts.)

Feminist critique of the state, law and public policy

15 Th. MacKinnon, "The Liberal State" (handout).

C. Pateman, "Feminist Critique of the Public Private Dichotomy" in Pateman, The Disorder of Women (on reserve).

20 T. MacKinnon, Feminism Unmodified, pp. 93-116, 146- 162, 206-213.

22 Th. MacKinnon, pp. 163-205.

27 T. MacKinnon, pp. 198-205, 215-228.

29 Th. Mohanty, either pp. 133-152 or pp. 153-172.

FIRST PAPER DUE FRIDAY MARCH 1 BY 4PM.

Gender and the state in international politics

Mar. 5 T. C. Enloe, Bananas, Beaches, and Bases, pp. 1-18, 65-123.

Women in domestic and international economy

7 Th. Mohanty, pp. 173-196.

Enloe, Bananas, Beaches and Bases, pp. 19-41.

12 T. Enloe, pp. 124-194.

14 Th. Marchand & Parpart, Feminism Postmodernism Development, pp. 79-108.

SPRING VACATION

Gender and nationalism

26 T. Enloe, pp.42-64.

Mohanty, pp. 215-236.

28 Th. Mohanty, pp. 237-267.

Women and Development

Apr. 2 T. Marchand & Parpart (M & P), pp. 23-55

4 Th. Marchand & Parpart, pp. 56-78

9 T. M & P, pp. 142-177.

Women, resistance and empowerment

11 Th. Mohanty, pp. 271-287.

M & P, pp. 221-240.

16 - 19 I will be attending a conference. You are to use this time to write your research paper and start reading Patricia Williams, Alchemy of Race and Rights.

RESEARCH PAPER DUE BY 4 PM FRIDAY 19 APRIL

Gender Race and Class

23 T. Williams, up to p. 145.

25 Th. Williams, pp. 146-178.

30 T. Williams, pp. 181-236.

SECOND SHORT PAPER DUE ON MAY 3 WEDNESDAY BY 5PM.

Paper assignments:

Paper #1 (short) - a critique and explanation of Mackinnon's Feminism Unmodified using some of the other readings done in the course.

Paper #2 (long) - a research paper that applies some of the readings from Enloe, Mohanty, Marchand & Parpart to a particular region or country of your choice.

Paper #3 (short) - an evaluative review of Williams book. You may want to use insights gained from Mohanty and/or MacKinnon and/or M & P to construct your evaluation.